GPs slam celeb-inspired therapies

Holly Enriquez

Tuesday, November 17, 2009

Gwyneth Paltrow is a fan of cupping

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Celebrities Alternative health detox Gwenyth Paltrow

Cupping, colonic irrigation, food-tolerance testing and detoxing have topped the list of useless health trends popularised by celebrities in a recent survey of GPs in the UK.

In the survey of 200 doctors, conducted by health-insurance company Aviva, the alternative health treatments popular with throngs of celebrities were declared a waste of money (92 percent of GPs) and with no medical value (93 percent of GPs).

The GPs warned that celebrities have a dangerous level of influence over women's health choices, which could be putting females at risk.

Cupping, a form of acupuncture in which heated cups cause a vacuum on the skin to stimulate blood flow and ease pain, took out the number-one spot.

Gwyneth Paltrow was famously photographed at a film premier with "cup marks" on her back, but despite the technique's high profile, studies are inconclusive, the UK's Daily Mail reported.

GALLERY: Celebrity health tips

Following close behind is colonic irrigation, which involves flushing the bowel with warm water, via a tube inserted into the rectum.

The method is invasive and can be dangerous if not done incorrectly. Ben Affleck told Britain's Zoo magazine it was like "losing his virginity".

Dr Douglas Wright, principal clinical consultant at Aviva UK Health, said women were wasting their money on celebrity-endorsed health fads that were not guaranteed to work.

"What's more worrying is that some women are opting for treatment trends rather than seeking medical advice," Dr Douglas Wright said.

"They might not be fashionable but tried and tested health routes are far safer and more beneficial."

The top 10 least-effective treatments were found to be:

1. cupping;
2. colonic irrigation;
3. food-intolerance testing;
4. detoxing;
5. macrobiotic diet;
6. aromatherapy;
7. reflexology;
8. vitamin B12 injections;
9. extreme yoga; and
10. overnight health-farm stay.

Have you tried any of these treatments? Comment below

User reviews

The cancer industry is a multi billion dollar industry, why on earth would western medicine and pharmacutical companies recognise nutritional therapy or alternative therapies. They can't make money from them and I also think they get a kick out of making people so sick. I read somewhere once that they are trying to make a pill for every ill and *** the side effects to the people taking it. It's time people started doing a bit more research for themselves rather than being told what they should be doing by doctors and pharmaceutical companies you might be surprised at what you find out.

I find any form of acupuncture whether its electro, cupping or just acupuncture works. Maybe those who have not tried it should just see for themselves. I won't go to a Western medicine doctor now, stick some needles in me and it will work.

I am an Alternative Therapist. I left school at 16, yet I have taught medical doctors in South Africa, England, Germany, Australia and New Zealand. At one time I had five doctor's wives as clients, yet none of their husbands knew! I have seen fasting clear all symptoms of Chronic Ulcerative Colitis. I have seen kinesiology straighten a foot in a week on a lady with Ricketts that was 25 degrees out to the side after 15 operations had failed. I have seen kinesiology correct medically diagnosed Chronic Fatigue in one session, but only because it was misdiagnosed - it was actually mercury toxicity. I have seen big improvements in MS symptoms with kinesiology. I have seen energy relax a jaw in 20 minutes that had been closed for two years after a wisdom tooth operation. I have seen hundreds of people have massive reductions in Chronic Pain without drugs, just kinesiology. So do you want double-blind studies funded by drug companies or do you want stuff that works?

Fighting loonies who promote "naturopathy" and "herbal remedies" and other stupid, unscientific "therapies" is made so hard by lunatic celebrities with more money than sense and a multitude of followers who have strayed from scientific medicine because they've been burned. The placebo effect is strong with these things - you want them to work, and while you might still have cancer, you feel lighter (particularly in your wallet region). If these things worked, they would be accepted by doctors with MEDICAL DEGREES, instead of new-age quackjobs. Get a grip people.

Actually while I agree with the majority of this article, I have to say I have had cupping (in conjunction with a full body massage) and it felt great! The cups were only left on particularly sore spots (lower back and hips) while the other was "dragged" (gently) over my back, shoulders and neck. It gave a more intense massage and I felt really good afterward and slept really well that night like never before! I wouldn't say cupping was a cure all for pain and detoxing or whatever, but it was great combined with my massage (though I did look like a had a few "hickies" on my back!). Similar to hot rocks and they're wonderful too (without any left over marks)! Regular massages keep me sane!!!

I'm sorry, did somebody say... PLACEBO much? cupping works my a$$! If you really feel the need to do this then why not get someone to put the vacuum cleaner on your back instead? haha to all of you who think this stuff works! Just because people have been doing something for centuries doesn't mean that it works or its merits are valid, look at religion for an example. I rest my case.

Cupping is a typical Eastern form of therapy used for...how many centuries? My parents and I use a similar form of therapy to Cupping everytime we have a cold or sore muscles. The results are similar -- the skin ends up being red. It works. It's like a massage, pretty much. I'm guessing most of these GPs are non-Asian then...

What a load of... Cupping is proven to work 100 percent... I ,user it every day with great results. any amount of results verifiyed by satisfied clients, these test results would be by biased doctors or some one with a barrow to push

I am a healthy 57year old and have never tried any of these remedies.I have an excellent GP who I visit occassionally.

My husband and I went to Portugal for a 1 week detox. The diet was 2 fresh fruit juices and 2 vegetable broths (the broth was clear vegetables), 2 tablespoons of apple cider vinegar, some fibre husks and clay were put into the juices (the clay was tasteless) and some supplements provided each day for 1 week. We had two enemas per day. There were about 10 of us with different health problems. I couldn’t believe how much rubbish (it was vile) was removed from my bowel. It took five days into the fast before I was empty. Everyone had a similar story. I was 8 kilos lighter at the end and I could smell the flowers again . Afterwards we found out that one couple that had been trying to conceive for years became pregnant. I felt so well and after experiencing migraines monthly was free of them for a few months. My husband was shocked to find he was full of worms. These were revealed after he had a garlic enema. He always had stomack problems for years and this revealed why.

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