For those curious about health foods and supplements: Criteria for judgment that medical professionals want to convey: AI book review of "Do Alternative Therapies Really 'Work'?"

"I heard this is good for your health"—have you ever reached for something after hearing words like that? Health foods, supplements, this-and-that therapy. If you open your TV or social media, new health information flows in almost every day. And honestly, it makes it hard to know what to believe, doesn't it? As someone in the medical field, every time a patient asks me, "Doctor, what about this?", I feel the depth of this problem. Today, I would like to talk as frankly as possible about what I felt after reading Dr. Satoshi Ono's book "Do Alternative Therapies Really 'Work'?".

Why are we drawn to "unfounded therapies"?

I want to state first that this article is not intended to dismiss alternative therapies out of hand. The most impressive perspective I gained from reading Dr. Ono's book was that "people rely on alternative therapies not because they are foolish."

Think about it. Have you ever had the experience of waiting for a long time at a hospital, only for the consultation to end in a few minutes once you finally entered the exam room? It was dismissed with a single phrase: "I'll prescribe some medicine for you." That indescribable sense of inadequacy you feel in that moment. The small, nagging feeling of, "Did they really listen to what I had to say?" Actually, this is the soil in which alternative therapies spread.

Dr. Ono calmly analyzes this background. He argues that the reason alternative therapies never cease is because of a complex web of structural problems: medical distrust represented by an aversion to medication, sensationalist media reporting, and a mix of good and bad information on the internet. In other words, blaming only an individual's "lack of information literacy" will not solve this problem.

Here, I am reminded of the movie "Dallas Buyers Club." The protagonist, who has contracted AIDS, runs around seeking drugs not approved by the FDA. That figure might be an extreme example, but the human capacity for action when one feels that "public medicine alone cannot protect me" is something that cannot be discussed simply in terms of good or evil.

The pitfall of "it worked for me"—why personal anecdotes do not become science

In the discussion surrounding alternative therapies, the most troublesome thing is the power of "anecdotes."

Medical journalist Shigeru Kamatani makes a point that hits the core. To summarize, "No matter how well an expert explains something, it cannot compete with a single word from someone who has experienced it." This is truly the case. I feel this keenly in my daily work as well.

For example, suppose a friend tells you, "I drank this supplement and my hay fever got better." Let's organize what happens in our heads at that moment. First, because it is a statement from someone we trust, "authority" comes into play. Next, the story of a concrete change (hay fever got better) strikes an emotional chord. And then, the expectation that "it might work for me too" is born.

But here, Dr. Ono asks the fundamental question: "If it worked for me, will it work for you?" Physical conditions have seasonal fluctuations, and it might have just been the timing of a natural recovery. In the first place, the feeling that it "worked" might itself be a placebo effect—that is, a psychological improvement caused by "believing it will work."

In the world of science, to eliminate such "coincidences" or "assumptions," a method called a randomized controlled trial (RCT) is used. Simply put, you randomly divide people into a group that takes the real medicine and a group that takes a placebo, and compare the results. This is the universal rule for proving that something "works."

Personal anecdotes are positioned at the lowest level of reliability for scientific evidence. Conversely, the highest level of reliability is what is called a meta-analysis or systematic review, which integrates and analyzes multiple high-quality studies. Just knowing this "hierarchy of reliability" will completely change how you engage with information.

The placebo is not "all in your head"—understanding the connection between mind and body correctly

Let me add one important supplement here. When people hear "placebo effect," some might think, "So it's all just in your head, right?" But the story is not that simple.

There is an interesting study introduced in Dr. Ono's book. Results have been reported where even patients who were informed in advance that "this is a placebo" experienced symptom relief. In other words, the placebo effect is not just a state of being "deceived," but suggests that the human mind and body are connected at a much deeper level.

When I read this, it overlapped with my own experience as a certified public psychologist. The fact that the state of the mind affects the body is studied as a matter of course in the world of psychology. That is precisely why I think the aspect of alternative therapies providing "mental peace of mind" should not be dismissed out of hand.

However—and this is the critically important point—mental peace of mind and the treatment of the disease itself are completely different stories.

