Doing research for any topic can lead you down a deep and dark rabbit hole. Anyone can tell you that. Almost every topic you can think of will send you into a spiral of misinformation, conspiracy theories, or unhinged tangents, if you look long and deep enough.
Medicine and health are some of the most dangerous topics to spread misinformation about. It could lead someone to take something that could poison them, give them a new disease, or make their condition worsen.
While research was being done on the origins of cancer, a local student came across an article called “Cancer is Not a Disease, But a Business” by @pabankumararjya on Steemit, a blogging and social media website.
In the “article” the author claimed that “Cancer is nothing else. But a difeciency of vitamin in B17.” and stated that in order to cure cancer, you only need to eat fruit seeds, “common beans”, grains, and other natural substances.
This article, which promotes an alternative form of medicine, sources a book by Dr. Harold W. Manner called, “Death of Cancer” that says that the success rate of treating cancer with Vitamin B17 or Laetrile is as high as 90%.
“It’s just stupid,” local teacher Lydia Buckley said when asked about the information in the article. “I believe you can combine traditional medicine with the holistic. If you’re willing to believe it, then go for it.”
Buckley, a cancer survivor, used “alternative medicine” along with the traditional during and even after her treatment. She believes that you should do anything to make yourself better, whether it’s meditation, crystals, or manifestation. But she also promotes research and believing credible sources.
Back to the article, the “vitamin B17” also known as Amygdalin or laetrile is promoted as a new-aged way of getting rid of cancer. According to Cancer Research UK, believers often say that it can help them live longer, detoxify their bodies, and cure them of ailments.
The National Institute of Health has shown that it can work in some cases, but the Food and Drug Administration has not cleared the use of laetrile in any form. The NIH and Cancer Research UK also warn that laetrile can cause other conditions.
Some conditions that this “vitamin” can cause are nausea, fever, confusion, very low blood pressure, coma, and death. This is because laetrile, when ingested by the body, is turned into cyanide, which people claim will help kill the cancer cells.
“I feel like [alternative medicine] has been poorly represented. The women at Dana Farber often had mental health and yoga instructors come in to help patients. They helped people meditate and manifest.” Buckley said.
Research is key when it comes to trying out new things. It is important to spot which sources are credible to the topic at hand, like the NIH, CDC, FDA, and which sources are not credible, like a blogger.
The internet is a vast landscape full of hundreds of pure-hearted people who are trying to make people better, but there is also a darker, more sinister side of the internet. People who lie, cheat, and spread rumors for their own personal gain.
If you choose to go the way of alternative medicine, then you need to know what you are getting yourself into. “[Take] responsibility [for your actions], can’t put [your] faith [in] someone who is unqualified.” Buckley said. “Know where [the information] is coming from.”
You can trust anyone you want, it’s not anyone’s decision but yours as to who you put your faith into, but you need to be careful. Many popular people, actors, politicians, and more all try to promote products for a profit.
Gwyneth Paltrow and her company Goop promote some forms of alternative medicine. “Again, you should look at who it’s coming from,” Buckley said. “Am I going to trust my [doctor] or Gwyneth Paltrow?”
If you are going to take the alternative medicine route, then look to professionals, people who have credibility in their fields. Buckley, who is working to be a yoga instructor, felt inspired by her cancer and the people who helped her.
There is always a chance that the alternative medicines won’t work, or lead to more illnesses, like the laetrile. One famous example of someone who put all of their faith into alternative medicines was Steve Jobs. He chose not to take the scientific-backed treatments for a fear of “being opened up.” As Buckley said, “You shouldn’t put all of your eggs in one basket.”
Before you make any decisions, you should look at a plethora of different sources, on both sides of the aisle. When you have looked at all of the possible outcomes, good and bad, and have made a final judgment, then you know if the path you want to take is good or bad. Ignore the people who are out to harm others, and look at the ones who know what they are doing.
