Regulating nonsense
For once, I'm not going to pour my pity out towards the various spine wizards, amnesiac water fondlers, human pincushion analysts and footrub apologists that make up the SCAM (supplementary, complementary and alternative "medicine") industry.

But think on this. How about trying to regulate that mess, but without at any time undermining the many mutually contradictory belief systems that make it up? What kind of regulation regime could possibly cope?

The diversity of it is so incredible that as long as you have done your training in advanced spiritual handwaving or percussive cranial lignoplasty (work it out) you can apply for accreditation and be certified.

Just imagine the minefield of a complaints procedure that must ensue. Who would possibly want to be involved in that?

Look up "CNHC" and be amazed.
( Amish Information Systems hates misplaced, commas, Fri 11 Oct 2013, 14:45, 7 replies)

Read David Colquhoun on it
Is a pharmacologist and FRS, who applied to sit on the CNHC. Did for a bit, and then got fired, for being all rational and shit.

www.dcscience.net/?p=3311
( prince-igor si tacuisses, philosophus mansisses, Fri 11 Oct 2013, 14:56, closed)

I had the good fortune to meet him once.
He was booked for a talk. He turned up, no notes, no powerpoint bollocks, just sat down with his pipe and reminisced for the audience. Great evening.
( Amish Information Systems hates misplaced, commas, Fri 11 Oct 2013, 15:38, closed)

Well, at least there is positive traction to get rid of the fucktards.
www.dw.de/uk-universities-drop-alternative-medicine-degree-programs/a-15673133

David Colquhoun
( d.r._and_quinch when will you be famous?, Fri 11 Oct 2013, 16:02, closed)

my view is that anything which calls itself a medicine should be subject to the medicinal regulations
then the vast, vast majority of "alternative" medicines would fall foul of Article 12:

The marketing authorisation shall be refused if [...] it appears that the applicant has not properly or sufficiently demonstrated the quality, safety or efficacy of the medicinal product.

thus, they wouldn't be able to call themselves "medicines" any more - problem solved
( The Mock TurtIe ™ --- Thinks you are a cunt, on, Fri 11 Oct 2013, 18:05, closed)

Agreed
If you're marketing it as a "treatment" or "therapy", then it should be regulated under a single united set of standards. The most basic of which should be "Yes, but does it actually work?"

Instead, we have a system of carve-outs for traditional herbal preparations and other quackery, and systems of pseudo-regulation to help rubber-stamp them with the whiff of legitimacy.

But even by their own rules there's still a big problem
( Amish Information Systems hates misplaced, commas, Mon 14 Oct 2013, 13:37, closed)

I like percussive cranial lignoplasty, but have you heard of retrophrenology*?






*Phrenology is a way of measuring the skull of a person to analyze their personality.
Retrophrenology is a way to change said personality.
(GermanGuy invaded on, Sat 12 Oct 2013, 6:17, closed)

Related fields
I believe that one can be implemented using the other.
( Amish Information Systems hates misplaced, commas, Mon 14 Oct 2013, 13:32, closed)