The line that must never be crossed

If asked what the strongest message in this book is, I would answer without hesitation: "You must not interrupt scientifically proven treatment for the sake of alternative therapy."

Especially in cancer treatment, this issue is directly linked to life. 'The effectiveness of alternative therapies on cancer itself has not been medically proven'—this is something Dr. Ohno clearly states. Nevertheless, there are patients who place their hope in expensive alternative therapies and stop evidence-based standard treatments. Even with chronic diseases like psoriasis, cases have been reported where symptoms worsened significantly as a result of switching to alternative therapies.

There is a certain negative chain reaction here. Dissatisfaction with regular treatment → leaning toward alternative therapies → no effect (or worsening) → deeper distrust of medicine → trying even more suspicious therapies. To break this vicious cycle, it is important to know the minimum 'line' not to cross.

That line can be summarized into three points.

First, do not stop the treatment you are currently receiving on your own.
Second, if you are going to try an alternative therapy, always consult your attending physician.
Third, if you see definitive advertising slogans like 'definitely cures' or 'zero side effects,' be suspicious first.

Having an eye to see through information traps—three checkpoints

So, when facing health information on a daily basis, what criteria should you use to judge? Based on what I learned from Dr. Ohno's book, I will organize it into three checkpoints in my own way.

First, check 'who is saying it'. Even if someone has the title of university professor or doctor of medicine, whether that person is an expert in that field is a different matter. It is dangerous to trust someone based solely on their name and title. Just looking up that person's research achievements and affiliated institution changes the perspective significantly.

Next, look at 'how it was proven'. Be careful with products that feature 'testimonials' prominently. Remember the hierarchy of reliability mentioned earlier. Individual impressions have the lowest reliability. Is there clinical trial data, and on what scale was it conducted? It would be ideal if you could confirm that much.

And third, think, 'are there other intentions?' In the marketing of health foods and supplements, clever techniques are used, such as numerical tricks, the creation of a sense of scarcity, and peer pressure like 'everyone is using it.' It is important to calmly identify the benefits for the side disseminating the information—in other words, whether there are commercial motives.

Self-admonition as a medical professional—there are things we can do too

Finally, as a medical professional, there is something I want to write honestly.

Part of the reason patients turn to alternative therapies lies with us, the medical professionals. As Dr. Ohno admits in the book, many doctors do not have enough opportunities to learn about alternative therapies, and when consulted by a patient, they may push them away by saying, 'Stop that.' But that is the same as abandoning the responsibility of facing the patient's anxieties and worries head-on.

The ideal state is informed consent—that is, the patient and the medical professional share information on an equal footing and decide on a treatment plan together. If someone says, 'I'm interested in alternative therapy...', ask 'Why do you think so?', and while being close to that anxiety, look for scientifically reliable information together. I think building that kind of relationship is the shortest path, even if it seems like a detour.

Summary

I will organize the points I wanted to convey in this article.

1. Being attracted to alternative therapies is not due to 'ignorance'. It is rooted in structural problems such as distrust of medicine and information overload, and it can happen to anyone.

2. 'It worked for me' is not scientific evidence. Testimonials move emotions, but they cannot be distinguished from the placebo effect or natural recovery. Randomized controlled trials are necessary to prove effectiveness.

3. The placebo effect is not 'all in your head,' but it is not a substitute for treatment. While acknowledging its value as mental support, whether it has the power to cure the disease itself is another story.

4. There is a line that must never be crossed. Do not interrupt evidence-based treatment. This is a life-or-death issue.

5. Have an eye to see through information using the three criteria of 'who,' 'how,' and 'why'. Health literacy is not difficult knowledge, but a habit of daily questioning.

There may not be a single 'correct answer' for how to engage with health information. However, at the very least, you can become someone who 'is not easily misled.' As Dr. Ohno repeatedly conveys in the book, what is important is not whether you believe in a specific therapy or not, but rather acquiring the ability to think and judge for yourself. If you hold the compass of health literacy in your hands, you should be able to face your own health with more composure.

Thank you very much for reading until the end. I would be happy if today's article serves as a catalyst for you to think about your next steps starting tomorrow.

#HealthLiteracy #AlternativeTherapy #Evidence #HowToViewMedicalInformation #HealthLiteracy