Nina Knowland, Healer of Broken Bones

Sceptics often challenge "healers" - with a barely-concealed snigger - to demonstrate their powers by "healing" a broken bone.

Today I found someone who actually claims to perform this service. Meet Nina Knowland!

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Nina claims to be a psychic surgeon, a medical discipline closely related to faith healing. She describes herself as a

"Successful Specialised Healer and Lightworker, specializing in operable, inoperable and post operative [sic] trauma conditions... I have helped many clients who were waiting for an operation and some where an operation would not have been successful as the Surgeons today (not through their fault) do not have the knowledge or equipment..."

Nina is well-known is sceptical circles, mainly for her former friendship with Gary Mannion, another fraudulent healer. Mannion was lucky to avoid a free holiday at Her Majesty's Pleasure for his cancer cure claims, a criminal racket which was being emulated by Knowland until a few years ago.

Nina is still breaking the law, however. Just look at this list of conditions she claims to alleviate: nearly every one constitutes an offence under the 2008 Consumer Protection regulations.

"...acute pain, inoperable aneurysms, arthritis, asthma, back injuries, bilateral osteotomies, broken bones, bronchitis and other lung conditions, bladder problems, chest problems, persistent coughing, Crohn's disease, Deep Vein Thrombosis, detached retinas, damaged eyes, frozen neck, gall bladder conditions, gallstones, haemorrhoids, headaches, migraines, Hiatus Hernia, IBS, Lichen Sclerosis, kidney stones, macular degeneration, menstrual pains, MS, neck injuries, "extensive and irreparable" nerve damage, osteoporosis, sciatica, slipped discs, trapped nerves, whiplash..."

It's a rather long list and it would be easy to miss the "broken bones" gaff. Happily, Nina can support her claim with this, err, "evidence":

"I was off work with a painful cracked Rib [sic], I was on strong painkillers which had no affect [sic]. After Healing [sic] the pain from the cracked Rib [sic] had completely disappeared. My experience of my cracked Rib [sic] being Healed [sic] by Nina allows me to recommend her to anyone..."

"I suffered a broken tibia in my left arm. I had 2 operations and had my arm set in plaster twice. Xray's [sic] showed it calcified but had not fused together... I told Nina and she offered to try to help with healing... A month later I went back for another xray [sic] which showed the Tibia [sic] had fused together..."

An astute reader may wonder why all these "testimonials" are written in the same style, deftly employing the same punctuation errors. Due to space limitations, that query didn't find its way into my ASA complaint.

"I'm writing to complain about the health claims made on two sites operated by Nina Knowland of the "Odyssey Therapy Centre", who describes herself as a "psychic surgeon".

The sites are www.odysseytherapycentre.co.uk and www.ninaknowland.co.uk

1. Knowland describes her work as a "psychic surgeon" thus:

( http://www.ninaknowland.co.uk/#/psychic-surgery/4517505067 )

"Successful Specialised Healer and Lightworker, specializing in operable, inoperable and post operative [sic] trauma conditions..."

2. I'd like to challenge whether the advertiser can substantiate the following claims on the same webpage:

(i) Psychic surgery has "helped many clients who were waiting for an operation"
(ii) Psychic surgery is in some cases superior to (orthodox) surgery
(iii) Psychic surgery can "prevent disease and complications"
(iv) The advertiser has been "successful" in treating "operable, inoperable and post operative [sic] trauma conditions"
(v) "...there is nothing that cannot be cured by Spiritual [Psychic] Surgery"
(vi) "Most ailments are cleared in just one session, sometimes two"

3. The advertiser lists the conditions she imagines psychic surgery can treat ( http://www.ninaknowland.co.uk/#/conditions-alleviated/4523700306 ).

4. I'd like to challenge whether the advertiser can substantiate her claim that psychic surgery can "successfully alleviate" acute pain, inoperable aneurysms, arthritis, asthma, back injuries, bilateral osteotomies, broken bones, bronchitis and other lung conditions, bladder problems, chest problems, persistent coughing, Crohn's disease, Deep Vein Thrombosis, detached retinas, damaged eyes, frozen neck, gall bladder conditions, gallstones, haemorrhoids, headaches, migraines, Hiatus Hernia, IBS, Lichen Sclerosis, kidney stones, macular degeneration, menstrual pains, MS, neck injuries, "extensive and irreparable" nerve damage, osteoporosis, sciatica, slipped discs, trapped nerves and whiplash.

