Sensationalized claims about bogus ‘miracle cures’ are being addressed

Kuala Lumpur: On Facebook these days, with almost every other posting, the next one will certainly be the advertisement of ‘miracle cures’ for all sorts of ailments and sicknesses.

Words are crafted in such a way to make readers believe that the most traditional medication and herbs-based are real and most effective. Lots of testimonies are also posted to make their claims look and sound more real. Their targets are those with chronic diseases and conditions such as diabetes, high blood pressure, knee, and joint pains, arthritis, peripheral nerve pain, tinnitus, obese and overweight and even sexual or erectile dysfunction. Sufferers who have endured the pain for long are easily influenced to buy online. Those who can afford it do not mind paying quite a fortune just to give it a try hoping that it will work wonders!

However, they are in fact paying for false hopes generated by posts with exaggerated or sensational health claims. Faced with the flood of scientifically dubious and potentially harmful misinformation about alternative treatments and miracle cures, Facebook has been taking action and is now increasingly engaged in a battle against bogus claims.

By Nasir Yusoff
Contributor to AsiaN