NOTE: See also the World Chiropractic Alliance's response to the article, "Is This Your Spinal Answer" in the December 2001 issue of Men's Health, which contained numerous negative comments on chiropractic. 

Once again, the World Chiropractic Alliance (WCA) was called upon to rebut an anti-chiropractic article circulating on the internet. The article, called "Chiropractic and Asthma," was posted on the "asthma" section of the About.com website (asthma.about.com/library/weekly/aa071999.htm)

The "About.com" is a network of more than 700 "Guide" sites covering some 50,000 subjects. Each Guide site is run by an individual with either particular expertise or experience in his or her guide topic. Guide sites also normally contain links to various other websites on the subject.

The article, although not bylined, repeated the now-familiar rhetoric of chiropractic critics such as Stephen Barrett, well as links to articles by Barrett and to the ChiroBase site which he operates with William Jarvis.

The link for the "Chiropractic and Asthma," appears on the Guide site's "Quake Cures" page, with a teaser reading: "Don't be fooled by the smoke and mirrors, it's no match for real science."

The article repeats well-worn misinformation about chiropractic, and dismisses chiropractic research by saying: "... chiropractic, 'studies' paid for and carried out by chiropractic associations find plenty of subjective information supporting their claims. As with many quack asthma cures and treatments, the basis of their findings are anecdotal, testimonial, and lack real scientific controlled studies to support some amazing claims."

The Asthma guide is run by John N. Rhoades, a Registered Respiratory Therapist who claims to have "treated and taught hundreds of asthmatic patients."

When informed of the presence of this article on the About Guide, the World Chiropractic Alliance immediately contacted Rhoades, explaining the true meaning and purpose of chiropractic to him and providing him with a number of research studies showing that subluxation correction can have a beneficial affect on the health of asthmatic patients.

READ THE WCA LETTER TO ABOUT.COM

As of press time, the WCA has not received a response from Rhoades on this issue. "We will give him a reasonable amount of time to correct this situation by removing the article," stated Terry A. Rondberg, D.C., president of the WCA. "If he does not do so, we will contact the management of About.com and request that they re-evaluate their selection of Rhoades to fill this position as a Guide host."

The WCA asks all doctors to contact Rhoades (asthma.guide@about.com) with their opposition to the articles and, if necessary, to follow up with a complaint to about.com.