5. I'd also like to challenge her claim that psychic surgery can repair broken limbs and cracked ribs, unblock fallopian tubes, cause a "significant improvement in eyesight" and remove post-operative adhesions and scar tissue.

6. I'd like to challenge whether the claim, at the bottom of this page, that "No doctor will tell you ever tell you everyone can be cured... I can't do this either, I can say I have a high success rate" can be substantiated.

7. The advertiser supports the list of conditions she can "alleviate" with a page of "client testimonials" ( http://www.ninaknowland.co.uk/#/testimonials/4517599900 and http://www.odysseytherapycentre.co.uk/#/testimonials/4522356271 ). I'd like to challenge whether the testimonial claims that psychic surgery can cure inoperable detached retinas, macular degeneration, eczema, degenerative osteoporosis, cracked ribs, broken tibias, post-operative adhesions, pain so severe that morphine was prescribed, hiatus hernia, back pain, intestinal blockages requiring surgery, abscesses and inoperable aneurysms are misleading. I'd also like to challenge whether the claim on these pages, "My testimonials are the evidence of the work I do (in psychic surgery)" is likely to mislead consumers about the reliability of anecdotal evidence.

8. The advertiser's fees are contradictory. Is the fee #40 or #60? Does the advertiser charge for her time, or per condition cured?

(i) http://www.ninaknowland.co.uk/#/psychic-surgery/4517505067 states "#60 per condition...you can contact me through the Odyssey Therapy Centre"
(ii) http://www.odysseytherapycentre.co.uk/#/questionsanswers/4522363854 states "My main Clinic is held at Odyssey Therapy Clinic... the fee is #40"
(iii) http://www.odysseytherapycentre.co.uk/#/testimonials/4522356271 states "I do not charge a fee for my healing. As with all professions I charge for my time".

I've made some screenshots of the relevant pages, which are available at:
http://leicester.skepticsinthepub.org/FishBarrel/ci.aspx?id=OR3KFyoDgv
http://leicester.skepticsinthepub.org/FishBarrel/ci.aspx?id=ostbi2jx06
http://leicester.skepticsinthepub.org/FishBarrel/ci.aspx?id=wvdwJsd249
http://leicester.skepticsinthepub.org/FishBarrel/ci.aspx?id=WdzNZ2i22j
http://leicester.skepticsinthepub.org/FishBarrel/ci.aspx?id=Pb5TOCAXHo
http://leicester.skepticsinthepub.org/FishBarrel/ci.aspx?id=jU5K7cShoB
http://leicester.skepticsinthepub.org/FishBarrel/ci.aspx?id=A17bCqgwBu
http://leicester.skepticsinthepub.org/FishBarrel/ci.aspx?id=315klod5fD
http://leicester.skepticsinthepub.org/FishBarrel/ci.aspx?id=oY1G0qT0Op
http://leicester.skepticsinthepub.org/FishBarrel/ci.aspx?id=uG3tOknu3M
http://leicester.skepticsinthepub.org/FishBarrel/ci.aspx?id=9divggA6Zp

I can confirm that I have no connections with the advertiser or with the alternative medicine industry in general."

Liz Strangways, reflexologist to the stars

Part three of my vendetta against local quacks focuses on Liz Strangways, who boasts of giving up a respectable career in human resources for the chance to spend her life rubbing people's toes.

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Liz is quite careful to avoid making illegal health claims - and good for her - but it has proven impossible to restrain her delusions entirely. Hopefully, she'll be happy to receive a gentle nudge in the right direction.

About reiki - a theatrical but useless magical hand-waving therapy - she says

"Reiki works to heal you at the level of your energy to the root of any disease..."

Precisely which "any disease" she means, I can't be sure. Liz is less reticent in her boasts for reflexology.

"Reflexology may help to cleanse the body of toxins and impurities."

For those Doubting Thomases among you, Liz offers a glittering celebrity endorsement from the Olympic silver medallist, Kriss Akabusi, who writes

"Liz is a totally committed person in what ever she does and brings a high level of integrity to the table. Liz and I worked together on various projects in my charity where she was dedicated to developing expert knowledge in various facets of the work..."

