We interview science journalist Simon Singh, co-author (with Dr. Edzard Ernst) of Trick or Treatment: The Undeniable Facts about Alternative Medicine (which both John and David highly recommend). For more about Simon visit SimonSingh.net. Please also visit LibelReform.org, a website devoted to changing the United Kingdom’s disgraceful libel laws (Simon is currently in the midst of a court battle with the British Chiropractic Association over his reporting on chiropractic treatment of children in the UK’s Guardian newspaper.)
Trick or Treatment is available at Amazon.com and Amazon.co.uk.
Continuing this episodes alternative medicine theme, we take a look at aromatherapy. Can smells trigger the body’s healing ability, or do they offer only a temporary placebo?
Also:
See Creation with American Freethought! We’re arranging an outing for the afternoon of Saturday, February 20th, to see the new Charles Darwin bio-pic starring Paul Bettany and Jennifer Connelly. We’ll convene for Thai food immediately after the movie. Details can be found here, or at this Facebook event page.
Can you spell C-O-N-T-E-S-T? We have a minor trove of nifty things to give away, including a 2009 American Atheists convention program signed by Richard Dawkins, a handful of books by famous critical thinkers, and an American Freethought t-shirt and coffee mug. To win, simply challenge John C. Snider to a game of “Words With Friends” (the iPhone version of the classic Scrabble). You’ll need an iPhone, of course; and you’ll need to download Words With Friends (created by game developer Newtoy, Inc.). John’s user name is “johncsnider.” The person who beats him by the most points during the month of February wins the tchoch.
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Theme music by Body Found.
Recorded February 6, 2010. Hosted by John C. Snider and David Driscoll.
Greetings!
Great Guest and I am so glad he wrote the book!
Regarding aromatherapy, one of you guys said that scents can’t trigger pain… well I can tell you that it can cause pain. I have migraines and when I am having one (like last night) just the scent of a candle can feel like an ice pick stabbing up my nose and into my brain. Not fun and very painful!
Also on another occasion just the smell of something has made me instantly throw up. So there has to be something to aromas that effect (affect??) the body.
But I know that there is suppose to be a certain scent that is suppose to help headaches feel better but it doesn’t. I don’t want to smell ANYTHING when i have a headache, any scent just makes me feel worse.
Thanks for the show/podcast. I love it!!
Sharon
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