Buzz
Ah, pseudosciences. At times, they act as fraudulent schemes designed to exploit naive individuals of their money. On other occasions, they are embraced by well-meaning (or perhaps misguided) people who genuinely think they possess insights that science has yet to uncover.
This list delves into some of the more peculiar pseudoscientific theories and practices, ranging from magnetic therapies to the analysis of butt wrinkles, which have been or continue to be believed by many.
Warning: Avoid attempting any medical pseudoscience without first consulting a qualified doctor. While we cannot provide medical advice, it’s unwise to allow just anyone to examine your butt wrinkles.
10. Thought Field Therapy
Thought field therapy (TFT) is a pseudoscientific concept that emerged in 1980. Psychologist Roger Callahan was treating a patient with an intense fear of water for more than a year. Her phobia was so severe that merely being near a pool during therapy sessions would trigger stomach discomfort.
Callahan, having recently studied Chinese medicine, became familiar with meridians—the alleged energy pathways in the body. He recalled that acupuncturists believe a specific spot on the cheekbone connects to the stomach meridian. He instructed his patient to tap that spot on her cheekbone, hoping it would alleviate her stomach pain.
Remarkably, her stomach pain vanished entirely. But that wasn’t all—her phobia disappeared as well. She was able to sprint to the pool she once couldn’t bear to glance at, dive in, and start playing in the water. This marked the birth of TFT.
Since then, TFT has gained popularity as “tapping.” Practitioners claim it can address both emotional and physical ailments. For emotional issues, patients simply need to focus on their problem and stimulate specific acupressure points as advised by a trained TFT expert.
Despite tapping websites boasting success rates of 75–97 percent, there is no empirical evidence to support these highly exaggerated claims.
9. Magnetic Therapy
Many of us have come across magnetic bracelets sold in drugstores, promising to relieve back pain, headaches, and various other ailments. Proponents of magnet therapy offer numerous explanations for its supposed effectiveness. Some suggest it influences your chi, or life energy, while others argue it improves blood flow to the treated area due to the iron in hemoglobin.
However, since the iron in hemoglobin isn’t ferromagnetic, this reasoning appears flawed. (You can verify this by passing a magnet over your blood—nothing will happen.) To date, no scientific studies have validated any of these assertions.
Magnetic therapy products available on the market range from bracelets and rings to shoe inserts and even magnetic mattresses. Surprisingly, magnetized water has also made its way into online stores. Proponents claim that water exposed to a magnetic field becomes “soft and easily absorbed,” supposedly tripling hydration levels. However, no credible research is cited to back up this bold assertion.
8. Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing
Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) is a psychotherapy technique designed to reduce the emotional distress tied to traumatic memories. It is most commonly used to treat PTSD.
The therapy involves recalling a traumatic memory while focusing on the therapist’s finger as it moves side to side. Over multiple sessions, patients learn various coping strategies, such as imagery techniques, to manage emotional stress.
The goal of this treatment is to help patients identify visual imagery linked to traumatic memories, negative self-perceptions, and associated physical sensations and emotions. While numerous studies have been conducted to evaluate its effectiveness, the outcomes have been inconsistent.
A widely accepted theory suggests that EMDR may indeed be effective, but the benefits likely stem from traditional talk therapy and coping mechanisms incorporated into the sessions, rather than the eye movements themselves.
7. Rumpology
Yes, it’s exactly what it sounds like. Move aside, palm reading—this practice focuses entirely on the buttocks. Rumpology involves interpreting the lines, creases, dimples, and folds of the posterior to gain insights into a person’s past and predict their future.
Jackie Stallone is one of the most prominent advocates of this fortune-telling technique. Yes, that’s Sylvester Stallone’s mother. Her website asserts that this is an ancient form of divination used in Babylon, Greece, India, and Rome. According to her, the left cheek symbolizes the past and the right brain hemisphere, while the right cheek reveals insights into the future and the left brain hemisphere.
6. Ear Candling
Let’s begin with a warning: Do NOT attempt to insert burning objects into your ears at home. Seriously, don’t. Alright, moving on.
Now, about ear candling. This practice involves lying on your side, placing 25-centimeter-long (10 in) hollow candles in your ears, and burning them for roughly 15 minutes. But why?
