
Let me make one thing perfectly clear: I have absolutely no doubt that Gary does have lots of satisfied customers. Thanks to the combination of self-diagnosis, psychosomatic or self-limiting illnesses, pure coincidence and the sort of wishful thinking that stops seriously ill people seeking mainstream medical help until it's too late, every fraudulent miracle worker and faith healer in history has had satisfied customers.
By Julia
Gary's sites include a selection of testimonials, all of which provide a fascinating glimpse into the belief systems of both Gary and his patients. Unfortunately, without detailed information from the doctors who examined these people before and after Gary's treatment they are of no value as evidence. Only in the world of woo is "data" the plural of "anecdote".
The testimonials can be read here:
http://www.garymannion.com/
http://www.abehealing.org/7.html
The following testimonials are particularly interesting (in each case the bolding is mine):
Quote:
Robert Williams: Aged 50, Newport
Robert came to see me for Dermatomyosytis disease (muscle wasting disease which destroys the immune system). It also has given him a extremely high blood pressure which caused the blood vessel in his left eye to burst leaving him blind in that eye. While driving home from his first session he found his left eye stinging. After a couple minutes of this stinging he found he could read license plate numbers with the eye that minutes ago was blind. We have also got him off most of his medication by fixing his immune system and he is down to only 1 tablet at the moment which we look to get him off following his next session. He will happily recommend me to anyone.
By this time, gentle reader, you won't be surprised to learn that Gary misspelled the name of the disease - it should be Dermatomyositis. He also described it in scare-mongering language. Here's how The National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) describes it:
Quote:
Dermatomyositis is one of a group of muscle diseases known as the inflammatory myopathies, which are characterized by chronic muscle inflammation accompanied by muscle weakness.Dermatomyositis’ cardinal symptom is a skin rash that precedes or accompanies progressive muscle weakness. The rash looks patchy, with bluish-purple or red discolorations, and characteristically develops on the eyelids and on muscles used to extend or straighten joints, including knuckles, elbows, heels, and toes. Red rashes may also occur on the face, neck, shoulders, upper chest, back, and other locations, and there may be swelling in the affected areas. The rash sometimes occurs without obvious muscle involvement. Adults with dermatomyositis may experience weight loss or a low-grade fever, have inflamed lungs, and be sensitive to light. Children and adults with dermatomyositis may develop calcium deposits, which appear as hard bumps under the skin or in the muscle (called calcinosis). Calcinosis most often occurs 1-3 years after the disease begins. These deposits are seen more often in children with dermatomyositis than in adults. In some cases of dermatomyositis, distal muscles (muscles located away from the trunk of the body, such as those in the forearms and around the ankles and wrists) may be affected as the disease progresses. Dermatomyositis may be associated with collagen-vascular or autoimmune diseases, such as lupus.
Is there any treatment?
There is no cure for dermatomyositis, but the symptoms can be treated. Options include medication, physical therapy, exercise, heat therapy (including microwave and ultrasound), orthotics and assistive devices, and rest. The standard treatment for dermatomyositis is a corticosteroid drug, given either in pill form or intravenously. Immunosuppressant drugs, such as azathioprine and methotrexate, may reduce inflammation in people who do not respond well to prednisone. Periodic treatment using intravenous immunoglobulin can also improve recovery. Other immunosuppressive agents used to treat the inflammation associated with dermatomyositis include cyclosporine A, cyclophosphamide, and tacrolimus. Physical therapy is usually recommended to prevent muscle atrophy and to regain muscle strength and range of motion. Many individuals with dermatomyositis may need a topical ointment, such as topical corticosteroids, for their skin disorder. They should wear a high-protection sunscreen and protective clothing. Surgery may be required to remove calcium deposits that cause nerve pain and recurrent infections.
What is the prognosis?
Most cases of dermatomyositis respond to therapy. The disease is usually more severe and resistant to therapy in individuals with cardiac or pulmonary problems.
So Gary and his team (I assume he isn't using the royal "we") stopped Mr Williams taking most of his medication and hope to "get him off" his one remaining tablet. Bearing in mind that Dermatomyositis can't be cured but its symptoms can be alleviated, did Mr Williams' doctor know about Gary's treatment? And if Gary can "fix" someone's immune system shouldn't he be devoting his life to ridding the world of AIDS?
