Quackery is a type of health fraud that promotes products and services that have questionable and unproven scientific bases. Quackery is short for quack-salver, which is derived from two Middle Dutch terms that mean "healing with unguents." owever, quacken means "to boast," so a kwak!alver might be a healer who boasts about his power or products. "arlic is frequently touted as a remedy for high blood pressure, blood sugar imbalances, and arterial plaque. #ome advocates even claim that garlic can prevent or cure cancer. $ut according to the %ational &enter for &omplimentary and 'lternative Medicine, although garlic may have some health benefits, its reputation as a miracle remedy is not supported by available research.Quacks, the people who promote these products, have been around for years. (ne of the most enduring images of nineteenth-century medicine is the charlatan or quack. )hese individuals sold primarily patent medicines that promised to cure everything from cancerto the common cold. *atent medicines were concoctions +eli,irs, salves, balms, etc.- for which individuals received e,clusive rights to sell for a given period of time. *atent medicines were available by mail or over the counter at chemists. shops, general stores, and even seed stores. Most patent medicines contained alcohol, and many also contained opium or morphine. /irtually none contained the "healing" ingredients they claimed to have, and none healed.#ome quacks were called "snake oil" salesmen. )hese individuals traveled from town to town, sometimes with a carnival, selling their products. )oday, quacks have more sophisticated ways to sell their products. )he products are now promoted on the 0nternet, )/, and radio1 in maga!ines, newspapers, and infomercials1 by mail1 and even by word-of-mouth. Many consider quackery to be a pe2orative term and now use the term alternative medicine. owever, this term is used in a variety of ways. )he physician #tephen $arrett suggests that"alternative" methods be classified as genuine, e,perimental, or questionable, whereas quackeryrefers solely to questionable and unproven methods.Quackery is the promotion[1] of fraudulent or ignorant medical practices. A "quack" is a "fraudulent or ignorant pretender to medical skill" or "a person who pretends, professionally or publicly, to have skill, knowledge, or qualifications he or she does not possess acharlatan".[!] "he word quack derives from the archaic word quacksalver, of #utch origin $spelled kwakzalver in contemporary #utch%, literally meaning "hawker of salve".[&] 'n the (iddle Ages the word quack meant "shouting". "he quacksalvers sold their wares on the market shouting in a loud voice.[)]*ommon elements of general quackery include questionable diagnoses using questionable diagnostic tests, as well as alternative or refuted treatments, especially for serious diseases such as cancer. "+ealth fraud" is often used as a synonym for quackery, but quackery,s salient characteristic is its more aggressive promotion $"quacks quack-"%.[1] ".seudo/medicine" is a term for treatments known to be ineffective, regardless of whether their advocates themselves believe in their effectivenessA lot of people believe TV advertisements, testimonials and other advertising campaigns about a certain drug or therapy that provides cure. These adverts often claim (in an indirect way) that they have the cure for chronic problems lie cancer, diabetes, impotence, heart diseases, and other more.These advertisements usually target those people who are ready to try anything to cure their illnesses. !adly, these claims rarely help and most of the time causes side"effects.Treatments That Are Unethical and Illegal#nethical means contrary to conscience or morality and professional standards. There are some faith"healers here in the $hilippines that have unethical way of %treating& their patients.Are Available Only Through Mail or Home Delivery!ometimes there are people who go house"to"house to promote a certain drug product. 'e suspicious when that happens.Ask QuestionsThe best way to protect yourself against fraud is to as (uestions and be observant. )ou have the right to refuse a treatment.)ou have the right to be informed about your condition in terms you understand. *o not tae the ris and agree on anything without asing why first.Trust Your Common ense+edicines doesn&t wor lie magic. ,f someone taes the time to e-plain a problem or a treatment to us (which is your right as a health consumer), we usually mae a pretty good decision on what is best for us.Do Your O!n "esearch,f you have a complicated problem, or want to now more about your options. !tart by asing your doctor for any boos or any written information you could borrow and read. Access the ,nternet and surf for legitimate websites about health (health.com, mayoclinic.com, webmd.com). ,f you find something interesting about your condition, mae a copy for your doctor and discuss it at your ne-t visit.Conclusion/verall, what needed here most to avoid fraud is to be nowledgeable,suspicious, and trust your common sense. *o not ris your health to alternative treatment which are unapproved and untrustworthy. As nurses, we should be able to suppress some believes of the client which are unhealthful. This maes health education important.