The Quackometer

Maybe we are witnessing the death throes of the MMR controversy. The arguments that autism is caused by the triple-jab have been shown to be without merit and only the foaming go on about mercury in vaccines anymore (MMR never had any mercury in it). Andrew Wakefield is scrabbling with his last gasp of PR before his GMC disciplinary meeting. Undoubtley, the die-hard campaigners will see a cover up and conspiracy, but there is evidence now that other autism cuplrits are being sought.

Enter the electrosensivity lobby. I have stated my worry before that the organisations that supposedly support people who claim to be electrosensitive are doing their supporters a disservice by not being open minded to the causes of the problem. Ignoring science, or being selective about it, will open a multi-dimensional portal into an evil world of quackery. We have seen innocent Independent journalists already succumbing to fraudsters and quacks. Next up, is electrosensitivity regular Sarah Dacre.

Sarah has found meaning in her illnesses by blaming electromagnetic radiation. She was told that radio waves are the cause of her suffering by an 'expert' in flower esscences. She has been ably supported in that conclusion by Rod Read of electrosensitivity.org.uk. Rod goes a bit potty if you suggest that Sarah's illness has to do with anything other than radio waves. The delusions are re-inforced.

And now Sarah is reporting on Rod Read's pages that a new 'Pilot Treatment' has been found for her illness.

Dr George Carlo and Tamara Mariea are preparing to conduct a one month pilot ES/EHS treatment for 3/4 EHS in late October/November 2007. The Internal Balance clinic is located in Franklin, Tennessee.

The treatment protocol working on the degree of membrane sensitivity syndrome exhibited by each individual, is being written up currently and will be circulated to any interested participants. The costs will include accommodation, travel and clinicians and tests.

Dr George Carlo is well known in this field. He is prominent in supporting organisations that push the idea that mobile phones and Wi-Fi cause ill health. See him with some MPs here.

Dr. George Carlo, Ph.D, M.S., J.D, is a public health scientist, epidemiologist, lawyer, and the founder of the Science and Public Policy Institute.

A scientist and a lawyer! An interesting combination when litigation starts. You may remember him when he got angry at Ben 'Andrew' Goldacre's comments on the electrosensitivity lobby.

Anyway. Tamara Mariea CCN, CERCA (picture above) is new to us. Her web site shows she is working with Dr Carlo on a (as yet unpublished) paper on links between electromagnetic radiation and autism. Her ideas are as follows:

Although Mariea believes that autism is a complicated condition that must have several factors at play for a child to fall to this diagnosis, she does believe that the three largest factors at play are:

• Genetically determined detoxification capacity,
• Early insult to immune system via contaminated vaccines and
• Being born with high levels of toxic burden and into a technologically advanced society riddled with ever increasing levels of radiation.

These are the key areas for research regarding the cause and etiology of autism spectrum disorders. Perhaps the genetic mutations that are being discovered in autism research are created through the DNA damage from radiation emitting devices used by families and in the households of ever member of our global society.

So there you have it. MMR is not enough anymore. You have to have some 'vaccine damage' plus DNA damage from mobiles and Wi-Fi, and a poor ability to 'detoxify'.

Tamara is a nutritionist. That is what her certifcates say, proudly displayed on the web. Athought, the certifying body of her certificates (Clinical Nutrition Certification Board (CNCB))has been described as 'questionable' and 'promoters of highly dubious practices' by QuackWatch.

She also has the letters CERCA after her name. This stands for 'Certified Electromagnetic Radiation Safety Advisor'. A quick search reveals that in order to gain these prestigious letters after your name you have to answer 45 multiple guess questions set by Dr George Carlo, and get 80% right. I hope George, her collaborator, was not too harsh on her.

So, Sarah Dacre is going over to Tennessee for some detox of toxic heavy metals, nutritional advice no doubt, and other 'therapeutic interventions to detoxify these trapped toxins from the body'.

The Internal Balance, Inc. studio is outfitted with state-of-the-art equipment that opens and detoxifies the body, or pulls the toxins that are negatively affecting people’s health, out of their bodies. Often when children see the studio for the first time they think it looks like a place where astronauts might hang out.

And I thought astronauts hang out in bars like the rest of us. Or at least those without restraining orders.

For Sarah though, she has a problem. Travelling all that way, surrounded by airport Wi-Fi, passenger mobile phones and aircraft electronics could be very debilitating. Luckily, George and Tamara have thought of that one. They say,

The 8 hour journey and airport routine is a challenge but Dr Carlo/ Ms Mariea are to consult NASA for their best recommendations.

The little black duck is speechless. But I too must consult NASA next time I have some tricky travel plans.

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Labels: electromagnetic quackery, MMR, nutritionist