Exposing the Miracle Cure

It was Saturday morning and while I was making breakfast, letting the cats outside, and watering my half-dead plants, I had the TV on. Saturday morning TV is usually composed of nothing but infomercials and today was no different.

One of the channels had this guy hawking a book on natural cures. He claimed that no matter what kind of disease you had, there was a natural or herbal cure for it -- and he had it in his book. No drugs, no surgery, no traditional medicine needed at all. Now he wasn't claiming that the information in his book would lessen your symptoms or reduce your pain, no, he was claiming that you would be absolutely, positively, money-back-guaranteed CURED!!

My jaw dropped as I listened to this guy make all these outlandish claims and I thought, how can people listen to this kind of junk? Worse, how can people send this guy their hard earned money?

The more I watched, the more it hit me that he was using a very familiar sales formula. You hear others use this same formula for a variety of products. This sales formula contains the following elements:

Element Number 1. IT'S A MIRACLE!

This first element is insidious because it offers hope to people that have little left. We've all heard the claims before: lose weight while you sleep, cure cancer overnight, stop pain without surgery.

You've also heard about other "miracles" I'm sure: double your money in the stock market, become a real estate millionaire, clean your bathroom with no scrubbing, and on and on. Someone once said, "If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is." Good advice.

This first element is the BAIT. It's used to create interest and the more outlandish the claim, the more likely you're going to stop and watch. And why is it that you've never heard about this miracle before? Well, see item 2.

Element Number 2. THERE'S A CONSPIRACY!

The guy said that the reason no one had ever heard of any of these "cures" before was because the __________ (insert your favorite opposition group here) was trying to cover it up and keep it off the market.

In his case, the FDA was against it. The drug companies were against it. The medical community was against it. You name it, he claimed they were against his information. I thought, "hey, this sounds exactly like the claims that there's a car that runs on water but GM and the oil companies don't want the public to know."

So when you come across any kind of quack making any kind of outrageous claim and you ask why hasn't this been make public before, the answer you always get is that there's a conspiracy against them.

The second element builds INTRIGUE and continues to draw you in. They make you feel like you're part of some deep, dark secret.

Element Number 3. A PROPHET CRYING IN THE WILDERNESS.

These guys always portray themselves as a "prophet in the wilderness" just trying to get the word of this miracle out to the masses. They talk about all the problems they've had getting anyone to listen (there's a conspiracy, you know). They say that they do what they do because it's their mission, their passion, it's the right thing to do. No, they're not doing it for the money -- however they do accept MC and VISA.

The third element builds EMPATHY or even sympathy for the guy and his product. You think, "Poor guy. All he wants to do is help people."

Element Number 4. TIME IS RUNNING OUT.

The clincher is that they're only offering this miracle for a limited time so you have to act fast. Time is running out and the "miracle" will only be offered for the next 3 minutes (or 30 callers or whatever).

Here's where they play on your fear of missing out. You begin to ask yourself, "What if it IS true? I don't want to miss out." and you reach for the phone and your credit card.

The forth element is designed to get you to take ACTION. It's like putting a string in front of a cat and then jerking it away. The cat chases it on instinct. Same principle. They're going to dangle this miracle in front of you and then start to take it away hoping you'll jump up and call the operators who are standing by.

Element Number 5. YOU HAVE NOTHING TO LOSE.

Of course, the product or book comes with a full 30-day money back guarantee so you have "nothing to lose." Excuse me, nothing to lose??? What about losing your health by following some quack cure? What about making your health situation worse by withholding or foregoing medical treatment? I'd say you've got a LOT to lose and you need to consider this very carefully.

The fifth element builds CONFIDENCE that you can always get your money back so it's no big deal to go ahead and order it. Well, I've already mentioned that you have a lot to lose -- and getting your money back may not be all that easy either.

CONCLUSION

So there you have it. The next time you watch or listen to ANY kind of commercial that offers a "miracle cure" for only $19.95, see if the sales pitch doesn't follow this same formula. I'll bet it does.

Remember, there is no free lunch and there is no "miracle cure." Getting and staying healthy takes work. No bottle of snake oil is going to erase a lifetime of poor eating habits and a lack of exercise.

You CAN improve your health but you've got to take a balanced approach and consistently work at it. So turn off the infomercials and I'll see you at the gym!

Hiram Perez has made good health a lifelong study. Find other simple and common sense techniques to improve your health by signing up for a free 5-part email mini-course at the Balance Your Health website.

---

Blood Pressure Treatment: High and Low Blood Pressure Tips and Medication!

High blood pressure is on the rise worldwide. But, doctors believe that small lifestyle changes can go a long way in preventing this silent killer.High blood pressure (BP) is one of the 10... Read More

Kids and Medication Part I

We have all talked a lot about the problems in our educational system, about latchkey kids, about teacher turnover (50 percent of teachers quitted within the first five years on the job), psychologists... Read More

Cholesterol Treatments Options: Statins

Satins are pharmacuetical drugs that work by restricting the enzyme HMG CoA reductase. This is an enzyme which regulates how fast a rate cholesterol is produced in the body. By slowing down production... Read More

Latest Medical Spa Equipment Showcased at New York Medical Spa Expo

This year, the New York Medical Spa Expo confirmed the Medical Spa industry is continuing to grow. "Not only did thousands of Spa and Medical Spa owners visit this year's show, but we... Read More

Zoloft Side Effects: Akathisia and Violent Behavior

Zoloft is an SSRI (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor); a prescription drug that combats depression, anxiety, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), panic disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), as well as other various problems. SSRIs work by... Read More

