I have a hairdresser that I have been going to for around 5 years now.  She does a splendid job and is very easy to get along with, so I have no plans of going to anyone else.  On the other hand, she has very unscientific ideas when it comes to health.  She often mentions "detoxing" and various other ways of improving your health, often following it up with a comment that "Western Medicine" has some reason for not wanting you to know about it, or at least is intentionally ignoring the health benefits.

Seriously?  Detox items often cost just as much as "Western Medicine," so I would think that the pharmapseudical companies would be all over it to make more money if it worked.  The problem is that detox is a combination of a waste of money, and just following the basic rules of how to be a healthier person that any doctor should tell you.  Eat better.  Give up bad habits.  You'll feel better!  Wow!

What, you don't believe me?  Well, then you won't believe this either:  http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/7808348.stm

I'm posting it anyways, because perhaps someone on the edge will see it, and do some further research.  Detoxification?  It's just cleaning.  So get yourself some soap and wash up!  Eat better, and that will help detoxify you, because that's what your body is designed to do.  Most of that detox stuff is just snake oil, sold in the modern age.  In fact, I'd be interested in seeing just how much "Snake Oil" linament I could sell, if I advertised that it would clean your mind, colon and soul (in no particular order).  I may pay $20 for a 2oz thing of hair product, but I don't tell myself that it is doing anything for me besides making my hair stick up the way I like.

Edit:  Before anyone decides that I am condemning all non-Western medicine, that is not my intent.  I'm just pointing out one particular bit that is a big scam.  I expect that there is a subset of non-Western medicine that can be beneficial, but I also believe that if so, it has a scientific basis.  It isn't some sort of spiritual bullshit.  Neither is Western medicine flawless, but I trust the scientific method (which does not include "my cousin's friend's dog trainer told me that it worked for him") more than I trust trendy health treatments.