Health Misinformation and Disinformation: How Modern and Alternative Practices Spread It and What You Can Do

Understanding misleading health advice in modern medicine, dietetics, and alternative therapies—and how to protect yourself with science-backed knowledge

By Brian S 

Discover the truth behind health misinformation and disinformation from modern medicine, nutrition, and alternative medicine. Learn how to recognize false claims, why they spread, and how to make informed health decisions based on science.

Health Misinformation and Disinformation: What Are They?

In today’s digital world, health advice spreads fast—but not always accurately. With the rise of social media and wellness influencers, the boundaries between evidence-based medicine, outdated beliefs, and pseudoscience have become increasingly difficult to discern.

Two terms often used in this context are misinformation and disinformation. Though similar, their origins and intentions differ, and understanding these distinctions is crucial to protecting your health and the health of others.

Defining Misinformation and Disinformation

• Misinformation is incorrect or misleading health information shared without intent to deceive. It usually stems from ignorance or misunderstanding.

• Disinformation, on the other hand, is intentionally misleading or false information disseminated for political, ideological, or financial gain (Wardle & Derakhshan, 2017).

Both can cause harm—especially when adopted by the public or spread by trusted figures, including doctors, dietitians, and alternative healers.

How Misinformation and Disinformation Spread in Health Fields

Though we often associate misinformation with social media or fringe practitioners, it exists across the spectrum of healthcare, from hospital corridors to herbal shops. Below, we explore real examples from:

• Modern Medicine
• Modern Dietetics
• Alternative Medicine

1. Modern Medicine: Unintended and Corporate Harm

Misinformation: Antibiotics for Viral Infections

Even today, some physicians prescribe antibiotics for viral illnesses such as the common cold or flu, despite decades of warnings. This contributes to antibiotic resistance, an issue the World Health Organization (2023) calls "one of the biggest threats to global health" ([WHO, 2023]).

Disinformation: Suppressed Drug Trial Data

A glaring example of disinformation was the Vioxx scandal. Merck marketed rofecoxib as a safe anti-inflammatory while withholding internal data showing increased risks of heart attack and stroke (Graham, 2005). It is estimated that over 60,000 people died before the drug was pulled from the market.

“What made this scandal so egregious is that data suppression was deliberate. Profit was prioritized over life.” (Graham, 2005)

2. Modern Dietetics: Misguided Guidelines and Industry Manipulation

Misinformation: The Low-Fat Craze

For decades, health authorities promoted low-fat diets as universally healthy. This led to an increase in sugar and refined carbohydrate intake, correlating with the rise of obesity and Type 2 diabetes (Ludwig et al., 2018). The intention may have been good, but the consequences were tragic.

Disinformation: The Sugar Industry Cover-up

In the 1960s, the sugar industry funded research that minimized sugar’s role in heart disease while blaming saturated fat—a move that shaped decades of dietary policy (Kearns et al., 2016). The deception remained hidden until recently.

“The Sugar Research Foundation paid Harvard scientists to shift the blame from sugar to fat—compromising public health for decades” (Kearns et al., 2016). 

3. Alternative Medicine: Natural Myths and Exploitation

: “Natural Means Safe”

Many believe that herbal remedies and traditional therapies are inherently safe. But natural doesn’t mean risk-free. Herbs like comfrey, kava, and aristolochic acid have been linked to liver damage and cancer, especially when misused or taken with pharmaceuticals (FDA, 2022).

Disinformation: Miracle Cure Scams

Certain figures in the alternative health space promote unproven “miracle cures” for cancer—such as black salve or laetrile (vitamin B17)—with no scientific backing. These often exploit desperate patients, delaying or replacing effective treatment (FTC, 2021).

“Deceptive marketing of natural cancer cures has been an ongoing problem... patients are at real risk of harm” (FTC, 2021).

How to Avoid Falling for False Health Information

1. Be Skeptical of Emotional or Sensational Claims

• “Doctors don’t want you to know…”
• “Secret cure Big Pharma is hiding…”
• “One miracle herb that heals everything…”

These are all red flags of manipulation.