Vioxx Recall leads to Vioxx Lawsuits

Vioxx is a nonsteroidal anti-inflammagory drug (NSAID) that reduces inflammation, pain, fever, osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis stiffness, and menstrual pain. However, Vioxx has been shown to cause blood clots, heart attacks, stroke, Stevens-Johnson... Read More

Comfortable, Affordable Lab Coats for the Health Care Professional

When a health care professional uses lab coats it conveys several different messages. First, lab coats give an appearance of professionalism. It's very important in the health care setting to be professional and... Read More

Cut Your Prescription Drug Costs Without Having to Buy Foreign Drugs

Save Up to 93% by Asking for a Generic - Use generics whenever they are available. Both brand name and generic drugs contain the same active ingredients, are the same in strength and... Read More

Kids and Medication Part II

In continuation of mood enhancement drugs for kids and adolescents, we next discuss the issues of Prozac. Of course there is the other favorite drug Prozac which was approved back in 1987 and... Read More

Robotic Future of Hospitals; Pandemic Prevention and Bio-Terrorist Attack

There is a huge concern in the medical industry that if a biological weapon were released that those sick might come to the hospitals in such large numbers that before you realized an... Read More

Alprazolam/Xanax ? A Habit Forming Drug

Xanax is a Prescription Drug which is habit forming. You can become physically and psychologically dependent on the Xanax medication. Nevert take more than the prescribed amount of xanax or take it longer... Read More

Zyprexa Lawsuits

Zyprexa is an antipsychotic medication that works by changing the actions of chemicals in the brain. Zyprexa is used to treat the symptoms of psychotic conditions such as schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. Zyprexa... Read More

What is Going On With Pharmacies in Canada

There is a large amount of talk lately in regard to Canadian pharmacies, and why not? pharmacies in Canada provide the same identical perscription drugs you would find at the local pharmacy, deliver... Read More

How Distressing is Social Phobia?

I remember a friend in college who would blush, sweat, and tremble when required by a teacher to speak in class. A few weeks before the presentation, he'd be anxious, agitated, and couldn't... Read More

Buy Electric Wheelchairs Online

Electric wheelchairs mobility for virtually any type of disability.Innovations have made control of electric wheelchairs manageable for everyone. Today, manual and electric wheelchairs have become a physical extension of the rider. But it... Read More

Substance Abuse Attitude Testing by a Standardized Survey

This is a short overview of a questionnaire used for substance abuse attitude testing in testing a CREATE (Curriculum Renewal and Evaluation of Addiction Training and Education) effects on Medical Students. My afterthoughts... Read More

Viagra Users - Overcome NAION Fear

NAION is the latest side effect linked to Viagra and other ED drugs. It is a condition which results from a painless swelling of the optic nerve that causes rapid reduction in vision.... Read More

The Basic First Aid for Child Care Programs

We cannot help but accept the fact that children do get into trouble and sometimes emergencies when they are left in childcare programs. We just have to pray that most injuries sustained are... Read More

Phenylpropanolamine (PPH) Lawyer: Decongestant Causes Stroke

Phenylpropanolamine, or PPH, used to be an active ingredient in many over the counter nasal decongestants and weight control drug products. The FDA pulled phenylpropanolamine off the market in May of 2000 when... Read More

Medical Testing: Health By The Numbers Doesnt Work

Perhaps one of the most insidious dangers in modern technology is medical testing. Although it would be nice to be able to visit our doctor and get all hooked up with electrodes, inflatable... Read More

?Foot Pain Relief At Last!?

"As an arthritis specialist, one area that I see people complain about more often than almost any other, is their feet." So says Dr. Nathan Wei, Clinical Director of The Arthritis and Osteoporosis... Read More

Web Therapy: Enhancing Patient Communication with Web Access

According to Jennifer Lyons' chart, she's just a bad slip and fall who's lucky enough to be on her way to a full recovery.But to Jennifer, who is lying in bed with a... Read More

Arizona Drug Rehab: Finding Help in Arizona

The state of Arizona has one of the worst drug problems in the United States. Historically and currently, the state is known as a transhipment location for a variety of drugs, including heroin,... Read More

Mend Your Arthritis Pain Relief

=====KNOW YOUR ARTHRITIS=====Arthritis is referred to as the nation?s number one crippling disease and the most common chronic disease in people over 40, arthritis affects more than 40 million Americans.And this figure is... Read More

Phentermine Diet Pills: When Diet and Exercise Arent Enough To Help You Lose Weight

Have you been struggling to lose weight, but diet and exercise aren't giving you the results you need to be healthy? Are you sick of people telling you that you could lose weight... Read More

New Antidepressant Developments and Approvals

New antidepressant development, until fairly recently, was at best a random, and at worst a problematic and frustrating, process. Often, medications that were developed for one thing were discovered quite accidentally to have... Read More

Ultram Story: Keeping Pain Control Under Control

When Aspirin Isn't EnoughIt's surprising how clearly we can recall getting hurt. Years later, we can recount our first fall from a too-tempting tree, a bee-sting, the birth of a child. We can... Read More

The Top Seven Myths About Arthritis

Myth #1: "Nothing can be done about arthritis..."You don't have to put up with arthritis. Now motre than ever, there are excellent medicines that can not only treat the symptoms but also, in... Read More

Living Migraine Free

Don't treat your migraines, prevent them. A life without migraines is obtainable, I know. I was a migraine sufferer for 12 years and have been treating... preventing them for my patients for 15... Read More