Gaia Health

[[File:GaiaHealthChildren.jpg|thumb|right|165px|Think of the children!]]
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'''Gaia Health''' ('''gaia-health.com''') is a website founded in 2009 by '''Heidi Stevenson''' {{lived||2014}} that promotes [[alternative medicine]] and [[conspiracy theories]]. Stevenson has appeared on [[Infowars]], where she alleged that [[Gardasil]] was dangerous,<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20140325050335/http://www.activistpost.com/2014/03/remembering-heidi-stevenson-of-gaia.html Remembering Heidi Stevenson of Gaia Health] by Heather Callaghan (March 24, 2014) ''Activist Post''.</ref><ref name=jonesin>[https://web.archive.org/web/20130813161119/http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ReKYd2SgjAA Gardasil Destroys 16 Yr Old Girl's Ovaries] by The Alex Jones Channel (Aug 12, 2013) ''YouTube''.</ref> and has also contributed to [[GreenMedInfo]].

It's explicitly opposed to [[evidence-based medicine]], is [[anti-vaccine]]<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20130131025135/http://gaia-health.com/gaia-blog/2013-01-28/sweden-a-cautionary-tale-about-vaccines Sweden: A Cautionary Tale About Vaccines], Gaia Health.</ref> [[Chemophobia|anti-chemical]],<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20130312105350/http://gaia-health.com/gaia-blog/2013-03-09/antibiotics-create-apocalyptic-diseases/ Antibiotics Breed Apocalyptic Diseases], Gaia Health.</ref> and relies almost exclusively on [[Cherry picking|cherry-picked]] [[anecdote]]s.<ref name=anecdote>[https://web.archive.org/web/20121129110619/http://gaia-health.com/gaia-blog/2012-11-21/the-plural-of-anecdote-is-data-is-the-correct-quote/ The Plural of Anecdote IS Data!], Gaia Health.</ref> They dismiss [[ScienceBlogs]] writers {{---}} who naturally critique Gaia Health as pseudoscience {{---}} as "[[pseudoskeptic]]s".<ref name=anecdote/>

Fortunately, the site appears to have virtually no traffic.

==Site content==
===Intro===
In the site's intro, Gaia Health explains to the reader to be [[Open mind|open minded]] to its bullshit:<ref>https://web.archive.org/web/20090211142908/http://gaia-health.com/</ref>

{{quotebox|
The hope of Gaia Health is to clear the mist from our eyes. It has always been human nature to question, research, and think—to be a rebel and even outcast. Gaia Health echoes those propensities.

We hope that you’ll look through the pages and read articles with an open mind. You’ll likely be surprised, shocked, amazed, and stunned at some of the information. Some will likely be contrary to what you’ve believed. That’s the idea—to challenge accepted views of the world, but only with facts and reason.
}}

===Quack Miranda Warning===
{{main|Quack Miranda Warning}}
{{gi|{{main|Green ink|{{gi|Green ink}}}}}}

Some time after the death of Stevenson, the site added a [[Quack Miranda Warning]]. It claims that their "articles are well researched and sources are provided", which is laughable given the shoddy quality of their articles:<ref name=main>[https://web.archive.org/web/20090211142908/http://gaia-health.com/ Disclaimer]. ''Gaia Health''.</ref>

{{quotebox|1=
<b><span style="color:green">Gaia Health [[Alternative facts|offers a different take on health]]. Although our articles are well researched and sources are provided, we accept no responsibility, including for the efficacy of the information or how the information may be used. In addition, the opinions expressed in articles on this site are solely those of the authors, and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the owner(s) of this website. Please consult your doctor as your primary source of health information.</span></b>
}}

So, even though the site often has information contrary to good medical advice (e.g., [[homeopathy]] and [[antivax]]), the site still recommends that you consult your doctor for primary information.

===Subcategories===
The site also gives the impression of being far more comprehensive than it is with a long list of subcategories. However, as of November 16, 2017, thirteen of their categories are empty including most of the disease category, including topics such as [[drug]] resistant [[bacteria]] and [[childbirth]]. The site also included a humor section allegedly filled with "funny" anti-medicine and anti-chemical articles and videos.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20130911122128/http://gaia-health.com/gaia-blog/category/natural-health/humor/ Humor] Gaia Health (archived from September 11, 2013).</ref>

===Big Pharma===
Gaia Health leans heavily on [[Big Pharma]] conspiracy theories. It opposes government regulation of alternative medicine, at one point expressing outrage at the banning of Hyland's Homeopathic Teething Tablets (which were found to have unsafe levels of belladonna), claiming the [[FDA]] was a servant of Big Pharma and that it was an assault on [[health freedom]].<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20101028121700/http://gaia-health.com/articles301/000321-fda-bans-hylands-homeopathic-teething-product.shtml FDA Bans Hyland's Homeopathic Tablets] by Heidi Stevenson (archived October 28, 2010) ''Gaia Health''</ref> (The idea that large pharmaceutical companies, in actuality, ''hate'' FDA regulation never occurred to them.)

Stevenson lacks a basic knowledge of [[hypothesis]] testing and epidemiology, yet she felt qualified to criticize the very basis of a vaccine-autism epidemiology study.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20131029182751/http://gaia-health.com:80/gaia-blog/2013-03-30/cdc-claim-of-no-autism-vaccine-link-based-on-junk-science CDC Claim of No Autism-Vaccine Link Based on Junk Science] by Admin (March 30, 2013) ''Gaia Health'' (archived from October 29, 2013).</ref><ref>[https://sciencebasedmedicine.org/the-final-nail-in-the-coffin-for-the-antivaccine-rallying-cry-too-many-too-soon/ The final nail in the coffin for the antivaccine rallying cry "Too many too soon"?] by David Gorski (April 1, 2013) ''Science- Based Medicine''.</ref>

===Homeopathy===
====Against homeopathy regulation====
In an article titled "Should We Regulate Water Like Alcohol Because They’re Both Liquids?" Gaia Health pushes against homeopathy regulation in the UK by comparing alcohol regulation to water:<ref>https://web.archive.org/web/20150517000910/http://gaia-health.com/natural-health/homeopathy/regulate-water-like-alcohol-theyre-liquids/</ref>
{{quotebox|
Homeopathic remedies are on the verge of being regulated in the same manner as pharmaceuticals in the UK. The reason being used is that they’re both medicines, so they should both be treated in the same manner.
}}

{{quotebox|
Regulating homeopathic remedies like pharmaceuticals because they’re both medicines would be like regulating water the same way as alcohol, since they’re both liquids.
}}

====Placebo effect====
As a homeopath, Stevenson has also attempt to refute the existence of the [[placebo effect]].<ref name=busting>[https://web.archive.org/web/20150517052507/http://gaia-health.com/conventional-medicine/pharmaceuticals/busting-placebo-myth-placebos-dont-cure/ Busting the Placebo Myth: Placebos Don’t Cure] by Heidi Stevenson {{---}} ''Gaia Health''.</ref><ref name=myth>[https://respectfulinsolence.com/2013/03/21/the-myth-of-placebo-effects/ The "myth" of placebo effects] by Orac (March 21, 2013) ''Respectful Insolence''.</ref><ref name=busting/> However, it is well-established that placebos do have real and measurable effects, which are [[psychosomatic]] in nature.<ref name=myth/>

==External links==
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20090211142908/http://gaia-health.com/ Gaia Health official website]

==References==
{{reflist|2|80%}}

[[Category:Alternative medicine promoters]]
[[Category:Conspiracy theorists]]
[[Category:Websites]]

Categories: Alternative medicine promoters, Conspiracy theorists, Websites