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[[image:Garynullbuch.jpg|thumb|Gary Null on the cover of a book]]

[[image:Garynullbuch.jpg|thumb|Gary Null on the cover of a book]]

'''Gary Null''' (born in 1945) is an US-American author, businessman, talk radio host and one of the most outspoken critics of pharmacy as well as huge supporter of [[Alternative medicine|alternative]] treatments. He owns the dietary supplement and media company "Gary Null & Associates, Inc." and a health food store, "Gary Null's Uptown Whole Foods Market" in New York City and has a syndicated radio talk show "Natural Living with Gary Null".  Most of the treatments he propagates and sells are dubious, e.g. [[Detoxification|detox]] treatments, [[coffee enema]]s and [[cancer diet|diets for cancer]] and for AIDS patients. He is also criticized heavily for being an [[Anti-vaccinationist]] and [[HIV/AIDS denialism|HIV/Aids-denialist]].

'''Gary Null''' (born in 1945) is an US-American author, businessman, talk radio host and one of the most outspoken critics of pharmacy as well as huge supporter of [[Alternative medicine|alternative]] treatments. He owns the [[dietary supplement]] and media company "Gary Null & Associates, Inc." and a health food store, "Gary Null's Uptown Whole Foods Market" in New York City and has a syndicated radio talk show "Natural Living with Gary Null".  Most of the treatments he propagates and sells are dubious, e.g. [[Detoxification|detox]] treatments, [[coffee enema]]s and [[cancer diet|diets for cancer]] and for AIDS patients. He is also an [[Anti-vaccinationist]] and [[HIV/AIDS denialism|HIV/Aids-denialist]].

==Doubtful Credentials==

==Doubtful Credentials==

Null says he holds a bachelor's degree from Thomas A. Edison State College in New Jersey and a PhD in human nutrition and public health sciences(thesis title: "A Study of Psychological and Physiological Effects of Caffeine on Human Health") from Union Institute, Cincinnati, Ohio. Edison State, while accredited, is a "non-traditional" school with neither campus nor courses and bachelor's degrees are based on career experience, equivalent exams, and courses taken at other schools. Union Institute & University accreditation does not cover awarding of PhDs in the sciences, only in the humanities.

Null says he holds a bachelor's degree from Thomas A. Edison State College in New Jersey and a PhD in human nutrition and public health sciences from Union Institute, Cincinnati, Ohio. Edison State, while accredited, is a "non-traditional" school with neither campus nor courses and bachelor's degrees are based on career experience, equivalent exams, and courses taken at other schools. Union Institute & University accreditation does not cover awarding of PhDs in the sciences, only in the humanities.

According to the approval documents of the thesis the PhD committee was composed of Peter Fenner, an expert in geological sciences (totally unrelated to Null's topic), Martin Feldman, MD, a [[Alternative medicine|"complementary"]] physician (and "[[clinical ecologist after Randolph]]") who worked with Null on his books and as a backup for the radio show, Philip J. Hodes, "Practitioner Holistic, Health Detoxification & Orthomolecular Nutritionist, Consultant" and Elayne Kahn, a psychologist who co-authored a book with Null that was published in 1976. In contrast to Null's work, a regular thesis for a doctoral degree in a scientific discipline requires a genuine contribution to the scientific literature.

He uses his title for advertising purposes. According to the approval documents of the thesis(title: "A Study of Psychological and Physiological Effects of Caffeine on Human Health") the PhD committee was composed of the following people: Peter Fenner, an expert in geological sciences (totally unrelated to Null's topic), Martin Feldman, MD, a [[Alternative medicine|"complementary"]] physician (and "[[clinical ecologist after Randolph]]") who worked with Null on his books and as a backup for the radio show, Philip J. Hodes, "Practitioner Holistic, Health Detoxification & Orthomolecular Nutritionist, Consultant" and Elayne Kahn, a psychologist who co-authored a book with Null that was published in 1976. In contrast to Null's work, a regular thesis for a doctoral degree in a scientific discipline requires a genuine contribution to the scientific literature.

Null concludes in the thesis that "chronic caffeine users tend to have diminished adrenal function", which he blamed on "exhaustion" of the glands. "Fortunately," he added, "there are non-drug nutritional programs which have the ability to repair or rebalance weakening adrenal glands toward normal." The program consisted of "diminishing stressors", "implementing strategies to diminish anxiety" and taking doses of five vitamins and three other products.

Null concludes in the thesis that "chronic caffeine users tend to have diminished adrenal function", which he blamed on "exhaustion" of the glands. "Fortunately," he added, "there are non-drug nutritional programs which have the ability to repair or rebalance weakening adrenal glands toward normal." The program consisted of "diminishing stressors", "implementing strategies to diminish anxiety" and taking doses of five vitamins and three other products.

Null's attorney sent a cease-and-desist letter to Quackwatch, where this criticism was raised, but backed off, after even further questions were raised, just continued to threaten but never actually sued.<ref>[http://www.quackwatch.org/04ConsumerEducation/null.html A Critical Look at Gary Null's Activities and Credentials], Stephen Barrett, M.D., Quackwatch</ref>

Null's attorney sent a cease-and-desist letter to Quackwatch, where this criticism was raised, but backed off, after even further questions were raised and just continued to threaten but never actually sued.<ref>[http://www.quackwatch.org/04ConsumerEducation/null.html A Critical Look at Gary Null's Activities and Credentials], Stephen Barrett, M.D., Quackwatch</ref>

