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71-635: According to archived website, the NCAHF evolved from three separate organizations. The Lehigh Valley Committee Against Health Fraud, Inc. (LVCAHF, now called Quackwatch ) was founded in 1969 by Stephen Barrett and H. William Gross, D.D.S. in Allentown, Pennsylvania . The Southern California Council Against Health Fraud (SCCAHF) had its origin in 1976 at Loma Linda University with academic colleagues William T. Jarvis and Gordon Rick as co-founders. Thomas H. Jukes of University of California, Berkeley founded

142-610: A 2007 feasibility study on a method for identifying web pages that make unproven claims, the authors wrote: Our gold standard relied on selected unproven cancer treatments identified by experts at http://www.quackwatch.org   ... By using unproven treatments identified by an oversight organization, we capitalized on an existing high quality review. Writing in the trade-journal The Consultant Pharmacist in 1999, pharmacist Bao-Anh Nguyen-Khoa characterized Quackwatch as "relevant for both consumers and professionals" and containing articles that would be of interest to pharmacists, but that

213-401: A balanced view of alternative cancer treatments . Jane Cuzzell viewed Quackwatch similarly, arguing that it was entertaining but that the "resource value of this site depends on what the visitor is seeking" and had concerns about the appearance of bias in the selection of the material. However, while Lillian Brazin also found it to be biased, she described Quackwatch as credible, and noted both

284-425: A contributing source for some of the content in their "Report 12." The American Chiropractic Association (ACA) criticised a 2002 PBS broadcast which included an episode about chiropractic in which the NCAHF was involved. ACA president Daryl D. Wills responded to PBS officials stating (in part): "I find it ironic that a program titled 'Scientific American Frontiers' would completely ignore the scientific foundation of

355-735: A gentle enema. The topical administration of medications into the rectum, such as corticosteroids and mesalazine used in the treatment of inflammatory bowel disease . Administration by enema avoids having the medication pass through the entire gastrointestinal tract , therefore simplifying the delivery of the medication to the affected area and limiting the amount that is absorbed into the bloodstream. Rectal corticosteroid enemas are sometimes used to treat mild or moderate ulcerative colitis. They also may be used along with systemic (oral or injection) corticosteroids or other medicines to treat severe disease or mild to moderate disease that has spread too far to be treated effectively by medicine inserted into

426-691: A journalist with The Village Voice , in 1999 described Barrett as "a full-time journalist and book author", "never a medical researcher", and one who "depends heavily on negative research ... in which alternative therapies do not work" but "says that most case studies that show positive results of alternative therapies are unreliable". She quoted Barrett as saying that "a lot of things don't need to be tested [because] they simply don't make any sense". Writing in The Lancet , Mona Okasha wrote that Quackwatch provides an "entertaining read", but described it as only appropriate for limited use as it fails to provide

497-572: A long series of articles on various alternative medicine methods, it uses Quackwatch as a reference and includes criticisms of the methods. The Health On the Net Foundation , which confers the HONcode "Code of Conduct" certification to reliable sources of health information in cyberspace, recommends Quackwatch. It also advises Internet users to alert Quackwatch when they encounter "possibly or blatantly fraudulent" healthcare websites. In

568-426: A patient may self-administer the enema by using suction to create a negative pressure in the gourd, placing a finger at the opening, and then upon anal insertion, removing the finger to allow atmospheric pressure to effect the flow. In South Africa, Bhaca people used an ox horn to administer enemas. Along the upper Congo River an enema apparatus is made by making a hole in one end of the gourd for filling it, and using

639-566: A peer review process would improve the site's legitimacy. Nguyen-Khoa said the presence of so many articles written by Barrett gave an impression of lack of balance but that the site was taking steps to correct this by recruiting expert contributors. He also noted that Barrett often inserts his strong opinions directly into sections of an article already well supported by the literature. Although entertaining, this direct commentary may be viewed by some as less than professional medical writing and may be better reserved for its own section. Donna Ladd ,

710-425: A physician and may require an enema or laxative. The administration of substances into the bloodstream. This may be done in situations where it is undesirable or impossible to deliver a medication by mouth, such as antiemetics given to reduce nausea (though not many antiemetics are delivered by enema). Additionally, several anti-angiogenic agents, which work better without digestion, can be safely administered via