As for the burst blood vessel in Mr Williams' left eye - this is a relatively common problem caused by high blood pressure, external pressure on the eyeball or stress. In the vast majority of cases, as I know from personal experience, the problem clears up by itself within a couple of weeks. I do hope Gary isn't insinuating that had it not been for his ministrations Mr Williams would have been
permanently blind in his left eye.
Quote:
Lee Gale: Aged 6, London – Helena brought her 5 year old son at the time Lee to see me because he had warts on his finger that continually growed. All the doctors could do was freeze them off when they grew which caused him a lot of pain and temporary relief. After one treatment the warts completely disappeared of there own accord and have not returned since, which the doctors cannot explain. Helena had heard about me through her mother Estelle who had a foot problem (which she suffered with for 4 years) fixed. Both are very happy to recommend me to anyone.
Headline -
DOCTORS BAFFLED BY MIRACULOUS DISAPPEARANCE OF WARTS! I think Gary should tell us the name of this hospital so we can all do our utmost not to be taken ill or hit by a car in its vicinity.
Warts raised their ugly heads again here (my bolding):
Quote:
Joanne page writing on behalf of Liam Page (son), Aged 8 years old: Located in South Woodham Ferres: Back in February this year You may recall, my son Liam had in excess of 20 warts covering his fingers. I had tried various over the counter remedies and even ointment (acid based) as prescribed by our GP, but to no avail. These warts had become ever increasing and apart from unsightly they had begun to get sore.
By luck (right time right place) I came across your surgery in South Woodham Ferrers and booked my son in for your surgery. Liam spent half an hour with you, feeling very relaxed (if nothing else) once surgery had finished. However, after 2 weeks the warts appeared to have flattened. I filed them as recommended and bingo...they were gone! There were still 7 left, but I was totally amazed and booked another session with you.
It has been just over three weeks since this second visit and I am happy to say that they have all gone! My son is so impressed he can now show his little fingers off.
I am so pleased and would like to take this opportunity to say "Thank you". You truely have a special gift and I cannot stop telling people.
Warts are caused by a virus. They are unsightly and embarrassing but will eventually disappear, with or without medical treatment. I can't make out from the wording of this testimonial who advised filing the warts - was it Joanne's doctor or Gary himself? If it was Gary I hope he didn't charge Joanne for recommending a form of treatment that has been common knowledge for years, or fail to remind her that the filed area should be kept clean to avoid infection. The time lapse between Gary's "cure" and the eventual dissapearance of the warts was close enough for Joanne to attribute to him what was a perfectly natural process. And doesn't she find it odd that all twenty warts didn't vanish at the same time? Oh, but I'm forgetting - Gary's "treatment" continues to work for about ten days after the patient's visit. In many cases this will allow Gary to claim responsibility for curing a self-limiting illness or minor injury.
Quote:
Keith Banfield: Aged 36, Wembley
Keith came to see me for his back. He had a vertebrae out of place which had caused a bulge on his back and was giving him terrible Sciatic pain down his legs. Although he had heard surgery was only a temporary solution, he was in so much pain he was considering going under the knife. A friend of mine called Mannie (who is the lead Physiotherapist at Northwick park hospital and who has seen me work many times) met Keith on a visit to India and upon hearing about Keith’s problem told Keith he knew of a Psychic Surgery that could fix his problem without him having to go to hospital. He came and saw me and after one session his back was 90% better. To this day his back problem has not come back. Keith is a level 5 chi-quando Master and teaches others. He now happily recommends me to anyone he meets with a problem.
Mannie? Surely this
has to be Manesh Naidoo, International Physiotherapist of Mystery. You know, the chap who hasn't worked at Northwick Park Hospital for at least five years and probably doesn't exist?
That's what I thought until today (3rd March) when I spoke to Sangita Patel, the REAL Head of Physiotherapy at Northwick Park. Yes, there
is a physiotherapist called Mannie at the hospital who is a friend of Gary's and has fallen for the miracle-working act hook, line and sinker. Ms Patel has told Mannie to pass on a message to Gary - if he doesn't stop mentioning Northwick Park the hospital is prepared to take legal action against him. During our conversation Ms Patel also expressed her astonishment that any healthcare professional could believe Gary's outlandish claims.