2. Examine the Source

• Does the speaker have medical or scientific credentials?
• Are they quoting peer-reviewed research?
• Are they trying to sell you something?

3. Look for Scientific Consensus

Individual studies may mislead. Look for systematic reviews, meta-analyses, or statements from independent bodies like WHO, Cochrane, or PubMed-indexed journals.

4. Cross-Check with Reputable Databases

Use:

• PubMed
• Cochrane Library
• CDC/WHO websites
• Academic journals

5. Stay Humble—Science Evolves

Knowledge is dynamic. What’s “true” today may be revised tomorrow. Be willing to update your beliefs based on emerging evidence.

Conclusion: Knowledge Is Your Best Defense

In the war against health misinformation and disinformation, the best armor is critical thinking and scientific literacy. By questioning what we hear, checking our sources, and understanding the complexity of health science, we can make better decisions—not just for ourselves, but for our communities.

Whether you're reading a scientific journal, a wellness blog, or a friend’s Facebook post—always ask, verify, and think critically. Health is too important to be left in the hands of half-truths.

References 

• FDA. (2022). Herbs and Safety. U.S. Food & Drug Administration. Available at: https://www.fda.gov
• FTC. (2021). FTC Cracks Down on Bogus Cancer Cures. Federal Trade Commission. Available at: https://www.ftc.gov
• Graham, D. (2005). 'COX-2 inhibitors, other NSAIDs, and cardiovascular risk: the seduction of common sense'. The Lancet, 365(9450), pp. 2021–2022.
• Kearns, C.E., Schmidt, L.A. and Glantz, S.A. (2016). ‘Sugar Industry and Coronary Heart Disease Research: A Historical Analysis of Internal Industry Documents’. JAMA Internal Medicine, 176(11), pp. 1680–1685.
• Ludwig, D.S., Willett, W.C., Volek, J.S. and Neuhouser, M.L. (2018). ‘Dietary fat: From foe to friend?’. Science, 362(6416), pp. 764–770.
• Wardle, C. and Derakhshan, H. (2017). Information Disorder: Toward an interdisciplinary framework. Council of Europe Report.
• WHO. (2023). Antibiotic resistance. World Health Organization. Available at: https://www.who.int

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Was Queen of Sheba’s Influence Present in Borobudur? Uncovering Middle Eastern Roots Behind Ratu Boko and Java’s Sacred History

Reassessing Dr. Anurak Sutham’s Controversial Findings: Ancient Water Engineering, Sun Worship, and the Forgotten Origins of Borobudur’s Builders

By Brian S.

Was Borobudur influenced by Middle Eastern culture before Buddhism’s arrival? Dr. Anurak Sutham’s research proposes that Ratu Boko may carry Queen of Sheba’s legacy—challenging mainstream archaeological views.

Borobudur, the world’s largest Buddhist temple, is commonly recognized as a Mahayana architectural masterpiece from the 8th to 9th centuries, constructed under the Sailendra Dynasty. However, could its historical roots reach further—perhaps to the era of seafaring merchants from Arabia or Persia who once docked in Java?

This bold question was posed by Dr. Anurak Sutham, an archaeologist and cultural anthropologist from Thailand. His controversial hypothesis challenges traditional beliefs about the origins of Borobudur and its neighboring hilltop complex, Ratu Boko.

Interestingly, Dr. Sutham Phongphit and other regional historians have also proposed that Borobudur may have originated from a royal palace or secular residence, or at least served a non-religious function before being transformed into a Buddhist monument.

Who Is Dr. Anurak Sutham?

Dr. Sutham is a former lecturer at Chiang Mai University, specializing in comparative iconography and ancient maritime cultures. Through decades of research across Java, Sumatra, and Southern Thailand, he developed an unconventional thesis: that Ratu Boko predates Borobudur, and its builders may have included immigrants or spiritual envoys from the Middle East, potentially linked to the Queen of Sheba (Bilqis).

