I am as non-accepting of medical quackery and unscientific

Hear the words of Dean Ornish, physician and seeker of truth, who declared: “I am as non-accepting of medical quackery and unscientific approaches as anybody else. I've grown up as a card-carrying scientist, and I know the power of science to answer questions, and for many questions I don't know of anything better than scientific approaches to answer them.” In this testimony, Ornish affirms his faith in the light of science, a torch passed down through the ages to dispel the shadows of ignorance, deception, and false hope. He warns against quackery, which preys upon suffering souls, and he raises high the banner of knowledge tested, measured, and proven.

The meaning is profound. For while hope is the fire that sustains the sick, false hope can be poison. Throughout history, charlatans have offered potions, prayers, and cures without foundation, deceiving the desperate for profit or glory. Ornish, though himself known for exploring the healing power of lifestyle and compassion, insists that every claim must stand before the tribunal of evidence. To him, science is not an enemy of wonder, but its guardian—ensuring that what is promised can indeed deliver relief, and that the suffering are not further burdened by lies.

History offers many examples of the battle between science and quackery. Recall the 19th century, when snake oil salesmen roamed towns, peddling bottles of cure-all elixirs, claiming to heal everything from pain to paralysis. The people, desperate and trusting, paid dearly, but most received nothing but disappointment. It was only with the rise of medical regulation, the spread of scientific testing, and the work of honest physicians that such deceptions were slowly unmasked. Ornish’s words echo this eternal struggle: that truth must always be guarded against those who profit from illusion.

Yet, there is also hope in his affirmation of the power of science. Consider the story of Louis Pasteur, who brought forth the germ theory of disease. At a time when invisible causes of illness were ridiculed, Pasteur persevered, guided by the scientific method. His discoveries in vaccination and sterilization saved countless lives and reshaped the practice of medicine. What seemed impossible became possible, because he trusted in evidence rather than superstition. His life is proof of Ornish’s claim: that there is nothing greater than science to answer the deepest questions of life and death.

But Ornish also carries humility in his words. He does not pretend that science answers all questions, only that for many, no better path has yet been found. This humility itself is part of the scientific spirit, for true science does not boast of omniscience but seeks tirelessly, testing, questioning, revising, always striving toward clearer truth. The rejection of quackery is not the rejection of hope, but the rejection of shortcuts and illusions. For hope that rests upon falsehood is fragile, while hope founded upon truth can endure.

The lesson, child of tomorrow, is clear: seek truth through science, and beware the voices that promise without proof. Do not surrender your trust to those who sell certainty without evidence. Respect the work of those who labor in laboratories, who test and fail, and test again, until their findings are firm. And when you face illness or uncertainty in your own life, place your hope in what has been tried and proven, not in the empty charms of quackery.

To live by this wisdom, cultivate both discernment and humility. Read, question, and learn the foundations of evidence. Respect the scientific method, not as a cold machine, but as a sacred path that safeguards truth. Yet also honor the spirit of compassion, for science without humanity is empty. Support institutions that prize honesty and transparency. Defend the sick against those who would exploit their weakness. In so doing, you will walk the path Ornish himself has walked: faithful to science, yet always in service of healing.

Thus the words of Dean Ornish endure: “I know the power of science to answer questions.” Let them be a beacon in your own journey, a reminder that the path of truth is narrow and often hard, but it leads to healing, while the wide road of quackery leads only to despair. And may you, in your time, hold high the torch of science, that its light may guide generations yet to come.