Another important point: Gary, the vertebrae themselves do not and
cannot slip out of place. If your spiritual guide Abraham (of whom more anon) didn't make this clear to you, one of his 37 invisible helpers you mentioned in your talk at St James' Church should have done so. It's the small disc-shaped bits of cartilage that act as cushions between the vertebrae that can become dislodged and make the patient's life a misery for weeks and even months. As for sciatic pain, according to Wikipedia:
Quote:
When the cause is due to a prolapsed or lumbar disc herniation, research has shown that, with supportive treatment to help relieve pain, 90% of disc prolapse will recover with no specific intervention.
Quote:
Claire Carberry: Age 41, Chepstow – Claire is a MS sufferer and has been on a zimmer frame for 6 years. After our first session Claire no longer needs her zimmer frame to walk and leaves it at home when she goes out. We are now looking to get Claire 100% with her muscles in our next session.
A 100% cure of MS? It sounds impressive, but read this article from "All About Multiple Sclerosis (
www.mult-sclerosis.org/whatisms.html):
Quote:
Relapsing/Remitting Multiple Sclerosis
Relapsing/Remitting Multiple Sclerosis (RRMS) is one of four internationally recognised forms of Multiple Sclerosis.
RRMS is characterised by relapses (also known as exacerbations) during which time new symptoms can appear and old ones resurface or worsen. The relapses are followed by periods of remission, during which time the person fully or partially recovers from the deficits acquired during the relapse.
Relapses can last for days, weeks or months and recovery can be slow and gradual or almost instantaneous. The vast majority of people presenting with Multiple Sclerosis are first diagnosed with relapsing/remitting. This is typically when they are in their twenties or thirties, though diagnoses much earlier or later are known. Twice as many women as men present with this variety.
Quote:
Mindu Arvinder, Aged 40, New Malden, Surrey: My name is Mindu and I have suffered from back pain for 15 years. I work as a PA to the directors of a software company and for me, miracles and lottery wins are interesting reading material for when they happen to other people – I was very clear that those kind of random things were for those lucky chosen few - not the kind of stuff that would ever happen to me. My back pain limited the amount of exercise I could do, so I was slowly putting on weight around my midriff and this in turn was pulling on my spine and exacerbating the pain. This was creating a catch 22 situation and by 2005 the pain had become acute, to the point where it was painful to sit, stand, walk and even sleep. Sitting in my chair at work was leaving me feeling nauseated and dizzy with pain almost every day of the week.. I had tried Osteopathy, Massage, Flotation, Acupuncture, Physiotherapy, Reiki, Reflexology - all to no avail. I had heard of Psychic surgery before, but was reluctant, as I imagined it would be the same as normal surgery, but not endorsed by the medical field. One day, I decided to read more about it and was relieved to realise that psychic surgery did not involve any invasion, so I decided to book an appointment. On the first appointment, without any description from myself, Gary went straight to the exact point on my back where the pain had always been the worst. Sometimes, to alleviate this pain, I would ask my husband to press down on this point as hard as he could with a blunt pointed object. Gary said that he was releasing the majority of pressure from this area and that he tended to have an 85% success rate with this type of problem. I did not feel anything and was not required to remove any clothing – Gary said that it may feel tender for a couple of days after and not to exert myself. He said that there was some more work that needed to be done and that I would need another appointment to do the rest of the work and to leave a minimum of 4 weeks to allow my back heal from the first session.
The next morning, I woke for the first time in years without any pain or stiffness and went to work and the first thing I did was to send Gary an email to thank him for my miracle. As the day progressed, sitting in my chair at work and driving back through the traffic using the clutch repeatedly, I realised that the back pain was still very much there. However, the pain never returned to the area that he had worked on, so I was still really optimistic.
I hardly know where to start with this one. We aren't told what actually caused Ms Arvinder's chronic back pain, but we do know that she was
still suffering from it after two sessions of treatment by Gary - it had merely moved from one place to another. Hardly a "miracle", one would have thought, and although Ms Arvinder begins her testimonial by saying that she once thought that miracles were for other people, it's clear from the other alternative treatments she tried that she
was looking for a miracle herself.