781-477: A predictable time and place to evacuate. Without bowel management, such persons might either suffer from the feeling of not getting relief, or they might soil themselves. While simple techniques might include a controlled diet and establishing a toilet routine, a daily enema can be taken to empty the colon, thus preventing unwanted and uncontrolled bowel movements that day. In a lower gastrointestinal series an enema that may contain barium sulfate powder or

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852-657: A psychiatrist, seeks to expose unproven medical treatments and possible unsafe practices through his homegrown but well-organized site. Mostly attacking alternative medicines, homeopathy and chiropractors, the tone here can be rather harsh. However, the lists of sources of health advice to avoid, including books, specific doctors and organizations, are great for the uninformed. Barrett received an FDA Commissioner's Special Citation Award for fighting nutrition quackery in 1984. BEST: Frequently updated, but also archives of relevant articles that date back at least four years. WORST: Lists some specific doctors and organizations without explaining

923-535: A resin to attach a hollow cane to the gourd's neck. The cane is inserted into the anus of the patient who is in a posture that allows gravity to effect infusion of the fluid. The Olmec from their middle preclassic period (10th through 7th centuries BCE) through the Spanish Conquest used trance-inducing substances ceremonially, and these were ingested via, among other routes, enemas administered using jars. As further described below in religious rituals ,

994-470: A resurgence in the 1960s. The organization also advocated that insurance companies should not be required to cover acupuncture treatment and that licensure of lay acupuncturists should be phased out. There has been some controversy regarding the use of amalgam fillings by dentists, because the amalgam contains mercury. Some forms of mercury are toxic to humans, but the NCAHF cites the CDC in stating that there

1065-417: A species of medical hucksterism, failing to condemn shortcomings within conventional biomedicine, and for promoting an exclusionary model of medical scientism and health that serves hegemonic interests and does not fully address patient needs. Waltraud Ernst , professor of the history of medicine at Oxford Brookes University , commenting on Vankevitch's observations in 2002, agrees that attempts to police

1136-478: A stimulant to the general system, as a local application and, more rarely, as a means of reducing body temperature, as treatment for encopresis , and as a form of rehydration therapy (proctoclysis) in patients for whom intravenous therapy is not applicable. The principal medical usages of enemas are: As bowel stimulants, enemas are employed for the same purposes as orally administered laxatives : to relieve constipation ; to treat fecal impaction ; to empty

1207-411: A water-soluble contrast agent is used in the radiological imaging of the bowel. Called a barium enema , such enemas are sometimes the only practical way to view the colon in a relatively safe manner. Failure to expel all of the barium may cause constipation or possible impaction and a patient who has no bowel movement for more than two days or is unable to pass gas rectally should promptly inform

1278-413: Is a small volume stimulant enema suitable where large-volume enemas are contra-indicated. TAI , also termed retrograde irrigation , is designed to assist evacuation using a water enema as a treatment for persons with bowel dysfunction, including fecal incontinence or constipation, especially obstructed defecation . By regularly emptying the bowel using transanal irrigation, controlled bowel function

1349-615: Is a therapeutic subgroup of the Anatomical Therapeutic Chemical Classification System , a system of alphanumeric codes developed by the World Health Organization (WHO) for the classification of drugs and other medical products. Subgroup A06 is part of the anatomical group A Alimentary tract and metabolism . Codes for veterinary use ( ATCvet codes ) can be created by placing the letter Q in front of

1420-608: Is an undiagnosed abdominal pain since the peristalsis of the bowel can cause an inflamed appendix to rupture . There are arguments both for and against colonic irrigation in people with diverticulitis , ulcerative colitis , Crohn's disease , severe or internal hemorrhoids or tumors in the rectum or colon , and its usage is not recommended soon after bowel surgery (unless directed by one's health care provider ). Regular treatments should be avoided by people with heart disease or kidney failure . Colonics are inappropriate for people with bowel, rectal or anal pathologies where

