A few months ago I wrote about a major scam called “Advanced Cell Training”. As the bullshit name implies, this pseudo-scientific claptrap purports to heal without the use of antibiotics or other medicine. While the specifics of this escape me (since I refuse to give these scammers even one penny), there is no doubt that encouraging people with serious illnesses – like Lyme Disease – that antibiotics are not needed is the height of criminality. How these people are not in jail for false medical claims is beyond me.

Here’s a perfect example to illustrate my point: a comment I received concerning an article I wrote a little while back

I will AGAIN BEG TO DIFFER FROM ALL OF YOU SCEPTICS!!!!
This program Advanced Cell Training ,,,,,has saved my Life!!!!!!! I have SUFFERED from severe shortness of breath,, to where I have to leave events ,, due to basically ,,just not getting AIR!!! AIR HUNGER,,,,, From LYME DISEASE,, WHICH BROKE OUT INTO BABESIA,,,, causing Horrible Shortness of Breath …. Since 2008,,,, !,
ACT,, has saved my life! I am out of bed, going to events, working, and the best part ,,,is SINGING to a song on the radio in the car>>>which one can’t do ,,, due to no AIR!!! I went to 5 different Pulmonary Docs,,, 6 different inhalers,,, NONE WORKED!! I was finally diagnosed with Lyme Disease less than a year ago!
Gary Blier,, and ACT,,, IS NOT A SCAM!! I was in suicide condition,,,,,, due to such bad shortness of breath!!!!
So to all you HATERS AND NON BELIEVERS ,,,,, I FEEL SORRY FOR YOU!!!!! ….. Anyone that bashes this is a IGNORAMOUS….. THIS IS NO JOKE, SCAM, !!!! TO ALL THAT WANT THERE LIFE BACK,,, DUE TO LYME DISEASE,, I URGE YOU TO AT LEAST CHECK INTO THIS!! REG Doctors and Antibiotics do NOT CURE LYME DISEASE!!!!

Now, if this woman was fortunate enough to get fully treated for her illness, then the symptoms she suffered after the disease disappear (depression, fatigue, and neurocognitive difficulties), is actually expected. While scientists aren’t quite sure why these symptoms manifest themselves, the real danger in the disease is how long it goes untreated. A person who decides to forgo treatment, or end it prematurely, puts their health in serious jeopardy. Over time, it seems as though these symptoms naturally disappear, so what could be better than pretending to have a technique to help alleviate things that are notoriously hard to measure.

Her objections to our skepticism is also quite telling: exclamation marks and Caps Lock litter the screen, which in her mind must constitute some form of proof (you’ll notice that unskeptical idiots think passion is a substitute for facts). We’re supposed to trust her anecdotal evidence as proof meditation cures diseases, but that’s not the way things work. Feel sorry for us do you? I’m not the one risking my life with crazy nonsense, lady.