There are a few categories that you can use to distinguish between scientific and pseudoscientific claims. If it was published in scientific journals and reviewed it probably is a scientific claim as pseudoscientific claims are published for the general public and aren’t reviewed. Their results are also not proven with experiments and can’t be reproduced. Scientific claims also progress where as pseudoscientific claims never change. Pseudoscientists sell questionable products and advertise questionable practices. Scientists do not advertise unproven practices or products.
An example for Pseudoscience is Homeopathy. It is a type of alternative medicine and they believe that what the cause for your illness is can also treat it. There is no evidence that it works even though there has been research into it. As it isn’t proven to help treat medicines it isn’t part of the NHS but it is offered in some hospitals. When you see a homeopathic doctor he will ask you about your health conditions but also about you life, childhood and emotional wellbeing and based on your answer he will decide on the treatment. It is used to treat asthma, heart or blood pressure problems, allergies and many other things however there isn’t evidence that it actually works. Many people believe that, if you feel better after a homeopathic treatment, it is only due to the placebo effect. A placebo effect is a psychological reaction after taking a treatment, were you feel better because you think it worked, not because it actually worked. In UK there are no regulations for practicing homeopathic medicine, which means that anyone can practice it, even without a qualification. Some people might worry this, but in general is homeopathic medicine safe and doesn’t seem to have many side effects. Homeopathic medicine has highly diluted medicine in it and therefore doesn’t contain strong substances. Some homeopathic medicines dilute the actual substance too much that there isn’t any of the original molecule left. Other scientists believe that the original substance leaves an imprint on the water that it is diluted in however there isn’t a known mechanism with which it would work. This is also known as ‘water memory’, another pseudoscientific claim. It claims that under certain circumstances, water can retain a memory of the original substance that was dissolved in it before, however there isn’t evidence that this is true. In summary you can conclude that homeopathic medicine doesn’t work and is a pseudoscientific claim and that the only way that it benefits your health is through the placebo effect.
Response to comment:
My opinion is that homeopathic medicine doesn't work and in some ways it is morally wrong as the people who prescribe it kind of trick you, often for their own profit. I think the only reason why homeopathic medicine might work sometimes is due to the placebo effect but I don't think that it should be prescribed in cases like incurably diseases because it gives false hope when there isn't even a chance that the Placebo effect will cure the disease.
An example for Pseudoscience is Homeopathy. It is a type of alternative medicine and they believe that what the cause for your illness is can also treat it. There is no evidence that it works even though there has been research into it. As it isn’t proven to help treat medicines it isn’t part of the NHS but it is offered in some hospitals. When you see a homeopathic doctor he will ask you about your health conditions but also about you life, childhood and emotional wellbeing and based on your answer he will decide on the treatment. It is used to treat asthma, heart or blood pressure problems, allergies and many other things however there isn’t evidence that it actually works. Many people believe that, if you feel better after a homeopathic treatment, it is only due to the placebo effect. A placebo effect is a psychological reaction after taking a treatment, were you feel better because you think it worked, not because it actually worked. In UK there are no regulations for practicing homeopathic medicine, which means that anyone can practice it, even without a qualification. Some people might worry this, but in general is homeopathic medicine safe and doesn’t seem to have many side effects. Homeopathic medicine has highly diluted medicine in it and therefore doesn’t contain strong substances. Some homeopathic medicines dilute the actual substance too much that there isn’t any of the original molecule left. Other scientists believe that the original substance leaves an imprint on the water that it is diluted in however there isn’t a known mechanism with which it would work. This is also known as ‘water memory’, another pseudoscientific claim. It claims that under certain circumstances, water can retain a memory of the original substance that was dissolved in it before, however there isn’t evidence that this is true. In summary you can conclude that homeopathic medicine doesn’t work and is a pseudoscientific claim and that the only way that it benefits your health is through the placebo effect.
Response to comment:
My opinion is that homeopathic medicine doesn't work and in some ways it is morally wrong as the people who prescribe it kind of trick you, often for their own profit. I think the only reason why homeopathic medicine might work sometimes is due to the placebo effect but I don't think that it should be prescribed in cases like incurably diseases because it gives false hope when there isn't even a chance that the Placebo effect will cure the disease.