Marco Lagusz, unluckiest fish in the barrel

It's not easy to make a living as a quack - most "complementary therapists" never even become full-time professionals.

Such an unfortunate is Marco Lagusz, a "Reiki Master Teacher of the Usui system of natural healing" from Bedford.

(Image credit)

Marco boasts that his magical finger therapy can create all kinds of miracles, the most impressive of which are

"Detoxifying the body... Overcoming addictions and breaking bad habits... Reducing depression... Improving sleeping disorders... Destroying energy blockages that can cause any illnesses and diseases... "

Can Marco substantiate all of these health claims? He'll win a Nobel Prize if he can, but he's committing an offence if he can't. I'd rather like to know, either way.

By the way, the two complaints below - the first to the Advertising Standards Authority, the second to Trading Standards - took a grand total of exactly thirty-seven seconds to write, thanks to this marvellous little Chrome Plugin.

(ASA complaint)

"The website makes a number of health claims for the advertiser's Reiki service.

1. ( http://www.temple-of-light.co.uk/whatcanreikihelpwith.htm )

"REIKI CAN HELP WITH... Here is a small example of what Reiki can help with: Accelerating your body's natural ability to heal itself... Relieving pain and reduces the side effects of medication... Detoxifying the body... Overcoming addictions and breaking bad habits... Reducing depression... Improving sleeping disorders... Destroying energy blockages that can cause any illnesses and diseases... Assist[ing] with post operative recovery... Assist[ing] with Back problems... Respiratory problems... PMT... Sinus problems..."

I'd like to challenge whether the advertiser can substantiate any of these claims.

2. ( http://www.temple-of-light.co.uk/testimonialsreviews.htm )

"CLIENT TESTIMONIALS
In my experience, Reiki is a profoundly peaceful, relaxing experience that leaves you both tranquil and yet invigorated at the same time.

For years, despite the nightly use of herbal remedies or over the counter sleep medication, I had not slept - habitually finding myself awake at 01.00 am and remaining so until the alarm.

It was suggested I try Reiki, so in June this year (2008) I contacted Marco and booked a course of 4 X one hourly treatments.

Even after just the first treatment I noted a significant change for the better. Now it is only on the rarest of occasions that I do not sleep soundly throughout the night.

Deb F. Bedfordshire"

I haven't heard of any clinical evidence that Reiki is a better treatment for chronic insomnia than 'over the counter sleep medication' [sic], so I'd like to challenge whether this testimonial is misleading.

I've made some screenshots of the relevant pages, which are available at:
http://leicester.skepticsinthepub.org/FishBarrel/ci.aspx?id=vwJYI2OSqH
http://leicester.skepticsinthepub.org/FishBarrel/ci.aspx?id=Gvyjg6NglW

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

(TS complaint)

"Marco Lagusz makes a number of health claims of health claims on website http://www.temple-of-light.co.uk , which I don't believe can be substantiated with clinical evidence.

If the company are unable to provide robust evidence to back up these claims, they would be operating an Unfair Commercial Practice under the Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations, 2008.

As you are no doubt aware, under these regulations is it not the duty of the enforcement officer to prove that claims being made are false. The regulations state that if someone is unable to provide robust evidence to support the claims they are making when asked, then they are operating an unfair commercial practice.

1. ( http://www.temple-of-light.co.uk/whatcanreikihelpwith.htm )

"REIKI CAN HELP WITH... Here is a small example of what Reiki can help with: Accelerating your body's natural ability to heal itself... Relieving pain and reduces the side effects of medication... Detoxifying the body... Overcoming addictions and breaking bad habits... Reducing depression... Improving sleeping disorders... Destroying energy blockages that can cause any illnesses and diseases... Assist[ing] with post operative recovery... Assist[ing] with Back problems... Respiratory problems...
PMT... Sinus problems..."

I'd like to challenge whether the advertiser can substantiate any of these claims.

I've made some screenshots of the relevant pages, which are available at:
http://leicester.skepticsinthepub.org/FishBarrel/ci.aspx?id=vwJYI2OSqH

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