Put your left foot in....
September 18, 2010 1:09 PM Subscribe
Quack medicine?
Someone sent me a link to Memory and Concentration Improved by One Simple Exercise.
From the website:
Exercise Instructions
Make sure you are wearing comfortable clothing and have removed any ear jewellery before starting. Avoid doing the exercise immediately after eating.
* Step One: Stand with your feet about shoulder distance apart, toes pointing forward.
* Step Two: Hold your right ear lobe between your left thumb and finger, with the thumb on the outside of the lobe (we’re not joking).
* Step Three: Hold your left ear lobe between your right thumb and finger, again with you thumb on the outside of the lobe. You should now be holding both earlobes with your arms crossed over your chest, right arm on top (and we’re still not joking).
* Step Four: Look directly ahead and commence doing a body squat by slowly bending your knees and lowering your body toward the floor. Go as low as you comfortably can and then slowly raise yourself back to a standing position. Exhale as you squat and inhale as you stand.
* Step Five: Repeat the squats for 1 to 3 minutes, or 14 – 21 times, while continuing to hold your earlobes.
Results may be immediate or gradual. Concentration should certainly be stronger within 3 weeks. The exercise only needs to be done once a day but if concentration wanes it can be repeated as often as desired.
Memory and Concentration Improved by One Simple Exercise
A quick and easy exercise improves poor memory, lack of concentration, clumsiness and emotional instability
Watch this short video to see how it’s done:
It offers real help to those with learning difficulties, autism and Alzheimers disease.
In fact, anyone whose memory is not as sharp as it should be can benefit from this exercise.
EEG scans show that it synchronises right and left sides of the brain to improve thinking and memory.
Main Points From the Video
In this video, a teacher, doctor, neurobiologist, occupational therapist, and parent discuss how one easy exercise:
* Stimulates neural pathways via acupressure points in the earlobes
* Synchronises the right and left side of the brain to improve function and promote calmness
* Sharpens intelligence in seniors, juniors, mums, dads and kids
* Helps those with autism, Asperger’s syndrome, learning difficulties and behavioural problems
* Is fast and simple to do – takes just 1 to 3 minutes a day
* Benefits anyone of any age
In or Out?
Some groups swear by the ’squat and exhale’ approach while others insist it has to be, ’squat and inhale’ (as recommended in the video).
As both claim their breathing technique works, either is probably fine.
We have placed the squat and exhale method in our written instructions as an alternative to the video recommendation. It is also consistent with the principles of yoga where the breath is expelled with chest compression and inhaled with chest expansion.
The bottom line is, use the approach that works best for you.
For the Committed
Some say the exercise is more effective if done while facing east (where the sun rises) with the tongue pressed firmly into the roof of the mouth – a tip no stranger than being told to hang on to your earlobes!
The person who sent this to me wants to know if it works. My answer is: "of course not." But I figured I would pass it by MetaFilter. Anything from a site called Homeopathy Plus is bogus as far as I am concerned.
Does this work? Why would it work? Are there any studies that this type of exercise would work? If it works, why isn't it being used by everyone the problems it addresses, i.e., why are doctors telling their patients about it? It is all a big pharma and medical insurance scheme to keep this great discovery form people (that was meant to be sarcastic)?
Someone sent me a link to Memory and Concentration Improved by One Simple Exercise.
From the website:
Exercise Instructions
Make sure you are wearing comfortable clothing and have removed any ear jewellery before starting. Avoid doing the exercise immediately after eating.
* Step One: Stand with your feet about shoulder distance apart, toes pointing forward.
* Step Two: Hold your right ear lobe between your left thumb and finger, with the thumb on the outside of the lobe (we’re not joking).
* Step Three: Hold your left ear lobe between your right thumb and finger, again with you thumb on the outside of the lobe. You should now be holding both earlobes with your arms crossed over your chest, right arm on top (and we’re still not joking).
* Step Four: Look directly ahead and commence doing a body squat by slowly bending your knees and lowering your body toward the floor. Go as low as you comfortably can and then slowly raise yourself back to a standing position. Exhale as you squat and inhale as you stand.
* Step Five: Repeat the squats for 1 to 3 minutes, or 14 – 21 times, while continuing to hold your earlobes.