1491-431: Is commonly added because its irritation of the colon's lining increases the urgency to defecate. However, liquid handsoaps and detergents should not be used. Glycerol is a specific bowel mucosa irritant serving to induce peristalsis via a hyperosmotic effect . It is used in a dilute solution, e.g., 5%. Equal parts of milk and molasses heated together to slightly above normal body temperature have been used. Neither

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1562-507: Is considered a valuable information source for many agencies nationwide. They are well networked and, as demonstrated by their past history, are able to influence the efforts of various agencies and insurance carriers. The NCAHF's ability to publish its opinions and hold these types of conferences does make them a substantial "player" in the area of health fraud." In 1998, the AMA's Council on Scientific Affairs used NCAHF board member John Renner as

1633-508: Is developed with the assistance from volunteers and expert advisors. Many of its articles cite peer-reviewed research and are footnoted with several links to references. A review in Running & FitNews stated the site "also provides links to hundreds of trusted health sites." Naturowatch is a subsidiary site of Quackwatch which aims to provide information about naturopathy that is "difficult or impossible to find elsewhere". The site

1704-440: Is difficult or impossible to get elsewhere". Since 1996 it has operated the alternative medicine watchdog website quackwatch.org , which advises the public on unproven or ineffective alternative medical remedies. The site contains articles and other information criticizing many forms of alternative medicine. Quackwatch cites peer-reviewed journal articles and has received several awards. The site has been developed with

1775-535: Is fraudulent and did not attempt to prove or disprove that chiropractic 'works,' but it does state that chiropractic has no basis in science. This conclusion is entirely justified by both current research and generally accepted views of human anatomy." Quackwatch Quackwatch is a United States–based website, self-described as a "network of people" founded by Stephen Barrett , which aims to "combat health-related frauds, myths, fads, fallacies, and misconduct" and to focus on " quackery -related information that

1846-419: Is least irritating to the colon. Like plain water, it simply functions mechanically to expand the colon, but having a neutral concentration gradient, it neither draws electrolytes from the body, as happens with plain water, nor draws water into the colon, as occurs with phosphates. Thus, a salt water solution can be used when a longer period of retention is desired, such as to soften an impaction. Castile soap

1917-600: Is no evidence that "the health of the vast majority of people with amalgam is compromised" or that "removing amalgam fillings has a beneficial effect on health". The NCAHF criticizes those who they believe exploit unfounded public fears for financial gain. NCAHF asserts that breath, urine and blood testing for mercury are inaccurate. Other tests for mercury exposure described by the NCAHF as invalid can include skin testing, stool testing, hair analysis and electrodermal testing. The NCAHF contended that chiropractic can be dangerous and lead to injury or permanent disability. However,

1988-452: Is often re-established to a high degree, thus enabling development of a consistent bowel routine. Its effectiveness varies considerably, some individuals experiencing complete control of incontinence but others reporting little or no benefit. An international consensus on when and how to use transanal irrigation for people with bowel problems was published in 2013, offering practitioners a clear, comprehensive and simple guide to practice for

2059-594: Is operated by Barrett and Kimball C. Atwood IV , an anesthesiologist by profession, who has become a vocal critic of alternative medicine. The site is available in French and formerly in German and Portuguese, as well as via several mirrors . Sources that mention Stephen Barrett's Quackwatch as a useful source for consumer information include website reviews, government agencies, and various journals including The Lancet . Quackwatch has been mentioned in

2130-432: Is possible or true only in terms of what science has managed to 'prove' to date". The organization has often been challenged by supporters and practitioners of the various forms of alternative medicine that are criticized on the website. Enema#In alternative medicine An enema , also known as a clyster , is an injection of fluid into the lower bowel by way of the rectum . The word enema can also refer to

2201-478: Is scientifically unproven as a modality of treatment. In 1990, it said that research during the past twenty years had failed to demonstrate that acupuncture was effective against any disease. Perceived effects of acupuncture are, argued the NCAHF, probably due to a combination of expectation, suggestion and other psychological mechanisms. The NCAHF pointed out that acupuncture was banned in China in 1929 but underwent

