#1897: Stephen Linsteadt

A scalar wave is an alleged type of electromagnetic wave that works outside of physics as we know it and can thus be used to prop up all sorts of New Age woo. As a scientific concept it was discarded in the 19^th century, but insofar as everything that has happened in science since then is a conspiracy, the idea is still championed by infamous cranks like Thomas Bearden to handwave some woolly justifications for thinking that stuff they’d like to be true is, in fact, true. (It isn’t.).

Scalar waves seem to have been mainstreamed among proponents of New Age woo around 2005, with the publication of The Heart of Health; the Principles of Physical Health and Vitality by Stephen Linsteadt, ND, according to whom “[s]calar waves can be created by wrapping electrical wires around a figure eight in the shape of a Möbius coil. When an electric current flows through the wires in opposite directions, the opposing electromagnetic fields from the two wires cancel each other and create a scalar wave. The DNA antenna in our cells' energy production centers (mitochondria) assumes the shape of what is called a super-coil. Supercoil DNA look like a series of Möbius coils. These Möbius supercoil DNA are hypothetically able to generate scalar waves. Most cells in the body contain thousands of these Möbius supercoils, which are generating scalar waves throughout the cell and throughout the body.” This is not correct by any stretch of the imagination. But from observations like this Linsteadt and his followers can use scalar waves to “explain” homeopathy, achieve lymph detoxification, and cure a variety of ailments, including diabetes, short sightedness, kidney stones, Parkinson's, strokes, arthritis (a rave and barely coherent overview by one Victor Marcial-Vega – “recognized as being in the top one percent of medical doctors in the U.S.” by some strangely unnamed entity – here) and, of course, cancer – as well as reverse the aging process. Heck, scalar waves are even part of the power of ORMUS.

And quantum woo is predictably just around the corner. Indeed, Linsteadt is a quantum naturopath, no less. According to Linsteadt “[t]he quantum level possesses the highest level of coherence within the human organism. Sick individuals with weak immune systems or cancer have poor and chaotic coherence with disturbed biophoton cellular communication. Therefore, disease can be seen as the result of disturbances on the cellular level that act to distort the cell’s quantum perspective. This causes electrons to become misplaced in protein molecules and metabolic processes become derailed as a result. Once cellular metabolism is compromised the cell becomes isolated from the regulated process of natural growth control.” The Random Deepak Chopra Quote Generator couldn’t have put it better. And no, this is not how this works. This is not remotely related to how any of this works. Though the sheer delusional insanity of the religiously charged technobabble dropping from Linsteadt’s pen is in its own way pretty impressive: “The quantum naturopath recognizes that quantum coherence provides the fundamental resonance communication system of the body. All quantum naturopathic therapies must, therefore, be aimed at re-establishing cellular resonance. Quantum naturopaths are experts in bio-energetic nutrition with an emphasis on providing adequate defenses for free radical damage and re-establishing the body’s bio-electric communication system by detoxifying the connective tissue matrix.” You can read more about quantum medicine here.

Diagnosis: Delusional, maniacal religious extremist, really, whose pseudoscientific rants rather strikingly resemble the ravings of a self-declared prophet with a seizure (good examples exist) if these were adjusted for grammar – Linsteadt’s sentences are mostly grammatical even though they usually don’t mean anything. His influence is probably limited, but good grief.