Results may be immediate or gradual. Concentration should certainly be stronger within 3 weeks. The exercise only needs to be done once a day but if concentration wanes it can be repeated as often as desired.
Memory and Concentration Improved by One Simple Exercise
A quick and easy exercise improves poor memory, lack of concentration, clumsiness and emotional instability
Watch this short video to see how it’s done:
It offers real help to those with learning difficulties, autism and Alzheimers disease.
In fact, anyone whose memory is not as sharp as it should be can benefit from this exercise.
EEG scans show that it synchronises right and left sides of the brain to improve thinking and memory.
Main Points From the Video
In this video, a teacher, doctor, neurobiologist, occupational therapist, and parent discuss how one easy exercise:
* Stimulates neural pathways via acupressure points in the earlobes
* Synchronises the right and left side of the brain to improve function and promote calmness
* Sharpens intelligence in seniors, juniors, mums, dads and kids
* Helps those with autism, Asperger’s syndrome, learning difficulties and behavioural problems
* Is fast and simple to do – takes just 1 to 3 minutes a day
* Benefits anyone of any age
In or Out?
Some groups swear by the ’squat and exhale’ approach while others insist it has to be, ’squat and inhale’ (as recommended in the video).
As both claim their breathing technique works, either is probably fine.
We have placed the squat and exhale method in our written instructions as an alternative to the video recommendation. It is also consistent with the principles of yoga where the breath is expelled with chest compression and inhaled with chest expansion.
The bottom line is, use the approach that works best for you.
For the Committed
Some say the exercise is more effective if done while facing east (where the sun rises) with the tongue pressed firmly into the roof of the mouth – a tip no stranger than being told to hang on to your earlobes!
The person who sent this to me wants to know if it works. My answer is: "of course not." But I figured I would pass it by MetaFilter. Anything from a site called Homeopathy Plus is bogus as far as I am concerned.
Does this work? Why would it work? Are there any studies that this type of exercise would work? If it works, why isn't it being used by everyone the problems it addresses, i.e., why are doctors telling their patients about it? It is all a big pharma and medical insurance scheme to keep this great discovery form people (that was meant to be sarcastic)?
If you ever have to ask if something is quackery, it's quackery.
posted by killdevil at 1:33 PM on September 18, 2010 [1 favorite]
posted by killdevil at 1:33 PM on September 18, 2010 [1 favorite]
If it works, it's a placebo effect.
posted by Fuego at 1:35 PM on September 18, 2010 [1 favorite]
posted by Fuego at 1:35 PM on September 18, 2010 [1 favorite]
When I think of quackery, I think of scams where people are being exploited financially based on their hopes for healing. This exercise may not have a lot of research behind it, but it certainly sounds harmless. I can't see any good reason for your friend to not try it for three weeks and see for herself if it is helpful.
posted by Wordwoman at 1:39 PM on September 18, 2010
posted by Wordwoman at 1:39 PM on September 18, 2010
A bit off-topic, but from what I understand, the term "homeopathy" refers to a specific type of alternative health care in which tiny amounts of herbal substances are diluted and made into pills and tinctures, and the reason homeopathy doesn't work is because these dilutions are too weak to have any effect.
It bothers me when people use "homeopathy," which is clearly bullshit, as a catch-all term for all non-allopathic health care.
In my experience, some forms of non-allopathic health care have worked for me. EMDR is one of them, which was delivered by a licensed therapist from an accredited university and is gaining ground in the therapeutic community. It sounded like bullshit before I tried it, but I was desperate by that point and a friend had said it worked for her. I was shocked, and extremely pleased, when it helped me overcome a trauma-based phobia I'd had for more than 30 years.
As far as this exercise goes, it's not going to hurt anyone to try it. It sounds like it claims to work in a similar way to EMDR. It may or may not work for memory. EMDR didn't have an effect on my memory, it helped me integrate a traumatic experience so I no longer suffered from flashbacks.
The worst that can happen is your friend will look silly doing earlobe squats. My guess it's probably more therapeutic for the quads than the brain, though.
posted by xenophile at 1:40 PM on September 18, 2010 [1 favorite]
It bothers me when people use "homeopathy," which is clearly bullshit, as a catch-all term for all non-allopathic health care.