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2272-722: Is the only site I know of right now looking at issues of fraud and health on the Internet." Sources that mention quackwatch.org as a resource for consumer information include the United States Department of Agriculture , the U.S. National Institutes of Health , the Skeptic's Dictionary , the Diet Channel, and articles published in The Lancet , the American Journal of Pharmaceutical Education ,

2343-701: The Journal of Marketing Education , the Medical Journal of Australia , and the Journal of the American Dietetic Association . In addition, several nutrition associations link to Quackwatch. An article in PC World listed it as one of three websites for finding the truth about Internet rumors. A Washington Post review of alternative medicine websites noted that "skeptics may find Quackwatch offers better truth-squadding than

2414-1124: The Food and Drug Administration or the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine ." The books Low-Carb Dieting for Dummies (2003), The Arthritis Helpbook (2006), The Rough Guide to the Internet (2007), Navigating the Medical Maze: A Practical Guide (2008), Chronic Pain For Dummies (2008), and The 2009 Internet Directory (2008) mention or use content from Quackwatch. Quackwatch and Barrett have also been cited by journalists in reports on therapeutic touch , Vitamin O , Almon Glenn Braswell 's baldness treatments, Robert Barefoot 's coral calcium claims, William C. Rader 's " stem cell " therapy, noni juice , shark cartilage and saturated fat . The American Cancer Society lists Quackwatch as one of ten reputable sources of information about alternative and complementary therapies in their book Cancer Medicine . In

2485-728: The Maya in their late classic age (7th through 10th centuries CE) used enemas for, at least, ritual purposes, Mayan sculpture and ceramics from that period depicting scenes in which, injected by syringes made of gourd and clay, ritual hallucinogenic enemas were taken. In the Xibalban court of the God D, whose worship included ritual cult paraphernal, the Maya illustrated the use of a characteristic enema bulb syringe by female attendants administering clysters ritually. For combating illness and discomfort of

2556-449: The "'old-fashioned', 'traditional', 'folksy' and heterodox by contrasting it with the 'modern', 'scientific' and orthodox." Ernst also interprets Barrett's attempt to "reject and label as 'quackery' each and every approach that is not part of science-based medicine" as one which minimizes the patient's role in the healing process and is inimical to medical pluralism. A 2003 website review by Forbes magazine stated: Dr. Stephen Barrett,

2627-429: The "medical cyber-market with a view to preventing fraudulent and potentially harmful practices may well be justified". She commends "Barrett's concern for unsubstantiated promotion and hype," and says that "Barrett's concern for fraudulent and potentially dangerous medical practices is important," but she sees Barrett's use of "an antiquarian term such as 'quack'" as part of a "dichotomising discourse that aims to discredit

2698-596: The 18th century, is a generally archaic word used more particularly for enemas administered using a clyster syringe . The first mention of the enema in medical literature is in the Ancient Egyptian Ebers Papyrus ( c.  1550 BCE). One of the many types of medical specialists was a Nery-Pehuyt, the Shepherd of the Anus. Many medications were administered by enemas. There was a Keeper of

2769-787: The NCAHF considered bad are those chiropractors who believe the spinal adjustment will cure or alleviate a variety of diseases, such as infection , arthritis , cancer , diabetes , nutritional deficiencies or excesses, appendicitis , blood disorders, or kidney disease . These practitioners may use unproven, disproven, or questionable methods, devices, and products such as adjusting machines, applied kinesiology , chelation therapy , colonic irrigation , computerized nutrition deficiency tests, cranial osteopathy , cytotoxic food allergy testing, DMSO , Gerovital , glandular therapy, hair analysis , herbal crystallization analyses, homeopathy , internal managements, iridology , laser beam acupuncture, laetrile , magnetic therapy , and so forth. The NCAHF

2840-686: The NCAHF did not categorically oppose the practice. It differentiated between chiropractors who promote what it considered good and bad chiropractic practices. The former promote methods of diagnosis and treatment which have a scientific basis. For example, NCAHF claims there is no scientific support for vertebral subluxation . Their view is that chiropractors should restrict their scope of practice to neuromusculoskeletal problems such as muscle spasms, strains, sprains, fatigue, imbalance of strength and flexibility, stretched or irritated nerve tissue, and so forth. Chiropractors should refer cases involving pathology to qualified medical practitioners. In contrast, what

