Monday, August 22, 2016

Popular Science on Olympic Pseudoscience!

here, a list of weird stuff at the 2016 Olympics:

001. at popsci.com, Ian Graber-Stiehl writes in "Why Does Pseudoscience Win At The Olympics?" [2016-08-19]:

"pseudoscience.  The newest sensation sweeping the Games is cupping, an ancient bloodletting practice originally used to purge chi [...] it’s typically extolled as a device to remove 'stagnant blood, expel heat, treat high fever, loss of consciousness, convulsion, and pain' [...] it can certainly have some medical effects, like possibly necrosis [...] it’s not surprising that athletes will look anywhere, including pseudoscience, for that personal edge.  Cupping may be making headlines, but by no means is it the extent of modern Olympic pseudoscience [...e.g.] kinesiology tape [...] acupuncture [...] the paleo diet [...] vitamins [...]";

hear, hear.

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