Key Discoveries That Challenge the Consensus

1. Ratu Boko’s Precise Water Systems: Echoes of Middle Eastern Engineering

The finely constructed stone reservoirs at Ratu Boko resemble desert hydraulic technologies such as the Sabaean water systems or Persian yakhchāl ice storage domes (Stein, 1998).

2. Winged Bird Reliefs at the Gateway: Simurgh, Not Garuda?

The wide-winged bird carvings at Ratu Boko do not closely resemble the Hindu-Buddhist Garuda, but rather the Simurgh from Persian mythology or guardian birds seen in Sabaean palace art (Gutas, 2004).

3. Solar Orientation and Temple Layout: A Site of Sun Worship?

Several structures at Ratu Boko are aligned east–west, implying solar veneration, akin to the Almaqah Temple in Ma’rib, Yemen (Kitchen, 1994).

4. Clothing Depicted in Reliefs: Parthian Style, Not Indian?

Fragments show figures wearing belted tunics and round turbans, resembling Parthian or Sabaean dress more than local Hindu-Buddhist attire (Yamauchi, 1990).

Was Borobudur Influenced by These Hidden Cultures?

Beyond Middle Eastern influence, some Southeast Asian scholars like Dr. Sutham Phongphit have speculated that Borobudur’s lowest tier—now covered—likely depicted worldly narratives such as daily life and human desires (Karmawibhangga), not just religious symbolism.

This lends weight to the idea that its original structure may have been secular or royal, later repurposed as a Buddhist monument. Furthermore, the megalithic architectural style at Borobudur’s base also points to pre-Buddhist and Hindu-Javanese palace influences, indicating possible reuse of an older palace foundation during the Sailendra period.

The syncretic cultural context of 8th–9th century Java—a fusion of Hindu, Buddhist, and indigenous beliefs—makes such a transition plausible. In fact, some local legends link Borobudur to a lost kingdom, though these accounts are often shrouded in myth.

Why Is This Theory Contested?

Dr. Sutham’s hypothesis challenges Indonesia’s official archaeological narrative, which attributes Borobudur’s origin to local and Indian influences. His theory of Middle Eastern links and connections to the Queen of Sheba is deemed speculative due to the lack of written documentation. Still, the concept of cultural transmission via maritime trade routes remains a relevant academic framework (Miksic, 2007).

Conclusion: Ratu Boko and Borobudur as Historical Palimpsests

Whether or not the Queen of Sheba ever set foot in Java, the structures and symbols at Ratu Boko and Borobudur may represent the cultural footprints of many civilizations meeting through trade and migration. They are palimpsests—layers of history revealing the interweaving of Sabaean, Indian, and Buddhist traditions.

The research of Dr. Anurak Sutham and the perspectives of regional historians like Dr. Sutham Phongphit remind us that history is not always linear. Borobudur is not just a monument of one civilization, but a confluence of memories from many, united by the trade winds of the Indian Ocean.

References 

Gutas, D., 2004. Greek Thought, Arabic Culture: The Graeco-Arabic Translation Movement in Baghdad and Early 'Abbasid Society. London: Routledge.

Kitchen, K.A., 1994. The World of the Old Testament. Grand Rapids: Baker Academic.

Miksic, J.N., 2007. Old Javanese Gold: The Hunter Thompson Collection at the Yale University Art Gallery. New Haven: Yale University Press.

Rahman, R., 2010. Revisiting Ancient Java: Critical Perspectives on Pre-Islamic Southeast Asia. Jakarta: Sejarah Nusantara Foundation.

Stein, M.L., 1998. 'Ancient Hydraulic Technologies in the Middle East.' Journal of Arid Environments, 39(1), pp.15–29.

Sutham, A., 2009. Ratu Boko and the Legacy of Bilqis: An Alternative Archaeological Interpretation. Penang: Maritime Heritage Press.

Yamauchi, E.M., 1990. Persia and the Bible. Grand Rapids: Baker Book House.

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