==Claims==

==Claims==

Gary Null promotes [[HIV/AIDS denialism]], that HIV is not the cause of AIDS. He even produces films to promote that absurd belief and sells them on his website.<ref>[http://gnhealthyliving.com/scripts/prodView.asp?idproduct=43 Aids: A Second Opinion DVD, a Gary Null Production]</ref> He also spreads the usual disinformation of [[Vaccine denialism|vaccine denialism]] and supports [[Andrew Wakefield]], who had faked data to "prove" that vaccination causes autism.<ref>[http://www.garynull.com/home/category/vaccines Gary Null on Vaccines]</ref> Baseless claims about his innocence as well as allegedly "new evidence" is being spread.<ref>[http://www.garynull.com/home/dr-andrew-wakefield-was-right-there-was-no-fraud-no-hoax-her.html DR. ANDREW WAKEFIELD WAS RIGHT. THERE WAS NO FRAUD. NO HOAX. HERE’S PROOF.], Gary Null, January 26, 2011, retrieved 2011-05-23.</ref> The "new evidence" was actually submitted in the trial of Wakefield years ago and is neither new nor a proof for Wakefields innocence.<ref>[http://www.skepdic.com/skeptimedia/skeptimedia122.html Wakefield's Warriors], Skeptic's Dictionary about the "new evidence" for Wakefields innocence], retrieved 2011-05-21</ref> He also claimed that the gulf war syndrome was caused by vaccinations, especially by [[squalene]] which is used as an adjuvant in vaccines.<ref>[http://www.garynull.com/storage/pdfs/HowSafeorEffectiveAreVaccinesNotVery.pdf How Safe or Effective are Vaccines? Not very.], Gary Null</ref> Various studies dismantled that theory.<ref>[http://www.gao.gov/archive/1999/ns99005.pdf Gulf War illnesses: questions about the presence of squalene antibodies in veterans can be resolved], United States General Accounting Office 1999</ref><ref>[http://www.fda.gov/ohrms/DOCKETS/dockets/80n0208/80n-0208-c000037-15-01-vol151.pdf The Facts on Squalene], FDA 2005</ref>

Gary Null promotes [[HIV/AIDS denialism|that HIV is not the cause of AIDS]]. He even produces films to promote that absurd belief and sells them on his website.<ref>[http://gnhealthyliving.com/scripts/prodView.asp?idproduct=43 Aids: A Second Opinion DVD, a Gary Null Production]</ref> He also spreads the usual disinformation of [[Vaccine denialism|vaccine denialism]]. He also supports [[Andrew Wakefield]], who had faked data to "prove" that vaccination causes autism.<ref>[http://www.garynull.com/home/category/vaccines Gary Null on Vaccines]</ref> and speaks of allegedly "new evidence".<ref>[http://www.garynull.com/home/dr-andrew-wakefield-was-right-there-was-no-fraud-no-hoax-her.html DR. ANDREW WAKEFIELD WAS RIGHT. THERE WAS NO FRAUD. NO HOAX. HERE’S PROOF.], Gary Null, January 26, 2011, retrieved 2011-05-23.</ref> The "new evidence" was actually submitted in the trial of Wakefield years ago and is neither new nor a proof for Wakefields innocence.<ref>[http://www.skepdic.com/skeptimedia/skeptimedia122.html Wakefield's Warriors], Skeptic's Dictionary about the "new evidence" for Wakefields innocence], retrieved 2011-05-21</ref> He also claimed that the gulf war syndrome was caused by vaccinations, especially by [[squalene]] which is used as an adjuvant in vaccines.<ref>[http://www.garynull.com/storage/pdfs/HowSafeorEffectiveAreVaccinesNotVery.pdf How Safe or Effective are Vaccines? Not very.], Gary Null</ref> Various studies dismantled that theory.<ref>[http://www.gao.gov/archive/1999/ns99005.pdf Gulf War illnesses: questions about the presence of squalene antibodies in veterans can be resolved], United States General Accounting Office 1999</ref><ref>[http://www.fda.gov/ohrms/DOCKETS/dockets/80n0208/80n-0208-c000037-15-01-vol151.pdf The Facts on Squalene], FDA 2005</ref>

Null promotes coffee enemas for [[detoxification]], a practice which is proven not to work.<ref>[http://scienceblogs.com/denialism/2008/09/gary_null_can_kiss_mein_tuchas.php Gary Null can kiss mein tuchas], Denialism Blog</ref>  He believes in [[homoeopathy]]<ref>http://www.garynull.com/home/category/homeopathic-medicine</ref>, that mammograms are useless<ref>[http://www.garynull.com/home/sherri-tenpenny-the-myth-of-the-normal-mammogram.html Sherri Tenpenny: The myth of the normal mammogram]</ref>, that sugar is poison<ref>[http://www.garynull.com/sweet-suicide/ Sweet Suicide], Gary Null</ref> and since he sells [[Dietary Supplements|dietary supplements]] that most people suffer from malnutrition, especially vitamin deficiency.

Null promotes coffee enemas for [[detoxification]], a practice which is proven not to work.<ref>[http://scienceblogs.com/denialism/2008/09/gary_null_can_kiss_mein_tuchas.php Gary Null can kiss mein tuchas], Denialism Blog</ref>  He believes in [[homoeopathy]]<ref>http://www.garynull.com/home/category/homeopathic-medicine</ref>, that mammograms are useless<ref>[http://www.garynull.com/home/sherri-tenpenny-the-myth-of-the-normal-mammogram.html Sherri Tenpenny: The myth of the normal mammogram]</ref>, that sugar is poison<ref>[http://www.garynull.com/sweet-suicide/ Sweet Suicide], Gary Null</ref> and since he sells [[Dietary Supplements|dietary supplements]] that most people suffer from malnutrition, especially vitamin deficiency.