Supposedly, the burning candle generates a suction effect, drawing out earwax and other debris from the ear canal. Once the candle is extinguished, you can cut it open to examine the goodies it supposedly extracted.
However, skeptics have tested the candles by burning them without inserting them into the ear. Upon cutting them open, the same debris was found inside. Analysis revealed that the debris was simply a combination of burned wax and fabric from the candle itself.
Proponents claim that all the passages in your head are interconnected, so cleaning your ears can supposedly clear your mind. However, this is entirely false. Your head contains solid barriers, such as the eardrum, making this impossible. Ear candling has no proven benefits, and the pressure required to extract earwax would rupture the eardrum.
5. Gua Sha
Gua sha (“scraping sha bruises”) involves using a flat, boardlike tool to scrape the skin, aiming to enhance circulation. The skin is scraped with either long or short strokes, which are believed to stimulate blood flow and improve circulation in the targeted area.
Gua sha aims to release stagnant chi energy, encouraging it to flow freely again, which is believed to alleviate inflammation and chronic pain. However, be prepared for noticeable marks from this treatment. Patients often experience significant bruising or even minor skin bleeding. Ouch!
It might seem odd to pay someone to intentionally bruise and cause you to bleed in the name of pain relief. Currently, there is limited empirical research supporting the effectiveness of gua sha.
Before trying this therapy, it’s crucial to weigh the risks. Since gua sha can break the skin, there’s a risk of infection. If bleeding occurs, there’s also the possibility of contamination from previous patients. Always ensure the practitioner sterilizes all equipment before starting the session.
4. Craniosacral Therapy
Craniosacral therapy (CST) involves gently holding the skull and sacrum while making subtle, almost imperceptible movements. Advocates of this therapy believe these delicate manipulations can influence the pressure and flow of cerebrospinal fluid, which surrounds the brain and spinal cord.
John Upledger, the creator of this therapy, asserts that CST aligns with the natural rhythms of the body’s systems to identify and resolve issues.
Many remain skeptical of this practice, primarily because the bones of the skull cannot physically move enough to alter the pressure or flow of cerebrospinal fluid.
3. Color Therapy
Color therapy is rooted in the idea that energy flows through the body via seven primary centers known as chakras (crown, brow, throat, heart, solar plexus, sacrum, and base). Each chakra corresponds to a specific color: violet, indigo, blue, green, yellow, orange, and red, respectively.
Color therapists argue that maintaining balance among these seven centers, each governing a different aspect of our lives, is essential for overall health and well-being. Imbalances in the chakras are believed to negatively impact both physical and mental health.
To restore your vibrant, rainbow-filled health, color therapists “apply” the colors they believe you’re lacking. Essentially, they shine colorful lights on the patient, and voilà! Instant improvement! While there’s no scientific evidence to support its effectiveness, it’s arguably less invasive than being scraped until you bleed.
2. Biorhythms
Biorhythmic theory proposes that humans are influenced by rhythmic cycles affecting different aspects of life. Initially, three main cycles were identified: a 23-day physical cycle, a 28-day emotional cycle, and a 33-day intellectual cycle. Some enthusiasts have since claimed to discover additional hybrid cycles.
These cycles are said to influence daily performance. For instance, during a low physical cycle, you might feel clumsier or less athletic. If you have sports tryouts scheduled during a low physical cycle, it might be better to reschedule them for a time when your physical cycle is at its peak.
Many experiments have been conducted to test the validity of this theory. However, a thorough review of these studies reveals that none have produced statistically significant results that can’t be attributed to flawed research methods.
1. Metoposcopy
Metoposcopy is the practice of interpreting the forehead to predict the future, a method that gained popularity during the Middle Ages and Renaissance. It was believed that analyzing the wrinkles on a person’s forehead could reveal their character and predict their destiny.
This pseudoscience was developed by Girolamo Cardano, a 16th-century mathematician and astrologer. Legend has it that he chose to starve himself to death at 75 rather than live to see his astrological predictions proven wrong.
Unsurprisingly, metoposcopy never gained widespread acceptance. Despite Cardano creating over 800 facial diagrams, his so-called science faded into obscurity after his death.
