The wife and I were visiting the in-laws last week and my rather gullible mother-in-law told us about a “dietary consultant” she and her sister have been going to. This woman’s diagnostic methodology is to hold a jar of pills against the “patient’s” chest and then perform two simple physical challenges to judge whether or not the “patient” needs what’s in the jar. The two challenges are:
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The “patient” holds one arm straight out and the “consultant” pushes down on it with one hand near the elbow. If the “consultant” is able to force the arm down the “patient” needs the supplement.
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The “patient” makes a circle with his or her thumb and little finger. The “consultant” makes a similar circle so the two are linked. The “consultant” pulls and if she can break the circle the “patient” needs the supplement.
Can anybody help me with debunking this obvious scam? My mother-in-law doesn’t respond well to reason, but is susceptable to arguments from authority, so an advisory from the AMA or the FDA or the FBI would probably be useful.