Quackeries

1. 7th Grade Quackeries

2. What is a quackery? • A false claim for a cure • A quack is a person who promotes or sells a health product or service that is unproven or ineffective

3. Four reasons quackery seems to work. • Ignorance: Consumers do not know the difference between health products that have been shown to be effective and those that have not. Ex: doctor • Placebo effect: You feel better because you think you SHOULD feel better. • Self-limiting conditions: The disease or condition will go away if the person does nothing at all. 70% of all health problems will go away if the person does nothing at all. • Sleight of hand: use of a magic trick, used to promote a false product.

4. Most common types of quackery • Drug: Be careful for products promoted to cure multiple problems • Nutrition: Supplements, you can get all the supplements you need from food. • Device: Exercise and weight loss equipment does not always work. The equipment that does all the work for you.

5. Four most vulnerable consumers • Uninformed: Not knowing the facts • Restless: Expect quick results. Unwilling to take responsibility • Miracle seeker: Do not be taken in by someone promoting something sensational. “if it is too good to be true, then it probably is” • Straw grasper: Desperate individuals. The quack will provide the victim with false hope.

6. 3 Characteristics of Quackery • Progressive: Sounds too good to be true • Big business: Quacks are successful because there are many suckers out there • It is for an incurable condition: Quacks exploit the health problems that modern medicine cannot cure.