2911-555: The Royal Rectum who may have primarily been the pharaoh's enema maker. The god Thoth , according to Egyptian mythology, invented the enema. In parts of Africa the calabash gourd is used traditionally to administer enemas. On the Ivory Coast the narrow neck of the gourd filled with water is inserted the patient's rectum and the contents are then injected by means of an attendant's forcible oral inflation, or, alternatively,

National Council Against Health Fraud - Misplaced Pages Continue

2982-535: The action of sodium citrate , a peptidising agent which can displace bound water present in the faeces, with sodium alkyl sulphoacetate, a wetting agent, and with glycerol, an anal mucosa irritant and hyperosmotic. However, also sold under the name "Micralax", is a preparation containing sorbitol rather than glycerol; which was initially tested in preparation for sigmoidoscopy . Micolette Micro-enema® contains 45 mg sodium lauryl sulphoacetate, 450 mg per 5 ml sodium citrate BP, and 625 mg glycerol BP and

3053-595: The area of health fraud". NCAHF considers diploma mills harmful to the students and to the public. The National Council Against Health Fraud was mentioned as a useful source for information by the United States Department of Agriculture , the 2003 edition of "Cancer Medicine", published by the American Cancer Society , and many other organizations and libraries. The journal Dynamic Chiropractic , while highly critical of NCAHFs views on chiropractic, has written: "The National Council Against Health Fraud

3124-420: The assistance of a worldwide network of volunteers and expert advisors. It has received positive recognition and recommendations from mainstream organizations and sources, although at times it has also received criticism for perceived bias in its coverage. It has been recognized in the media, which cite quackwatch.org as a practical source for online consumer information . The success of Quackwatch has generated

3195-511: The chiropractic profession. The chiropractic portion of the June 4 episode titled 'A Different Way to Heal?' irresponsibly characterized chiropractic care -- a legitimate, research-based form of health care -- as a fraudulent hoax." and that "[t]he producers of your program could not have expected objectivity" from the NCAHF. The producer of the program replied in detail and explicitly denied these allegations: "The segment did not claim that chiropractic

3266-412: The colon may not always be visible, but can be distinguished if the feces are unusually dark or have a red hue. If intestinal rupture is suspected, medical assistance should be obtained immediately. Frequent use of enemas can cause laxative dependency. The enema tube and solution may stimulate the vagus nerve , which may trigger an arrhythmia such as bradycardia . Enemas should not be used if there

3337-416: The colon prior to a medical procedure such as a colonoscopy . When oral laxatives are not indicated or are not sufficiently effective, enemas may be a sensible and necessary measure. A large volume enema can be given to cleanse as much of the colon as possible of feces. However, a low enema is generally useful only for stool in the rectum, not in the intestinal tract. Such enemas' mechanism consists of

3408-576: The creation of additional affiliated websites; as of 2019 there were 21 of them. Barrett founded the Lehigh Valley Committee Against Health Fraud (LVCAHF) in 1969, and it was incorporated in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania in 1970. In 1996, the corporation began the website quackwatch.org, and the organization itself was renamed Quackwatch, Inc. in 1997. The Pennsylvania nonprofit corporation

3479-736: The credentials of the contributors and the thoroughness of the content. In a 2002 book, Ned Vankevitch, associate professor of communications at Trinity Western University , places Barrett in a historical tradition of anti-quackery, embracing such figures as Morris Fishbein and Abraham Flexner , which has been part of American medical culture since the early-twentieth century. Although acknowledging that Quackwatch's "exposé of dangerous and fraudulent health products represents an important social and ethical response to deception and exploitation", Vankevitch criticizes Barrett for attempting to limit "medical diversity", employing "denigrating terminology", categorizing all complementary and alternative medicine as

3550-545: The digestive tract, the Mayan also employed enemas, as documented during the colonial period, e.g., in the Florentine Codex . The indigenous peoples of North America employed tobacco smoke enemas to stimulate respiration, injecting the smoke using a rectal tube. A rubber bag connected with a conical nozzle, at an early period, was in use among the indigenous peoples of South America as an enema syringe, and

