Dennis Paul “Dr.” Knicely runs a website called “Healingnews”, which is, basically, exactly what you think it is. Knicely claims to be able to heal pretty much every ailment known to man with fluff, woo and positive thinking (a remarkable remedy – if you didn’t get well, you just didn’t think positively enough). The website has some original content, but for the most part it collects links to all sorts of health-related new age fluff, preferably of the less reality-affected kind.And do you know what the best part is? The website provides us with the “scientific validation of alternative medicine” as well (Tracy Planinz’s multi-part series, including the validation of homeopathy, herbs, and acupuncture, unfortunately without a trace of science or validation.
In short, his webpage has everything; super-foods, anti-ageing, mind-body-spirit balance, prosperity (law of attraction), detox, drum circles, cancer denialism, mercury dental fillings, Frankenfoods (all modified foods: “There is a systemic illness in modern society: Most are simply so "numb" from constant exposure to chemicals and poisons everywhere they go”), magical plants, anti-vaccinationism (lots), the swine flu was a conspiracy/the swine flu is actually healthy for you (), and so on, and so forth. The most prevalent theme seems to be that prescription drugs are generally killing you, and all serious conditions can really be avoided (and remedied) by veganism (but greedy doctors will of course not tell you that). Knicely’s list of references includes such luminaries as Barbara Loe Fisher, Gary Null and Leonard Horowitz.
It’s all about finding harmony and opening your mind, you see. (The quack Miranda is cleverly hidden.)
Diagnosis: Knicely and his guest writers are, in short, more or less equivalent to healthranger Mike Adams, though the raging insanity is toned down, and while Knicely’s network is probably not unique in any way, it deserves an entry as a representative for this kind of drivel. Knicely is dangerous, of course, but probably not very influential.
I am particularly fond of his article on healing teeth. It is really among the funniest things I have read in a long while - completely mind-boggling in its deranged bizarreness.
ReplyDeleteDennis, however, is probably the best high-end sign designer in the SouthWest. Some day he should stick to that, but what's wrong with a little loony talk as a harmless hobby. It needs to be said that I enjoy his postings about food on Facebook. If you cherry pick through these you find a lot of useful information, although not enough for me to turn into a raw food aficionado. But heck last night I had eggplant steaks, a first non-meat meal in years! This morning I was so hungry I ate an elephant for breakfast.
ReplyDeleteI think your review of him was mean-spiritied and quite unfair. The guy is a sweetheart and you should try to meet him...and apologize.