In my experience, some forms of non-allopathic health care have worked for me. EMDR is one of them, which was delivered by a licensed therapist from an accredited university and is gaining ground in the therapeutic community. It sounded like bullshit before I tried it, but I was desperate by that point and a friend had said it worked for her. I was shocked, and extremely pleased, when it helped me overcome a trauma-based phobia I'd had for more than 30 years.
As far as this exercise goes, it's not going to hurt anyone to try it. It sounds like it claims to work in a similar way to EMDR. It may or may not work for memory. EMDR didn't have an effect on my memory, it helped me integrate a traumatic experience so I no longer suffered from flashbacks.
The worst that can happen is your friend will look silly doing earlobe squats. My guess it's probably more therapeutic for the quads than the brain, though.
posted by xenophile at 1:40 PM on September 18, 2010 [1 favorite]
I mean, squats are a great exercise, and maybe the earlobe thing helps correct people's form. I'm sure exercise has a lot of benefits on mental function. But I doubt that there's anything special about this exercise.
Is the site trying to sell you anything?
posted by emilyd22222 at 1:41 PM on September 18, 2010
Is the site trying to sell you anything?
posted by emilyd22222 at 1:41 PM on September 18, 2010
Any concentration exercise is useful. It is also helpful to challenge your brain and body with balance tasks. But this sure isn't going to fix Alzheimers and Asbergers.
It looks like a helpful exercise for balance and concentration, nothing more, and nothing with magical qualities.
I'd suggest that yoga has many of the same benefits.
posted by bearwife at 1:41 PM on September 18, 2010 [1 favorite]
It looks like a helpful exercise for balance and concentration, nothing more, and nothing with magical qualities.
I'd suggest that yoga has many of the same benefits.
posted by bearwife at 1:41 PM on September 18, 2010 [1 favorite]
If it works, why isn't it being used by everyone the problems it addresses, i.e., why are(n't) doctors telling their patients about it?
You've hit the nail on the head there. It's quackery. Sounds similar to applied kinesiology, which I have researched in the past. There's no scientific basis.
posted by lholladay at 1:43 PM on September 18, 2010 [1 favorite]
You've hit the nail on the head there. It's quackery. Sounds similar to applied kinesiology, which I have researched in the past. There's no scientific basis.
posted by lholladay at 1:43 PM on September 18, 2010 [1 favorite]
It's a squat. So, does this mean meathead weightlifters with enormous quads secretly have awesome powers of memory and concentration?
posted by Cool Papa Bell at 1:48 PM on September 18, 2010 [2 favorites]
posted by Cool Papa Bell at 1:48 PM on September 18, 2010 [2 favorites]
Not to digress too much, but since you did ask this:
If it works, why isn't it being used by everyone the problems it addresses, i.e., why are doctors telling their patients about it?
Don't presume that doctors talk to patients about everything that could improve their health. Doctors often fail to counsel patients even about smoking cessation and obesity control. Both are things that "work."
posted by Wordwoman at 2:06 PM on September 18, 2010
If it works, why isn't it being used by everyone the problems it addresses, i.e., why are doctors telling their patients about it?
Don't presume that doctors talk to patients about everything that could improve their health. Doctors often fail to counsel patients even about smoking cessation and obesity control. Both are things that "work."
posted by Wordwoman at 2:06 PM on September 18, 2010
Um, not to digress totally, but homeopathy refers to a treatment that works with the body's systems and repair abilities. Allopathy refers to a treatment that does not work with the body's mechanisms, or even works against them.
Examples:
Chemotherapy: Allopathic
Setting a broken bone: Homeopathic
Surgery to repair a broken bone: Allopathic
Diet change to correct GI problems: Homeopathic
Medicine that practices both homeopathy and allopathy is known as complimentary medicine.
Hope this clears some things up.
posted by Leta at 2:31 PM on September 18, 2010
Examples:
Chemotherapy: Allopathic
Setting a broken bone: Homeopathic
Surgery to repair a broken bone: Allopathic
Diet change to correct GI problems: Homeopathic
Medicine that practices both homeopathy and allopathy is known as complimentary medicine.
Hope this clears some things up.
posted by Leta at 2:31 PM on September 18, 2010
It is impossible to say by looking at the 'therapy' if it works or not. The only way to tell would be to set up an experiment (trial) in which you measure people's cognitive ability (usually in the form of a set of questions or tests) and see if there is an objective improvement.