3621-521: The emerging therapeutic area of transanal irrigation. The term retrograde irrigation distinguishes this procedure from the Malone antegrade continence enema , where irrigation fluid is introduced into the colon proximal to the anus via a surgically created irrigation port. Patients who have a bowel disability, a medical condition which impairs control of defecation , e.g., fecal incontinence or constipation, can use bowel management techniques to choose

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3692-552: The health claims, marketing, safety, efficacy and labeling of many herbal supplements . Herbal preparations are regulated as foods, rather than as drugs, in the United States. The NCAHF advocates regulations for a special OTC category called "Traditional Herbal Remedies" (THRs) with an adverse reaction surveillance program, product batches marked for identification and tracking, package label warnings about proposed dangers of self-treatment, oversight requirements from outside of

3763-479: The herbal industry, and strong penalties for unapproved changes in herbal product formulations. The NCAHF asserted that many unqualified practitioners are able to mislead the public by using diploma mills or "degree mills" to get "specious degrees". Diploma mills are not accredited, and frequently engage in " pseudoscience and food faddism ". NCAHF also noted that "some of the 'faculty' or 'academic' advisors at several of these schools have criminal convictions in

3834-695: The human ATC code: for example, QA06 . National issues of the ATC classification may include additional codes not present in this list, which follows the WHO version. In alphabetical order In alphabetical order of the original brand names Klyx contains docusate sodium 1 mg/mL and sorbitol solution (70%)(crystallising) 357 mg/mL and is used for faecal impaction or constipation or for colon evacuation prior medical procedures, developed by Ferring B.V. Micralax (not to be confused with MICROLAX®) MICROLAX® (not to be confused with Micralax) combines

3905-428: The liquid injected, as well as to a device for administering such an injection. In standard medicine, the most frequent uses of enemas are to relieve constipation and for bowel cleansing before a medical examination or procedure; also, they are employed as a lower gastrointestinal series (also called a barium enema), to treat traveler's diarrhea , as a vehicle for the administration of food, water or medicine, as

3976-726: The media, books and various journals, as well as receiving several awards and honors. The Journal of the American Medical Association mentioned Quackwatch as one of nine "select sites that provide reliable health information and resources" in 1998. It was also listed as one of three medical sites in U.S. News & World Report 's "Best of the Web" in 1999. Thomas R. Eng, director of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Science Panel on Interactive Communication and Health, stated in 1999 that while "the government doesn't endorse Web sites   ...[Quackwatch]

4047-503: The milk sugars and proteins nor the molasses are absorbed in the lower intestine, thus keeping the water from the enema in the intestine. Studies have shown that milk and molasses enemas have a low complication rate when used in the emergency department and are safe and effective with minimal side effects. Mineral oil functions as a lubricant and stool softener, but may have side effects including rectal skin irritation and leakage of oil. ATC code A06 Drugs for constipation

4118-459: The pathology contributes to the risk of bowel perforation . Recent research has shown that ozone water, which is sometimes used in enemas, can immediately cause microscopic colitis . A recent case series of 11 patients with five deaths illustrated the danger of phosphate enemas in high-risk patients. Enema entered the English language c. 1675 from Latin in which, in the 15th century, it

4189-506: The patient should retain the solution for five to ten minutes, as tolerated. or, as some nursing textbooks recommend, for five to fifteen minutes or as long as possible. For emptying the entire colon as much as feasible deeper and higher enemas are utilized to reach large sections of the colon. The colon dilates and expands when a large volume of liquid is injected into it, and the colon reacts to that sudden expansion with general contractions, peristalsis , propelling its contents toward

4260-412: The quality of health information on the internet, assisting or generating consumer-protection lawsuits, and attacking misleading advertising on the internet. Quackwatch has no salaried employees, and the total cost of operating all Quackwatch's sites is approximately $ 7,000 per year. It is funded mainly by small individual donations, commissions from sales on other sites to which they refer, profits from

4331-499: The reason for their selection. A 2004 review paper by Katja Schmidt and Edzard Ernst in the Annals of Oncology identified Quackwatch as an outstanding complementary medicine information source for cancer patients. The Good Web Guide said in 2006 that Quackwatch "is without doubt an important and useful information resource and injects a healthy dose of scepticism into reviewing popular health information", but "tends to define what

