Care Team Issues: Snake Oil Salespeople
I’m the last person in the family I thought would be writing about people selling snake oil. I’ve seen acupuncturists, naturopaths, Rolfers, TCM doctors (Traditional Chinese Medicine), chiropractors, and even energy healers, all to various degrees of improvement of symptoms. I’ve had very good experiences with some, including going to an Ayurvedic doctor (medicine practiced in India for thousands of years) for years, having him help me get off prednisone for an autoimmune issue for which I’d been told I’d need the drug for life. I’m the one who eats 100% plant-based and ~ 85% organic whole foods, who only uses natural cleaners and personal care products, who goes barefoot and wears natural fabrics, and who likes to research longevity and health boosters.
But now that my mother is in the market for alternative therapies to help with her IBM, my Spidey senses are on high alert as to not only who is selling what promises, theories, pills, and potions but also how they are going about it.
One thing to watch out for is multi-level marketing schemes. Many years ago, a friend of mine became involved in one that made products with magnets for their potential healing properties. They made insoles, blankets, pillowcases, water filters, and more. I do not know if these things were healthful or not, that’s not my point in mentioning multi-level marketing. The issue with it is that motivations change when someone sees you not only as a potential point of retail sale but also as a pipeline for more money should they get you to sell as well. When we are listening to others about what might be helpful for us, we need to be sure they have our best interests at heart. Additionally, you can almost always find the same formulations for cheaper outside of the pyramid scheme, if you really do want to try to the product.
Related to this but slightly different is that many alternative practitioners sell supplements. This is understandable, certainly, as part of their business strategy. But if they are pushy about it or don’t give you the space to go home and research the supplements they are suggesting, that is a red flag. I’ve gone to naturopaths that have an apothecary as part of their practice, and I appreciate the convenience of buying supplements at my visits. But anytime I felt that I was not given the space to shop around for better prices or check the literature about potential contraindications for my issues, I knew I was not where I needed to be.
Another red flag is a practitioner who does not offer you a treatment plan at the end of the first visit. I guess if you need to do labs and whatnot, you might need to get your plan at a follow-up. But you should not leave the first appointment without a very clear idea of how the practitioner sees your ailment, their philosophy around healing, and some to-dos for your life. If you don’t have a full-fledged treatment plan by the second visit, something is off.
The last thing I want to say about “snake oil salespeople” is that sometimes, snake oil works! That’s why I said I am always watching for the how of someone’s medical practice. You can tell a lot about someone’s philosophy and ethics by looking at how they do business. If you feel something is a bit off, listen to your gut. If you feel you are not being heard, find someone who will hear you. Maybe water filters that use magnets do indeed improve your health in some way - I’m not in a position to know that. But high-pressure sales techniques, erasing other options for product brands and buying modalities, making someone pay for multiple visits before giving them a diagnosis and plan, and ignoring any voiced concerns about contraindications and side effects are all actions that tell me I do not want that provider to be in a position of managing the care of my mother.
Ultimately, we’re all in charge of our own health and well-being. We, ourselves, are our primary care coordinators, and we need to be wise about who we bring onto our team for their experience and expertise. These practitioners also need to be ethical, to share our values, and to have demonstratively taken the Hippocratic Oath. It’s important to look outside the sphere of allopathic medicine when coping with IBM, given the limited understanding of the disease and scarce treatments, and I hope you all find great providers out there who can help guide you along the way.
“All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given us.”
This blog post is based on personal experiences and is not meant to provide medical advice.
Always consult your healthcare professional for personalized guidance on your health journey.
