Reply #8: it's interesting that you single out meditation and relaxation training [View All]

[OnTheOtherHand]

Lots of people could benefit from learning new ways to relax. I haven't read studies on the effectiveness of actually existing relaxation training, but I have no trouble believing that it could be useful.

What's disturbingly characteristic about the article is how it lumps together, as "alternative," things like relaxation training with things like homeopathy. The specific claims of homeopathy -- e.g., the practice of succussion -- make no sense whatsoever.

If homeopathy's defenders construe it as a form of meditation (some people use a candle, some people use a vial of water...), that would be interesting to know. Candles tend to be a lot cheaper.

People ought to set aside the notion that they are somehow sticking it to "Big Pharma" (and its "acolytes," meh) by embracing all things "alternative." No matter how much one hates the pharmaceutical industry, it doesn't have a lock on dangerous and/or ineffective treatments, and it never will.