Quackery is a type of health fraud that

promotes products and services that have

questionable and unproven scientific bases.
Quackery is short for quack-salver, which is
derived from two Middle Dutch terms that
mean "healing with unguents." However,
quacken means "to boast," so a kwakzalver
might be a healer who boasts about his power or products.
Garlic is frequently touted as a remedy for high
blood pressure, blood sugar imbalances, and
arterial plaque. Some advocates even claim that
garlic can prevent or cure cancer. But according
to the National Center for Complimentary and
Alternative Medicine, although garlic may have
some health benefits, its reputation as a miracle
remedy is not supported by available research.
Quacks, the people who promote these products,
have been around for years. One of the most
enduring images of nineteenth-century medicine
is the charlatan or quack. These individuals sold
primarily patent medicines that promised to cure
everything from cancer to the common cold.
Patent medicines were concoctions
(elixirs, salves, balms, etc.) for which individuals
received exclusive rights to sell for a given period
of time. Patent medicines were available by

mail or over the counter at chemists' shops,

general stores, and even seed stores. Most
patent medicines contained alcohol, and
many also contained opium or morphine.
Virtually none contained the "healing" ingredients
they claimed to have, and none healed.
Some quacks were called "snake oil" salesmen.
These individuals traveled from town to town,
sometimes with a carnival, selling their products.
Today, quacks have more sophisticated ways to
sell their products. The products are now
promoted on the Internet, TV, and radio;
in magazines, newspapers, and infomercials;
by mail; and even by word-of-mouth. Many
consider quackery to be a pejorative term
and now use the term alternative medicine.
However, this term is used in a variety of ways.
The physician Stephen Barrett suggests that
"alternative"
methods be classified as genuine, experimental, or questionable,
whereas quackery refers solely to questionable and unproven methods.

Quackery is the promotion[1] of fraudulent or ignorant

medical practices. A "quack" is a "fraudulent or ignorant
pretender to medical skill" or "a person who pretends,
professionally or publicly, to have skill, knowledge, or
qualifications he or she does not possess; acharlatan".[2]
The word quack derives from the archaic word quacksalver,
of Dutch origin (spelled kwakzalver in contemporary Dutch),
literally meaning "hawker of salve".[3] In the Middle Ages the
word quack meant "shouting". The quacksalvers sold their
wares on the market shouting in a loud voice. [4]
Common elements of general quackery include
questionable diagnoses using questionable diagnostic tests,
as well as alternative or refuted treatments, especially for
serious diseases such as cancer. "Health fraud" is often used
as a synonym for quackery, but quackery's salient characteristic

is its more aggressive promotion ("quacks quack!"). [1]

"Pseudo-medicine" is a term for treatments known to be
ineffective, regardless of whether their advocates themselves
believe in their effectiveness

A lot of people believe TV advertisements,

testimonials and other advertising campaigns
about a certain drug or therapy that provides
cure. These adverts often claim
(in an indirect way) that they have the cure
for chronic problems like cancer, diabetes, impotence,
heart diseases, and other more.
These advertisements usually target those people
who are ready to try anything to cure their illnesses.
Sadly, these claims rarely help and most of the
time causes side-effects.

Treatments That Are Unethical and Illegal

Unethical means contrary to conscience or
morality and professional standards. There
are some faith-healers here in the Philippines
that have unethical way of treating their patients.

Are Available Only Through Mail or Home Delivery

Sometimes there are people who go house-to-house

to promote a certain drug product. Be suspicious
when that happens.

Ask Questions
The best way to protect yourself against
fraud is to ask questions and be observant.
You have the right to refuse a treatment.
You have the right to be informed about
your condition in terms you understand.
Do not take the risk and agree on anything without
asking why first.

Trust Your Common Sense

Medicines doesnt work like magic. If
someone takes the time to explain a problem
or a treatment to us (which is your right as
a health consumer), we usually make a pretty
good decision on what is best for us.

Do Your Own Research

If you have a complicated problem, or want

to know more about your options:

Start by asking your doctor for any

books or any written information
you could borrow and read.

Access the Internet and surf for

legitimate websites about health
(health.com, mayoclinic.com, webmd.com).

If you find something interesting about

your condition, make a copy for your
doctor and discuss it at your next visit.

Conclusion
Overall, what needed here most to avoid
fraud is to be knowledgeable, suspicious, and
trust your common sense. Do not risk your
health to alternative treatment which are
unapproved and untrustworthy. As nurses, we
should be able to suppress some believes of the
client which are unhealthful. This makes health
education important.