John H. Renner, M.D., a former president of the National Council Against Health
Fraud, used to love to attend expositions at which quacks promote what they do.
One day, after a lecture by a self-described "lymphologist" he asked whether the
speaker's treatment could be taken at the same time as moonbeam therapy -- a
method Renner had invented on-the-spot. "Oh yes," the lymphologist responded
immediately, "it would make my moonbeam therapy work even better."

This story is as instructive as it is amusing. Few people involved in quackery
criticize their fellow quacks; and many are perfectly happy to borrow from each
other to make themselves more marketable. In many cases, one or more nonsensical
practices are mixed to form an even higher level of nonsense. Here are a few
examples of treatment systems that build on the traditional Chinese medicine
concept that nonmaterial electromagnetic energy ("chi") flows through invisible
pathways called "meridians."

Nutripuncture uses "homeopathic nutrient pills" that are said to work like
acupuncture needles. Proponents claim that small tablets incorporated with tiny
amounts of nutrients have "an immediate action on cellular levels of the body's
organs" and "restore the information and the function of the organs and
emotional blockages." (In other words, insignificant amounts of nutrients are
swallowed to influence an imaginary body electrical system to "balance"
imaginary body forces that supposedly are related to organ dysfunctions.)

A proponent Web site lists 38 nutrient products, 38 organs, 38 symptoms, and 38
psychological states -- all numbered to tell the practitioner which product
should be used for which organ, symptom, or psychological state. There is no
scientific evidence or reason to believe that large amounts of the listed
nutrients can do what the proponents claim. But even if they could, the amounts
contained in the nutripuncture products would be too small to have the same
effect.

Applied kinesiology (AK) is based on the notion is that every organ dysfunction
is accompanied by a specific muscle weakness, which enables diseases to be
diagnosed through muscle-testing procedures. Its proponents claim that
nutritional deficiencies, allergies, and other adverse reactions to foods or
nutrients can be detected by having the patient chew or suck on them or by
placing them on the tongue so that the patient salivates.

"Good" substances supposedly make specific muscles stronger, whereas "bad"
substances will cause specific weaknesses. Most of the muscle tests involve
pushing down on the patient's outstretched arm. Some chiropractic proponents
also claim that muscle-testing techniques can also be used to evaluate the flow
of "energy" along "acupuncture meridians" and that spinal misalignments also
influence the status of the meridian system. "Treatment" may include special
diets, food supplements, acupressure, and spinal manipulation.

Nambudripad's Allergy Elimination Technique (NAET) is based on the notion that
allergies are caused by "energy blockage" that can be diagnosed with
muscle-testing and permanently cured with acupressure and/or acupuncture
treatments. When testing is completed, the practitioner treats "acupuncture
points" on the back using strong pressure either by hand or with a pressure
device while the allergen is held in the patient's hand. Patients above the age
of ten may also receive acupressure or acupuncture needles on specific points on
the front of the body.

The most bizarre combination practice I have encountered is a variation of NAET
that surfaced in a recent lawsuit by a woman who was trying to recover US$30,521
she had paid for 286 visits to a naturopath over a 3-year period. The services
included sessions in which the naturopath held the patient's hand with one of
his hands while she talked to him or while they sat quietly.

During the sessions, which took place at his home, the naturopath asked himself
questions while placing the third finger of his other hand over his index finger
and pressing down to "test the strength" of his own second finger. He testified
that the ability of his index finger to resist being pushed down indicated to
him whether each question should be answered yes or no. At various times, he
pressed on the woman's back to "desensitize" her to whatever substances or
emotions he imagined to be the problem. He also claimed to "balance her energy"
with his hands by touching her head or moving his hands through the air two to
four inches from her body.

In my report to the defense attorney, I summarized these sessions as "two people
holding hands while one pays the other to press on her back and think to
himself," The naturopath called the procedure "emotional NAET." I called it a
combination of abuse and larceny.

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Stephen Barrett, M.D. is Board Chairman, Quackwatch, Inc., and Vice President of
the National Council Against Health Fraud. He edits a free weekly electronic
newsletter and operates seven consumer-protection Web sites: