CONSPIRITUALIT Y – Magical Thinking in Uncertain Times

Have you ever come across an article or a social media post where you were encouraged to boost your immune system? Perhaps it was accompanied by a seductive image of a juicy orange, some colorful berries or a garlic clove. It might surprise you to know that boosting your immune system by eating fruit isn’t possible; it’s a widespread misconception about how the immune system works, and not rooted in actual science. The symptoms you get when you have a cold, like a fever or a runny nose, are signs that show that your immune system is working like it should – and not signs that you need to boost anything.

You might wonder how this relates to any conspiracies. Being told to eat more oranges seems completely harmless, and it is. However, there is a difference between eating an orange because it tastes good and eating it because you believe it will protect you from illness, or even cure you. A closer look at the wellness industry and some of the more extreme ideas it entails reveal the same mistrust against science that is evident among flat earthers or other conspiracy theorists.

Conspiracy Theories Stretch

A New Lifestyle for Sale

The wellness industry consists of a wide range of companies that provide activities, services and products meant to enhance your physical and mental health. It can be anything from gym equipment and yoga classes to aroma therapy candles and healing crystals, as well as natural remedies for aches and pains.

At the beginning of the Covid pandemic the medical community and the authorities didn’t have all the answers when it came to tackling a new virus, and the uncertainty led many to look for answers elsewhere. This is where the wellness industry stepped in and offered alternatives to conventional science, not seldom through influencers promoting “natural” products and a lifestyle where both your body and soul need enhancement and empowerment to stay healthy.

Natural vs Unnatural Choices

These “natural” alternatives are not new. People have experimented with homemade remedies since the beginning of time, but as we’ve learned more and more about the body and medicine, these remedies have become sidelined by scientists and doctors. There are, however, two main groups of people who seek out alternative medicines or treatments. There are those who have a “better safe than sorry”-mentality and combine modern and alternative medicines, and then there are those who make active lifestyle choices to avoid modern medicine for fear of poisons, chemicals and “unnatural” substances.