Health fads come and go, some shouldn’t, but some should definitely make a quick exit. Here is a guide to the good and the bad.
**Update** – One of our merry band of contributors here at DWR, Bleatmop, astutely pointed out that the last graph that was posted here, has some glaring problems with accuracy of the claims being made. That infographic has been removed from DWR and replaced with another with links to where they got their data from. Consider visiting Information is beautiful.net to see the graph in its full size and interactive format.
Link to studies cited in poster here.
bleatmop
Mystro
Dead Wild Roses 
6 comments
August 15, 2016 at 5:58 am
roughseasinthemed
Ufffff! Explosive.
Folic acid is a PITA for vegans. Chondroitin is crap for older animals, no idea if it works for younger ones.
Lavender, essential oil, is good for minor skin issues as is eucalyptus and the gel from aloe vera (tip from the head of the botanical gardens). Dandelions for nettle stings? Didn’t see that but they work.
Not everything is bad. Because it hasn’t gone through a three times peer-reviewed study doesn’t mean it doesn’t work.
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August 15, 2016 at 9:39 am
The Arbourist
@RSitM
Banging a pot resolutely at 5AM also guarantees that the sun will come up, I’ve seen it done personally 3 days in a row – you should thank me for my celestial bringing of light to the earth. :)
I personally have a hard time trusting many of the statements I read and hear – they have mostly been designed to persuade me while avoiding the faculties used to evaluate the truth claims involved in the matter. I feel more comfortable knowing the actual causal relationship involved when it comes to stuff like supplements and what not; the profit motive involved in selling these items makes me cynical toward many of the claims put forth.
I’m still looking for redeeming features in the manosphere – close to conclude that it is all bad. :)
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August 15, 2016 at 9:54 am
roughseasinthemed
My top tip of vodka/strong alcohol for oral problems has been shared on the internets after people found it worked. No dentist would dare recommend it these days but that’s who it came from. For me, if something works, I’ll recommend it. If someone suggests something, I’ll try it. Especially if it avoids greedy corporate Big Pharma.
Manosphere? Don’t make me choke on my drink.
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August 16, 2016 at 3:34 pm
bleatmop
I couldn’t read the citation on the bottom so I couldn’t go there to find out what kind of site originally hosted this nor find what their evidence is for each of the claims made in the graph. I can tell you that some of this doesn’t pass a casual eye check to me. Weasel words abound in this graph and most of it explains nothing.
For instance, in the circle for cranberry juice, it is under strong evidence for the urinary system. Notice how it doesn’t state what it does, just strong evidence for the urinary system. I would also point out that urinary system is colloquial term for the Renal System but I digress. So lets assume they are talking about that supposed link between cranberry juice and UTI. I’m going to outright say it, there is no strong evidence between using cranberry juice and treating or preventing UTI. There is a whole bunch of mixed evidence in published papers and meta-analysis of such shows that most of the studies have some serious flaws; such as high drop out rates, low sample sizes, poor controls in a variety of things such as source of cranberry and dosing schedule. I’m not sure how anyone could actually say there is strong evidence of anything in respect to cranberry juice yet. Using this graph’s own classification system it belongs in the conflicting category.
I could go on but I think I’ve made my point about cranberries. I could also comment on other parts of this graph but this comment is already too long.
TL;DR – I like using evidence as a guide but this graph has some serious flaws.
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August 16, 2016 at 7:01 pm
The Arbourist
@bleatmop
I cannot find this version of the graph on the original site.
The current graph, found here concurs with current evidence about cranberry intake.
They have a different static map, that is more current that I’ll put up.
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August 17, 2016 at 11:53 am
bleatmop
http://www.informationisbeautiful.net/visualizations/snake-oil-supplements/
This is much better and more or less corresponds to what I know (which is fine because I’m certain not all my information is up to date). I also like that you can click on the bubbles and get a source for their information. It’s a shame their original was so poorly done but it seems they’ve done a better job with the second revision.
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