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4402-445: The rectum alone. Improper administration of an enema can cause electrolyte imbalance (with repeated enemas) or ruptures to the bowel or rectal tissues which can be unnoticed as the rectum is insensitive to pain, resulting in internal bleeding . However, these occurrences are rare in healthy, sober adults. Internal bleeding or rupture may leave the individual exposed to infections from intestinal bacteria. Blood resulting from tears in

4473-439: The rectum. Soapsuds enema is a frequently used synonym for a large volume enema (although soap is not necessary for effectivity). For relieving occasional constipation, a large volume enema may be used in a home setting, although for recurring or severe cases of constipation medical care may be required. Plain water can be used, simply functioning mechanically to expand the colon, thus prompting evacuation. Normal saline

4544-536: The sale of publications, and self-funding by Barrett. The stated income is also derived from the usage of sponsored links . The Quackwatch website contains essays and white papers , written by Barrett and other writers, intended for the non-specialist consumer. The articles discuss health-related products, treatments, enterprises, and providers that Quackwatch deems to be misleading, fraudulent, or ineffective. Also included are links to article sources and both internal and external resources for further study. The site

4615-568: The third organization, an unnamed group in northern California. For a time between 1998 and 2000, the NCAHF operated under the name National Council for Reliable Health Information (NCRHI). The organization became inactive in 2002, and its legal entity was formally dissolved in 2011. According to NCAHF's mission statement, its activities and purposes included: NCAHF's positions on consumer health issues were based on what they considered ethical and scientific principles that underlie consumer protection law. Required were: NCAHF stated that its funding

4686-424: The volume of the liquid causing a rapid expansion of the intestinal tract in conjunction with, in the case of certain solutions, irritation of the intestinal mucosa which stimulates peristalsis and lubricates the stool to encourage a bowel movement. An enema's efficacy depends on several factors including the volume injected and the temperature and the contents of the infusion. In order for the enema to be effective

4757-798: The year. Quackwatch is overseen by Barrett, its owner, with input from advisors and help from volunteers, including a number of medical professionals. In 2003, 150 scientific and technical advisors: 67 medical advisors, 12 dental advisors, 13 mental health advisors, 16 nutrition and food science advisors, three podiatry advisors, eight veterinary advisors, and 33 other "scientific and technical advisors" were listed by Quackwatch. Many more have since volunteered, but advisor names are no longer listed. Quackwatch describes its mission as follows: ...   investigating questionable claims, answering inquiries about products and services, advising quackery victims, distributing reliable publications, debunking pseudoscientific claims, reporting illegal marketing, improving

4828-559: Was dissolved after Barrett moved to North Carolina in 2008, but the network's activities continue. Quackwatch co-founded, and was closely affiliated with, the National Council Against Health Fraud (NCAHF). The NCAHF was formally dissolved in 2011. In February 2020, Quackwatch became part of the Center for Inquiry . CFI planned to maintain its various websites and to receive Barrett's library later in

4899-404: Was first used in the sense of a rectal injection, from Greek ἔνεμα (énema), "injection", itself from ἐνιέναι (enienai) "to send in, inject", from ἐν (en), "in" + ἱέναι (hienai), "to send, throw". Clyster entered the English language in the late 14th century from Old French or Latin, from Greek κλυστήρ (klyster), "syringe", itself from κλύζειν (klyzein), "to wash out", also spelled glister in

4970-431: Was opposed to dietary recommendations and practices not supported by scientific evidence, including behavior-related claims. Unverified assessment methods such as iridology , applied kinesiology , and routine hair analysis for assessment of nutritional status are criticized. NCAHF and some of its members have long opposed implementation of beliefs that they characterize as unfounded or unscientific. NCAHF also questioned

5041-406: Was primarily derived from membership dues, newsletter subscriptions, and consumer information services. Membership was open to everyone, with members and consultants located all over the world. NCAHF's officers and board members served without compensation. NCAHF stated they united consumers with health professionals, educators, researchers, attorneys, and others. The NCAHF asserted that acupuncture

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