Now to the second part of your question which is if it COULD work.
My view is that it is extremely UNLIKELY to work (and the degree of 'unlikelyness' is close to impossible) because of the following reason:
- There are no known mechanisms by which peripheral movements which is largely a function of neural stimuli originating in motor cortex and some neural stimulation of cerebellum and reticular activating system could improve cognitive ability which is largely a function of your cerebral cortex. It is akin to saying that cleaning your mouse would improve your computer's speed.
- The area of improvement of cognitive function has been an area of study for several centuries and there has been absolutely no intervention that I have come across which leads to significant improvement and these include absolutely everything from Yoga to drugs. It is particularly difficult to make any improvement in already alert and normally functioning humans.
You should challenge the following claims:
Sharpens intelligence in seniors, juniors, mums, dads and kids and Helps those with autism, Asperger’s syndrome, learning difficulties and behavioural problems
and demand scientific evidence or ask for my money back
This is plain and simple money making scam of the worst kind, the one that preys on the weak and the poor. Such people should be made an example of.
Good luck.
posted by london302 at 3:16 PM on September 18, 2010
Now to the second part of your question which is if it COULD work.
My view is that it is extremely UNLIKELY to work (and the degree of 'unlikelyness' is close to impossible) because of the following reason:
- There are no known mechanisms by which peripheral movements which is largely a function of neural stimuli originating in motor cortex and some neural stimulation of cerebellum and reticular activating system could improve cognitive ability which is largely a function of your cerebral cortex. It is akin to saying that cleaning your mouse would improve your computer's speed.
- The area of improvement of cognitive function has been an area of study for several centuries and there has been absolutely no intervention that I have come across which leads to significant improvement and these include absolutely everything from Yoga to drugs. It is particularly difficult to make any improvement in already alert and normally functioning humans.
You should challenge the following claims:
Sharpens intelligence in seniors, juniors, mums, dads and kids and Helps those with autism, Asperger’s syndrome, learning difficulties and behavioural problems
and demand scientific evidence or ask for my money back
This is plain and simple money making scam of the worst kind, the one that preys on the weak and the poor. Such people should be made an example of.
Good luck.
posted by london302 at 3:16 PM on September 18, 2010
Got the blood flowing, stretched my legs which were a bit sore, and took a little bit of concentration. Did not seem to increase my IQ.
posted by miyabo at 5:41 PM on September 18, 2010
posted by miyabo at 5:41 PM on September 18, 2010
The claims are mostly quackery - but in principle any regular exercise requiring anything resembling focus, meditation, balance, and observation very likely have positive effects.
I recall reading something recently where they showed that even 10 minutes of simple meditation every morning can have measurable effects on focus and concentration almost immediately.
So I'd say - all the quackery words are quackery. The stuff about focusing on something and doing some squats while maintaining balance - about as good as any other similar exercise you could come up with.
(Just like the scientology low-level exercise that require you to sit on a bench in a park and look for someone exhibiting (insert weird scientology babble here) - it's fundamentally an observation and focus exercise, so is bound to have some positive effect on your ability to do the same.
posted by TravellingDen at 7:09 PM on September 18, 2010
I recall reading something recently where they showed that even 10 minutes of simple meditation every morning can have measurable effects on focus and concentration almost immediately.
So I'd say - all the quackery words are quackery. The stuff about focusing on something and doing some squats while maintaining balance - about as good as any other similar exercise you could come up with.
(Just like the scientology low-level exercise that require you to sit on a bench in a park and look for someone exhibiting (insert weird scientology babble here) - it's fundamentally an observation and focus exercise, so is bound to have some positive effect on your ability to do the same.
posted by TravellingDen at 7:09 PM on September 18, 2010
Leta is misguided.
Homeopathy
Allopathy
posted by klanawa at 8:07 PM on September 18, 2010 [4 favorites]
Homeopathy
Allopathy
posted by klanawa at 8:07 PM on September 18, 2010 [4 favorites]
Um, not to digress totally, but homeopathy refers to a treatment that works with the body's systems and repair abilities. Allopathy refers to a treatment that does not work with the body's mechanisms, or even works against them.
