If it sounds like a quack ... : a journey to the fringes of American medicine Cover Image

Book

If it sounds like a quack ... : a journey to the fringes of American medicine / Matthew Hongoltz-Hetling.

Summary:

"A bizarre, rollicking trip through the world of fringe medicine, filled with leeches, baking soda IVs, and, according to at least one person, zombies. It's no secret that American health care has become too costly and politicized to help everyone. So where do you turn if you can't afford doctors, or don't trust them? In this book, Matthew Hongoltz-Hetling examines the growing universe of non-traditional treatments -- including some that are really non-traditional. With costs skyrocketing and anti-science sentiment spreading, the so-called "medical freedom" movement has grown. Now it faces its greatest challenge: going mainstream. In these pages you'll meet medical freedom advocates including an international leech smuggler, a gold miner-turned health drink salesman who may or may not be from the Andromeda galaxy, and a man who says he can turn people into zombies with aerosol spray. One by one, these alternative healers find customers, then expand and influence, always seeking the one thing that would take their businesses to the next level--the support and approval of the government"-- Provided by publisher.

Record details

ISBN: 9781541788879
ISBN: 1541788877
Physical Description: viii, 323 pages ; 25 cm
Edition: First edition.
Publisher: New York : PublicAffairs, 2023.
Copyright: ©2023

Content descriptions

Bibliography, etc. Note:

Includes bibliographical references.

Formatted Contents Note:

Introduction -- Incubation. Larry Lytle, 1972 ; Toby McAdam, 1976 ; Robert O. Young, 1970 ; Alicja Kolyszko, 1956 ; Dale and Leilani Neumann, 1987 ; The Alien, 1996 ; America -- Prodromal politics. Larry Lytle's laser light ; Toby McAdam's supplements ; Robert O. Young's PH miracle ; Alicja Kolyszko's leeches ; The Neumann's prayers ; The Alien's drink ; American health care -- Acute pangs. Larry Lytle's laser light leads to life ; Toby McAdam's supplements sanctioned ; Robert O. Young's PH miracle helps ; Alicja Kolyszko's leeches suck ; The Neumann's prayers raised ; The Alien's drink bleaches ; American health care a refuge -- Convalescence (or death). Larry Lytle's laser light leads to life sentence ; Toby McAdam's supplements sanctioned by FDA ; Robert O. Young's PH miracle helps cancer ; Alicja Kolyszko's leeches suck-cess ; The Neumann's prayers raised hell ; The Alien's drink bleaches the president ; American health care a refuge for zombies -- Epilogue.