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How many times have I actually paid attention to medical advice offered on the socials by people who may—or may not—be licensed medical practitioners? Well, let’s just say I’ve never done anything really stupid, yet. And, honestly,I have done research on some of the claims so-called “practitioners” have made on the socials. It is fascinating how we can be lured down the wormhole of false and often sketchy information. If you use social media you might find you are inundated, daily by fasttalking individuals who want you to know how all of your health-related issues could be sorted by taking some kind of supplement or massaging your thumbs 2.5 millimetres from the joint or drinking a smelly concoction or throwing all of your prescription medications into the garbage.
And, who among us wouldn’t want a miracle cure for what ails us? I know I’d hop into a line for something if I knew for a fact it might change what years of neglect and stupidity has wrought upon my body. I could write a book about the things I’ve checked out because I was hoping to find “the answer”. Honestly, I’m a Boomer. My generation mixed baby oil with iodine, slathered it on our skin and then baked for hours in the hot sun hoping to achieve a Coppertone™ tan. Mostly what I ended up with was a blistering burn. And here I am, cruising the socials, looking for the cure for all of the “age” spots, suspicious bumps and scaly skin I developed because my generation didn’t understand those pesky UV rays when we were teenagers. It’s almost a guarantee I’ll end up with some kind of skin cancer. The truth is, the fear of skin cancer now has me scrolling for a cure for a condition I might not have but a cure that doesn’t involve radiation or chemo or invasive surgery or a visit to a doctor for screening. And while I’m on the topic of scrolling for magic, let’s talk about cortisol. I was only vaguely aware I had a cortisol level until I saw a TikTok or a Reel of a woman with perfect skin and hair and she told me I have belly fat because my cortisol level was out of whack. This is good to know, because I thought it was due to my consumption of the leftover Easter candy, loaded cheeseburgers with Frings, wine and Lay’s Potato Chips™. Whew. I dodged the bullet on that. It’s not what I eat, it’s my cortisol! And then?
Well, and then I didn’t rush out and load up on the shwagandha, turmeric and something else to make a cocktail to help me lose weight, sleep deeply and put an end to my anxiety. And I haven’t hauled out the cauldron and brewed up a batch of fresh lemon and orange juice, coconut water and magnesium powder to control my, apparently, out-of-control cortisol levels. Nor have I stopped taking any of the medications a licensed physician has prescribed for me. And, this is important, I haven’t told the Radiation Oncologist I wish to “pass” on any further MRIs or brainy treatments. And before you start wailing about how alternative medicine has saved you, I do believe there are benefits to be realized from alternative therapies and supplements. I really do. And I admire a licensed medical professional who is willing to work with practitioners of alternative medicine and therapies. But the sharp increase in non-factual videos regarding medical conditions and treatments by untrained people could lead to devastating outcomes for the unwary. More than a few of the so-called alternative treatments, like those on Reels and TikTok, may not only be ineffective but downright dangerous. According to a respected Medical Centre in the USA close to half of those social media videos contain mostly “non-factual information”. The “non-medical influencers”, some of whom have upwards of ten thousand followers, are in no position to offer medical advice.
Boomers believe “an apple a day kept the doctor away” and the benefits of chasing our Cod Liver Oil pills down with a load of hot oatmeal. Those “remedies for what ailed us” were relatively harmless, but did have some healthy benefits. I’m not so sure about sticking a garlic clove up your nose to cure your sinus infection, or if pouring hot wax in your ear will purify your blood. Do your research kids. If it sounds like it’s too good to be true, chances are…
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