This "expert knowledge" of which Akabusi speaks presumably refers to this discussion of the "Science Behind Reiki", which starts in the usual way:

"The Science Behind Reiki - What is Energy? - Einstein and later quantum physicists have explained [continues for several more pages]"

ASA complaints follows!

"The website makes a number of health claims which I suspect are misleading.

1. ( http://www.lizstrangways.co.uk/phdi/p1.nsf/supppages/2865?opendocument&part=2 )

"Reflexology is a method believed to activate the healing powers of the body"

I'd like to challenge whether the advertiser can substantiate her claim that reflexology can 'activate the healing powers of the body'.

2.

"a modern scientific method called reflexology"

I'd like to challenge whether the description of reflexology as a 'modern scientific method' is misleading.

3.

"What joins the ancient and the modern is the long-established principle that there are energy zones that run throughout the body and reflex areas in the feet that correspond to all the major organs, glands and body parts."

I challenge whether the correspondence between 'reflex areas in the feet that corrrespond to all the major organs, glands and body parts' is in fact a 'long-established principle', in the sense that it is supported by evidence.

4.

"Reflexology may help to cleanse the body of toxins and impurities."

I challenge whether reflexology can 'help to cleanse the body of toxins and impurities'.

5.

"How does reflexology work?
Since ancient times various methodologies have been employed to strengthen and balance the flow of energy. Many of these systems, including acupuncture, shiatsu and reflexology agree that this energy flows in zones or meridians throughout the body. Reflexologists specify that there are ten energy zones that run the length of the body from head to toe - five on each side of the body ending in each foot and running down the arms into the tips of the fingers. All the organs and parts of the body lie along one or more of these zones. Each zone can be considered a channel for the intangible life energy, called chi or qi in oriental and martial arts. Stimulating any zone in the foot by applying pressure with the thumbs and fingers affects the entire zone throughout the body, revitalizing and balancing the entire zone which may improve the function of the organs in that zone."

I challenge whether 'Stimulating any zone in the foot by applying pressure with the thumbs and fingers affects the entire zone throughout the body, revitalizing and balancing the entire zone which may improve the function of the organs in that zone" can be substantiated.

6. ( http://www.lizstrangways.co.uk/phdi/p1.nsf/supppages/2865?opendocument&part=3 )

"Reiki encourages and supports your positive personal choices such as... reducing your need for alcohol and tobacco."

I challenge whether the advertiser can substantiate the claim that reiki can be used to reduce tobacco and alcohol addictions.

7.

"Being complementary, Reiki is effective alongside orthodox healthcare and natural remedies, expanding treatment options."

I challenge whether the word 'effective' is misleading and can be substantiated.

8.

"Reiki works to heal you at the level of your energy to the root of any disease"

I challenge whether the advertiser can substantiate her claim that reiki 'works' and can 'heal you' of 'the root of any disease'.

9.

"The Science Behind Reiki - What is Energy? - Einstein and later quantum physicists have explained... [continues for several pages]"

I challenge the description of reiki as supported by 'science' and explained by 'Einstein and later quantum physicists' can be substantiated and whether it is misleading.

10.

"What is interesting is that science has confirmed something that has been part of the spiritual wisdom of many cultures for thousands of years; that an unseen energy flows through and connects all living things."

I challenge whether the advertiser can substantiate her claim that 'science has confirmed' that reiki energy 'flows through... all living things'.

I've made some screenshots of the relevant pages, which are available at:
http://leicester.skepticsinthepub.org/FishBarrel/ci.aspx?id=8oIjxV78e9
http://leicester.skepticsinthepub.org/FishBarrel/ci.aspx?id=9Am117px0f
http://leicester.skepticsinthepub.org/FishBarrel/ci.aspx?id=xo8dTrAta1
http://leicester.skepticsinthepub.org/FishBarrel/ci.aspx?id=NUC5cARees
http://leicester.skepticsinthepub.org/FishBarrel/ci.aspx?id=80aToecvzq
http://leicester.skepticsinthepub.org/FishBarrel/ci.aspx?id=za0HaVkvDx

I can confirm that I have no connections with the advertiser or with the alternative medicine industry in general."