Examples:
I have never seen the term homeopathy used this way, or with examples like setting a broken bone, and none of the definitions on this page come anywhere close. Do you have a commonly accepted cite for this? Because it sounds like an attempt to redefine the term.
posted by Lentrohamsanin at 8:07 PM on September 18, 2010
Examples:
I have never seen the term homeopathy used this way, or with examples like setting a broken bone, and none of the definitions on this page come anywhere close. Do you have a commonly accepted cite for this? Because it sounds like an attempt to redefine the term.
posted by Lentrohamsanin at 8:07 PM on September 18, 2010
Anything that claims to be good for conditions as disparate as "learning difficulties, autism and Alzheimers disease" is immediately suspect.
posted by lakeroon at 8:22 PM on September 18, 2010
posted by lakeroon at 8:22 PM on September 18, 2010
This is the way that I had to learn the terms for Medical Terminology and Human Disease. This was, ah, five to seven years ago. No, I don't have textbooks to quote. Those hit the trash awhile ago.
I had two (maybe three?) different profs who would go on tirades about the definitions on Wikipedia, for whatever that's worth, and included in these fun and entertaining rants were accusations about how the terms had by hijacked and were never "invented" by a single person.
Take from this what you will.
posted by Leta at 9:12 PM on September 18, 2010
I had two (maybe three?) different profs who would go on tirades about the definitions on Wikipedia, for whatever that's worth, and included in these fun and entertaining rants were accusations about how the terms had by hijacked and were never "invented" by a single person.
Take from this what you will.
posted by Leta at 9:12 PM on September 18, 2010
Some definitions:
Sounds like Applied Kinesiology which borrows liberally from Traditional Chinese Medicine's philosophy of chi/energy.
I think the concept is that doing these exercises as described works on acupressure points & meridians. This is also said to balance the left & right hemispheres of the brain. The touching the tongue to the roof of the mouth is alleged to complete a "microcosmic circuit". I think this is a Yoga, thing, too.
It seems to me what Leta is calling Homeopathy is Holistic Medicine ("works with the body's systems and repair abilities"), which encompasses Homeopathy.
I know I've mentioned this before, as have other people, but I feel the need to remind people that the term Allopathy is a derogatory term, coined by the founder of Homeopathy to deride mainstream medicine and is the equivalent of calling someone a quack.
posted by goshling at 6:41 AM on September 19, 2010 [2 favorites]
Sounds like Applied Kinesiology which borrows liberally from Traditional Chinese Medicine's philosophy of chi/energy.
I think the concept is that doing these exercises as described works on acupressure points & meridians. This is also said to balance the left & right hemispheres of the brain. The touching the tongue to the roof of the mouth is alleged to complete a "microcosmic circuit". I think this is a Yoga, thing, too.
It seems to me what Leta is calling Homeopathy is Holistic Medicine ("works with the body's systems and repair abilities"), which encompasses Homeopathy.
I know I've mentioned this before, as have other people, but I feel the need to remind people that the term Allopathy is a derogatory term, coined by the founder of Homeopathy to deride mainstream medicine and is the equivalent of calling someone a quack.
posted by goshling at 6:41 AM on September 19, 2010 [2 favorites]
....the term Allopathy is a derogatory term...
I have seen this argument before here, and have even weighed in on it, but cannot find it with a cursory search. I have an MD from an accredited school of medicine and am on the faculty of said school. I have never heard any of my colleagues say they were offended by the term "allopath". In fact, being called a quack by the likes of Hahnemann is a compliment to me. Thus my earlier answer to the poster's yes or no question; based on the information given, yes or no is all you can say, because the premise is not even wrong.
posted by TedW at 12:14 PM on September 19, 2010
I have seen this argument before here, and have even weighed in on it, but cannot find it with a cursory search. I have an MD from an accredited school of medicine and am on the faculty of said school. I have never heard any of my colleagues say they were offended by the term "allopath". In fact, being called a quack by the likes of Hahnemann is a compliment to me. Thus my earlier answer to the poster's yes or no question; based on the information given, yes or no is all you can say, because the premise is not even wrong.
posted by TedW at 12:14 PM on September 19, 2010
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by frwagon at 1:20 PM on September 18, 2010