Bad Science And Sample Bitter Pills
TERRIBLE news buried at the foot of a Guardian medical research report today.
Researchers have a shock for Anorakians turning to hangover cures.
The answer you probably already knew has been confirmed:
“After an extensive review of evidence for the curative benefits of bananas, aspirin, vegemite, fructose, glucose, artichoke, prickly pear and the drugs tropisetron and tolfenamic acid, they conclude that none has been proven to cure hangovers. “No scientific evidence … supports any cure or effective prevention for alcohol hangovers.”
..and shock, horror, dismay:
“The most effective way to avoid a hangover is to consume alcohol only in moderation or not at all.”
The funnier side to this is the fact the British Medical Journal traditionally tries to take the piss out out of the medical correspondents at this time of year. Spoof articles, using research techniques without doing the research on clear nonsense subjects is a BMJ Christmas howler, an in-joke for the clinicians.
Each year serious news outlets fall for the straight-faced press releases – on pointless research projects – put out by the journal in advance of publication, and write them up as fact.
The Age Melborne gets it and has spotted it with the news AC/DC should play Moon River to reduce risk of neck injuries from headbanging.
The Guardian’s Ian Sample may not have spotted the trap in his Winter Warmer piece.
His escape route would be to say he knew all along…but now you know better.
– AGW
Posted: 18th, December 2008 | In: Reviews Comment | TrackBack | Permalink
