There are many reasons why people may erroneously conclude that an ineffective therapy works:

The disease may have run its natural course. Many diseases are self-limiting. If the condition is not chronic or fatal, the recuperative processes usually restore health. 

Many diseases are cyclical.  Therapy is used during the downturn of any given cycle. In this way, a bogus treatment will have repeated opportunities to coincide with upturns that would have happened anyway.

The placebo effect may be responsible. Through suggestion, belief, expectancy, cognitive reinterpretation, and diversion of attention, users of biologically useless treatments often experience measurable relief. 

People who hedge their bets credit the wrong thing. If improvement occurs after someone has had both "alternative" and science-based treatment, the fringe practice often gets a disproportionate share of the credit.

The original diagnosis or prognosis may have been incorrect.  A mistaken diagnosis, followed by an "alternative" treatment, can lead to a glowing testimonial for curing a condition that would have resolved by itself. 

Psychological needs can distort what people perceive and do. Even when no objective improvement occurs, people with a strong psychological investment in "alternative treaments" can convince themselves the treatment worked.

After Beyerstein, "Why Bogus Therapies Often Seem to Work"

             ***********************************************
The BEE-L mailing list is powered by L-Soft's renowned
LISTSERV(R) list management software.  For more information, go to:
http://www.lsoft.com/LISTSERV-powered.html

Access BEE-L directly at:
http://community.lsoft.com/scripts/wa-LSOFTDONATIONS.exe?A0=BEE-L