It seems rather odd that when Ms Arvinder "read more about" psychic surgery she discovered that it "did not involve any invasion". Of course, classic psychic surgery as performed by the Filipino charlatans
doesn't involve opening the body with a knife - they want patients to believe that they use their hands to make a magically painless incision! Ms Arvinder's reading couldn't have been very extensive if she didn't find this out for herself. Gary Mannion's brand of psychic surgery seems to have originated with a group in Manchester who suggested that he have a go at it:
http://stargoss.co.uk/garymannion/modules/news/article.php?storyid=25Gary, together with Nina Knowland and Andy Porter, recently became a founder member of the
Unity of UK Psychic Surgeons:
http://stargoss.co.uk/garymannion/modules/news/article.php?storyid=33 By not pretending to "remove" bits of offal and passing them off as tumours or other diseased human tissue, members of the UUKPS have shrewdly ensured that there is no physical evidence to be snatched by those horrid sceptics and examined in a laboratory.
I don't think there's anything mysterious about Gary going straight to the part of Ms Arvinder's back where the pain was worst - how large is the average human back? - especially if her body language was giving him a clue.
As for the bloodless, incisionless surgery itself (why does Gary use the word "surgery" at all, apart from the fact that it sounds impressive?), Ms Arvinder says "it just felt like his fingers were moving firmly and swiftly over the affected area." I'm going to throw caution to the winds here and suggest a possible reason for this - that Gary's fingers
were moving firmly and swiftly over the affected area, and that nothing paranormal was taking place.
The day after receiving what sounds like perfectly ordinary massage/manipulation and having a friendly conversation with Gary, Ms Arvinder enjoyed a brief respite from stiffness and pain. Could there possibly be a connection between the two, I ask myself? Ms Arvinder even sent Gary an e-mail "to thank him for my miracle"! Sadly, the pain returned
later that same day (but in a different place, which at least made a change). I have no idea how much Ms Arvinder paid for her two sessions of treatment but I hope she still feels "really optimistic".
Quote:
Tamimah Dhaher, Aged 35, London: I was lucky enough to obtain a session of Psychic Surgery with Gary at the Mind, Body, Spirit festival in London in November 2007. My main concern was the knee pain I had been suffering from for the last ten years and I also asked for a body scan to see if there were any other health issues we needed to work on. Gary could tell that I had a condition in my knees before I even told him and he could also see that one knee was in worse condition than the other. He also asked if I had been suffering from lethargy and other symptoms associated with an underactive thyroid as he could see that I also had that condition. Indeed I had been suffering from these symptoms for a long time. Gary worked on my knees and then on my throat and pituitary gland. Following the session, I noticed two things quite starkly: first of all, my knee pain disappeared and for the first time I could bend at the knee and walk up and down stairs pain-free. Secondly, for a few weeks I was bounding with so much energy that I constantly wanted to do things - this was perhaps even more amazing as prior to the session I never had the energy or will to do anything. Gary did advise me that this may happen and it has now balanced out nicely. I would have no hesitation in recommending to all my friends and family that they should see Gary and liberate themselves from unnecessary pain and dis-ease.
I'm not prone to making melodramatic gestures, but this little gem actually made me groan aloud and cover my face with my hands.
"Gary could tell that I had a condition in my knees before I even told him and he could also see that one knee was in worse condition than the other." Dare I suggest that there could be a simple explanation for this - such as the fact that Gary
SAW HER WALKING?Similarly, Gary wouldn't have needed supernatural skills to diagnose Ms Dhaher's underactive thyroid, a condition whose physical symptoms include goitre (which can manifest itself as anything from a slight but noticeable swelling of the neck to a disfiguring lump). When Ms Dhaher says that Gary "could see that I also had that condition" she was right - but he was using his eyes, not his Super Indigo Powers.
As for Ms Dhaher's short-lived burst of vitality after Gary's treatment, readers familiar with the cruel truth about faith healing rallies at which people throw away crutches and back braces, leap out of wheelchairs and (literally) dance in the aisles will know that the "miracle" doesn't last long. Once the adrenaline, the heady atmosphere of the rally and the false hope wear off these unfortunate people are no better off than they were before. Of course this particular incident took place in the more sedate surroundings of a "Mind, Body, Spirit" Fair, but the reason for the "cure" is exactly the same. Ms Dhaher's eagerness to believe - she even asked Gary for a "scan" to see if she had other health problems - and her conviction that a miraculous healing
had taken place were quite enough to bring about a brief improvement. And you'll notice that Gary even predicted that after a few weeks Ms Dhaher's new lease of life would "balance out". Amazing!
I do hope Ms Dhaher hasn't advised "all her friends and family" to see Gary
instead of a real doctor...
