But in a conspiracy-filled world where we’re constantly told that things are happening that the average person doesn’t know about – some of them eventually proving true – the temptation to try something that sounds good may win out over common sense. That can be a fatal mistake.
More than $34 billion is spent annually on vitamins, supplements, herbs, aromatherapy, crystals, and other alternative medicines and treatments. Some of them, like acupuncture and meditation, have gradually moved from the fringe into the mainstream, as studies showed they may deliver on their promises. But others, like the use of gingko for memory, echinacea for colds, and coconut oil for Alzheimer’s disease, simply don’t work.
Fish oil is a prime example. The National Institutes of Health have fish oil as the third-most used dietary supplement in the United States. About 10 percent of Americans take a regular dose, believing that the omega-3 fatty acids will help prevent strokes and heart attacks. But there is no scientific evidence that fish oil delivers any medical benefits for your heart or blood pressure, and the shoddy research study on Inuit hunter-gatherers that spawned this gargantuan industry has been debunked.
Dangers of Doing It Yourself
Taking supplements usually will only be a waste of time. But there are actual dangers of certain medical procedures that should only be undertaken under the care and supervision of a medical professional. To do otherwise may endanger your health, and, in some cases, may even lead to your death.