“Sarita” Elizabeth Cox is a Mississippi-based naturopath, acupuncturist, “Mind Body Spirit Medic”, “Creator of Element Wisdom Card decks” and a graduate of the National College of Natural Medicine (accredited by the Council on Naturopathic Medical Education– not by anyone caring for facts or evidence). Her range of products – yes, she runs a commercial enterprise, of course – includes, in particular, “amethyst biomat treatments and rentals”. According to Cox, “[o]ffering far infrared heat waves and negative ionization, the amethyst biomat can be used for balancing and maintaining health as well as detoxification. It is paired with select meditative and brain wave altering headset audio to help change habit patterns, achieve relaxation and optimize health. As this quantum energetic is cumulative, three and six session packages are available. Amethyst can be added on to any treatment. Both the mini mat and full length professional mat are available for rental.” Yes, it’s quantum. But what can the mat do for you? According to Cox, it can do virtually anything you can imagine (we’re dealing strictly with imagination here): it purgestoxins, pesticides and PCBs, it reduces stress and fatigue, it improves immune function and cardiovascular health, no less, it reduces allergy symptoms, and it even has anti-aging properties.
Now, there are plenty of quacks and holistic practitioners in Mississippi. The only reason we took note of Cox is that her name came up in connection with discussions about naturopathic licensingin the state in 2015. If that had proposal had passed, then Cox would have been among the practitioners eligible for licensing, i.e. an official stamp of approval and a sheen of legitimacy achieved through legislative alchemy.
Diagnosis: Cynics may suggest that the fact that there is a market for Cox’s product may be a relevant factor when considering how much trust you ought to put in humanity, and it’s hard to come up with a good reply. We suppose that Cox herself thinks it works, at least.