Quote:
Cassie Griffiths: Aged 43, Colchester - I am writing to thank you for healing my eye, I was in the audience at Colchester Mind Body and Soul, and whilst watching you heal a lady who had a kidney problem and another lady with back problems I felt that I was receiving healing myself on my right eye, I had been under the doctor and then the hospital, and was putting medication into my eye three times a day, however, I left Colchester, felt a little cold!! And the following morning woke up and bingo my eye was healed, and has been okay every since. It is wonderful. I had suffered with the white of my eye being red and bloody for over two months, the doctors called it Keratitis, and once I saw the hospital the consultant said it could take six months to heal, with medication. But you did it for me within minutes. So, a BIG THANK YOU to you.
Yes, you read that correctly. Ms Griffiths was merely
in the audience - Gary didn't so much as lay a healing hand on her, he was far too busy with other peoples' backs and kidneys! Yet here she is, desperately keen to share the magic by giving him the credit for curing her Keratitis, for which she was already using eye-drops or ointment.
Now, when a specialist tells you that a condition "could take six months to heal, with medication", he or she means that if you take your medicine in the prescribed doses, you can expect to make a full recovery
within six months. An instant improvement would indeed have been noteworthy, but Ms Griffiths had been using her medication three times a day for a while. There is nothing miraculous about her quicker-than-expected recovery coinciding - more or less - with her visit to the Colchester woo-fest. Notice that she doesn't say her medication wasn't working, or that her eye was just as badly bloodshot on the day of Gary's "cure" as it was when the Keratitis was at its worst.
If Ms Grifiths had noticed a sudden improvement the day after she drove past a slaughterhouse or was caught outdoors during a violent thunderstorm, would she have seen a causal relationship between the two events? Of course not. Her testimonial is a textbook example of the craving for the miraculous, the mysterious and the marvellous that fuels the New Age juggernaut. And causes this particular sceptic to articulate an abundance of annoying alliteration.
Quote:
Maria Bianchi, Aged 44, London: Dear Gary
I just got the result from the blood test and the level of creatinine has
gone from 3.5 down to 2.97. Hence, there has been an improvement. I
thank you and Abraham. I am looking forward to do my next appointment.
I'm sure you're simply dying to know what creatinine is (from
http://www.medicinenet.com/creatinine_blood_test/article.htm):
Quote:
What is creatinine?
Creatinine is a chemical waste molecule that is generated from muscle metabolism. Creatinine is produced from creatine, a molecule of major importance for energy production in muscles. Approximately 2% of the body's creatine is converted to creatinine every day. Creatinine is transported through the bloodstream to the kidneys. The kidneys filter out most of the creatinine and dispose of it in the urine.
Why is it important to check blood creatinine levels?
The kidneys maintain the blood creatinine in a normal range. Creatinine has been found to be a fairly reliable indicator of kidney function. As the kidneys become impaired the creatinine level in the blood will rise. Abnormally high levels of creatinine thus warn of possible malfunction or failure of the kidneys, sometimes even before a patient reports any symptoms. It is for this reason that standard blood and urine tests routinely check the amount of creatinine in the blood.
What are "normal" blood creatinine levels?
Normal levels of creatinine in the blood are approximately 0.6 to 1.2 milligrams (mg) per deciliter (dl) in adult males and 0.5 to 1.1 milligrams per deciliter in adult females. (In the metric system, a milligram is a unit of weight equal to one-thousandth of a gram, and a deciliter is a unit of volume equal to one-tenth of a liter.)
Muscular young or middle-aged adults may have more creatinine in their blood than the norm for the general population. Creatinine levels that reach 2.0 or more in babies and 10.0 or more in adults may indicate the need for a dialysis machine to remove wastes from the blood.
Certain drugs can sometimes cause abnormally elevated creatinine levels.
Ms Bianchi's pre-Gary creatine level of 3.5 falls far short of the 10.0 that would require dialysis, so she could not have been seriously ill to begin with. The post-Gary reading of 2.97 doesn't suggest that a miraculous healing had taken place (particularly if Ms Bianchi was also taking medication for her condition). You'll notice that Ms Bianchi was called back for a second appointment - does Gary charge by the miracle or by the session? Yet again we see the "need to believe" in action, and Gary - together with Abraham, of course! - gets the credit.
