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Quackwatch
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Summary: Dynamic Chiropractic 7/27/1999
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Dynamic Chiropractic
21541 Surveyor Circle
Huntington Beach, CA 92646
Mr. Michael Devitt,
How in the world could you publish the article "A Call for Rational Chiropractic", by Craig Wiens, in your July 12, 1999 issue? Not only is the article completely misinformed, but also the author elevates to "expert status"an individual who is traditional medicine’s assassin concerning anything not medical, including and especially Chiropractic.
The article attempts to portray Applied Kinesiology, Vitamins and Homeopathy as controversial and without scientific backing. As a practitioner who uses vitamins and homeopathy, nothing could be further from the truth. Having never studied Applied Kinesiology, I’ll leave its defense to someone else.
Let’s look at the fallacy and lack of reason that pervades the article. Stating that "…few people need to take vitamin supplements…", the author quotes "Your Guide to Good Nutrition"by Dr. Stephen Barrett. Yes, that Stephen Barrett. Top assassin for the medical establishment, author of quackwatch.com and subject of a front-page article in Dynamic Chiropractic’s last issue. The author continues to quote Dr. Barrett’s "expertise"to assure us that optimal health is achieved through a balanced diet. He continues to say that there are 16 double blind studies that prove Vitamin C has no preventative effect on the common cold and that excessive intake of Vitamins A, C, D and B6 are toxic and can cause a variety of problems.
Let’s get real. Virtually no one eats a balanced diet, especially the patients who are suffering from a chronic illness. One of the easiest ways for a Chiropractic Physician to start someone on the path to regaining their health is to suggest high quality supplements and therapeutic compounds. The good science that supports Vitamin C won Linus Pauling a Nobel Prize. If the author had 16 studies to the contrary, why didn’t he quote them at the end of his article? Good science vs. bad science gets the unwitting every time.
To simply state that excessive intake of A, C, D and B6 can cause side effects without quoting amounts show obvious bias. Of course Vitamin A at high amounts for prolonged periods can cause problems, but only in amounts in excess of 50,000 IU per day. Do you have any idea how many pills you would have to swallow to take in that much? People with liver disease or who are pregnant should keep levels below 10,000 IU, but can tolerate much higher amounts of beta-carotene. A quality multi-vitamin uses higher ratios of beta-carotene, which has the same pharmacological effect as Vitamin A and no side effects.
Vitamin C shows a side effect at doses over 25,000 mg taken within 4-5 hours. Its called diarrhea. Again, no one does this. Vitamin D is toxic at levels over 65,000 IU per day, over a period of years. Heck, I can’t get my patients to remember to take their multi every day that contains only 400 IU of Vitamin D. You get more from sunlight on your skin in the winter. Vitamin B6 can also be toxic over prolonged periods in amounts that the average consumer never approaches. My advice to the author is to stop drinking water. Too much of that can kill you too.
Homeopathy is a favorite target of Dr. Barrett also. I recently debated him on this subject on a local radio show. The facts are that there are more studies on the efficacy of homeopathy than any of us could read in a lifetime, published in journals such as Lancet, British Medical Journal and British Journal of Clinical Pharmacology. There are also studies on reproducibility. The American medical arrogance doesn’t accept foreign studies. But, let’s forget about science for a while. Ask this question: Considering you can go into any pharmacy in Mexico, Central and South America or Europe and buy homeopathy; Is the author suggesting that these people have been sold a bill of goods for over a century and thank God for good old American doctors who can set them straight?
Dr. Wiens quotes in his first paragraph the survey by Dynamic Chiropractic that found that 44% of Chiropractors use vitamins and 54% use Homeopathy. Guess why? The public demands it. And they demand it because the therapies work. It is doctors like Dr. Wiens, Dr. Barrett, the rest of the medical establishment and their attitude that are pushing patients into chiropractic offices around the world that may or may not be using any of these therapies.
Dr. Wiens, shame on you for being in the same sentence with Stephen Barrett. The science behind these two treatments is sound and the studies exist. Stop spreading misinformation about subjects that you don’t understand simply because you haven’t taken the time to study them. Chiropractors are in a unique position because the public views us as the alternative and they are leaving traditional care in unprecedented numbers. Be a straight Chiropractor if you want, but if the patient doesn’t get well, refer them to one of us. Stay on our team; stop quoting someone whose sole purpose is to put you out of business.
Dr. David Dahlman, D.C.
Hyde Park Holistic Center
Published: 7/27/1999
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