Quote:
Ron Watson M.B.E: Aged 73 , Location Oxford
Dear Gary, I write this testimonial to say Thank you for the recent healings that I have received from you and your spirit guide Abraham.
I consulted you in December last with a swollen testicle which was the result of surgery that I had last October. Following a healing session from you the swelling subsided and the testicle returned to its normal size within a few days.
I defy anyone to read the above and not be tempted to use the phrase "New Age bollocks". We aren't told
why Mr Watson underwent surgery, whether or not he suffered from post-operative infections that may have exacerbated the swelling or exactly how much time elapsed between the operation and Gary's treatment (it could have been anything from 4 1/2 to 13 weeks). As a general rule, most people who try alternative healing methods are strongly predisposed to believe in them. When post-operative swelling - which let's face it doesn't last indefinitely - subsides a few days after the treatment, the patient wants to believe the healer was responsible. I can see nothing miraculous about Mr Watson's recovery. The testimonial continues:
Quote:
I again consulted you on Thursday 21st February 2008 in your new premises in Harrow as I had experienced some bloating and burning sensation caused, I think by a reflux of food. Again two days later this condition had cleared completely which meant no further medication was necessary.
I feel fitter then ever and I feel that this is due to the wonderful healing power which came through the hands of Gary from his spirit guide.
I had met Gary at an exhibition in London Last November and was so impressed by his ability to help people who had various health problems that I decided to have a personal consultation with him.
Thank you Gary and may you continue to be of help and comfort to so many people.
In other words Mr Watson had a nasty case of indigestion. Already a convert to Gary's healing powers, he went for another consultation with Gary at his "new premises in Harrow".
Two days later Mr Watson's indigestion cleared up. Absolutely incredible!
Quote:
Wendy P, Aged 30, Herts: Hi Gary, I don't think you will remember me but you did a reading for me around this time last year and told me I was going to get pregnant and have a baby girl, well, guess what, I just had a lovely baby girl a couple of weeks ago!..Thanks for the reading, you were right all along.
I must be getting into the habit of making melodramatic gestures because I just did the groaning-aloud-and-covering-face-with-hands thing again. Wendy, it isn't unknown for women of child-bearing age to bear children. Babies come in two (2) varieties, so Gary had a 50/50 chance of guessing your baby's sex correctly. And had he been wrong, would you have bothered dropping him an e-mail to complain?
Finally, here's a testimonial that will bring tears to your eyes.
Quote:
Mark Kellie and Darla-Star: Colchester - Dear Gary, Thank you for all you have done for my wife and I - emotionally, mentally, spiritually, and physically! Thank you for showing compassion and a smile even while you were in physical pain yourself, and worked to exhaustion. I have been suffering with pain and misaligned vertebra for ten years, and I can honestly say that after 3 appointments there is an 80% improvement. This is definitely not due to the placebo effect - as I have been to other healers and have myself done meditation and affirmation for many years. One thing I will never forget is the "Electrostatic Energy "that I felt flowing through my back the first time you worked on me! The emotional and mental blockages causing my physical symptoms are still leaving me, and I'm sure you/Abraham were the catalysts!
Can't you just picture the heroic healer, worn out by the strain of performing pyschic surgery, talking to Abraham, listening to the troubles of the desperate, the credulous and the hypochondriacally inclined - and still managing to show "compassion and a smile"? Well, even the most over-worked NHS doctor knows that telling a patient to "Bugger off, I'm knackered and I don't feel well" will do nothing for his reputation.
I'm glad that Mark felt better after Gary's healing. Perhaps he might be well enough to do a bit of research into the "placebo effect" and "electrostatic energy", because he doesn't seem to understand what they are.
If Gary's bravely-borne sufferings didn't bring a tear to your eye, Mark's deadpan description of his wife's equally miraculous cure will have the tears rolling down your cheeks:
Quote:
You have also done good emotional and mental cleansing for my wife Kellie! She is also now able to walk with her feet correctly aligned after the first appointment when you balanced her male/female energies. Thank you!
Who would have guessed that imbalanced male/female energies could cause misaligned feet?
Useful links:"Why Bogus Therapies Often Seem to Work"
http://www.quackwatch.com/01QuackeryRelatedTopics/altbelief.html"Spontaneous Remission and the Placebo Effect"
http://www.quackwatch.com/04ConsumerEducation/placebo.html