Post by Meercat on Nov 23, 2007 2:36:46 GMT
Nina Knowland
Healing Practitioner/Psychic Surgeon
Forum member Hayley brought our attention to an article in the Wiltshire times regarding this ‘healer’. The article stated that Knowland was “looking for children with cystic fibrosis to see if her spiritual healing can help them”.
A quick look at her website revealed a little more about this ‘healer’.
www.point-of-light.moonfruit.com/ or
www.odyssey.moonfruit.com/
You’re going to have to work with me on this one as since her name has been mentioned on Badpsychics, Knowland has altered her website (I shall go into that later) but when the Wiltshire times published the article, Knowland was claiming on her website to have cured cancer. Not only can this woman cure cancer, but her website also states she can treat, among other things, MS, in-operable aneurysms, broken bones, irreparable nerve damage and blocked fallopian tubes. (There are many more conditions she claims to have “successfully alleviated” but I shall leave you to be personally amazed by her miracle working with some screen shots to follow.
“During my time as a Healer I have experienced many things which can only be described as Miracles”
You see, even Knowland thinks she’s performing miracles….
As for her claim to cure cancer…
This is a screenshot of her website (thanks to forum member Dippy) prior to being ‘found out’
And this is the ‘amended’ version:
Maybe Knowland had a sudden attack of morals? You think? No… me neither. I think you’ll find its down to The Cancer Act 1939 which prohibits
“an offer to treat any person for cancer, or to prescribe any remedy therefore, or to give any advice in connection with the treatment thereof. “
The Act is to stop sufferers of cancer being taken for a ride by people like Knowland. it’s a shame there are not other Acts in place that would protect sufferers from other illnesses who are also in a situation so desperate that they will look at these ‘miracle cures’.
Lets have a look at a couple of her “successfully treated conditions”.
Broken bones - as far as I was aware, the body does this pretty well by itself, although she does state ‘limbs repaired’. I'm really not sure what she means by this. Maybe the limb has come off completely? In which case not only is she a miracle worker, she’s a damn good seamstress as well.
Kidney Stones - According to BUPA, most stones can be treated without surgery, drinking lots of water and staying physically active can move most stones smaller than 5mm from your body. Obviously if the stones being treated are larger than that, she is indeed a miracle worker and has the ability to produce targeted shock waves from her hands to break them up. Surely a power worthy of the X-men?
Knowland states on her website that she has ‘Qualifications’, these being a couple of ‘counselling’ certificates, although she fails to mention where she trained for these and “Certificates 1.2.3 & 4” from the National Federation of Spiritual Healers.
Now, the NFSH has a Code of Conduct, as do the majority of Healing organisations, and one ‘rule’ is seen on all of them.
“Never guarantee, promise or imply a cure”
Knowland seems to contradict herself a little in this respect. She uses phrases like “successfully treated” and “even those with life threatening illnesses I have proven results of success in all aspects”, and then puts a disclaimer at the bottom of the page saying “No doctor will tell you everyone can be cured, there are no guarantee's, I can't do this either, I can say I have a high success rate when I have been able to.” It certainly sounds like she’s implying a cure to me.
Since writing this, she has changed one of her website once again. No longer do we have “successfully treated conditions” as it has now been replaced with “Successfully ALLEVIATED conditions”. Perhaps she IS starting to see sense after all? (Mind you, she now added “Whiplash” to her list of miracle treatments….)
What I also dislike about Knowland, and others of her ilk, is the use of the word ‘Surgeon’ to describe herself. ‘Psychic’ or otherwise, the word Surgeon implies medical knowledge and expertise, of which Knowland has none. Yet she is able to ‘out perform’ mere surgeons in some cases:
“I have cured many clients who were waiting for an operation and some where an operation would not have been successful as the Surgeons today (not through their fault) do not have the knowledge or equipment.”
Boy, I bet those Surgeons feel pretty stupid now. I mean, all that time training and studying.. for what? All they need is an Indian Chief Spirit guide and their own wigwam.....
Unfortunately, Knowland has a problem actually recognising a real Doctor, let alone a Surgeon…
“Gillian McKeith's - You are what you eat has been my Bible and I have recommended it too many. As a doctor she takes the time to explain why we should eat a healthy diet and how to be aware of symptom's that show that it may need slight alteration.”
(McKeith has recently stopped using the title ‘Dr’ after a complaint to the ASA revealing that she had in fact obtained her Ph.D through a correspondence course with an non-accredited college in America.. A Senior Dietitian, Amanda Wynne, at the British Dietetic Association stated “I think its obvious she hasn’t a clue about nutrition, in fact her advice, if followed to the limit could be dangerous.”)
Knowland also lists 15 ‘Spiritual masters”, number one being Sai Baba, as if that was not disturbing enough she also lists John of God and Stephen Turoff. (Not to mention a link to Sylvia Browne's website on another page) With Spiritual Masters such as these, its little wonder she has no moral issues with claiming to cure cancer.
Oh dear…
“When I was about to open the Healing Centre above the Odyssey shop, I asked princess Diana's Spirit to be there for me.”
Yes, you guessed it, no self respecting website for Mediums/Psychics/Healers would be complete without mentioning Princess bloody Di.
On the evening I had asked medium Diana Orchard from Bristol to attend and be my Guest medium speaker to open the Centre.
While Diana was giving message's to the audience she suddenly announced " we have a special guest tonight" Princess Diana was in the room, she wished me and the Odyssey Centre well in our new venture.
While Diana was giving message's to the audience she suddenly announced " we have a special guest tonight" Princess Diana was in the room, she wished me and the Odyssey Centre well in our new venture.
Why does this make me want to throw the keyboard through the screen? Yes, the Spirit of Princess Di has given Knowlands Healing Centre the thumbs up. For Christs sake…..
Forum member Julia decided to up the game a little and wrote to the MP for Staverton, Andrew Murrison:
“I was very disturbed to hear that the Wiltshire Times has published a
totally uncritical piece about Nina Knowland, who runs a spiritual
healing centre in Staverton. Ms Knowland is seeking children suffering
from cystic fibrosis to undergo treatment at her centre. It is clear
from her website that she is a New Age crackpot peddling worthless
therapies, and among the many illnesses she claims to have treated
successfully is Cancer. Surely it is illegal to make this claim in the
UK? “
totally uncritical piece about Nina Knowland, who runs a spiritual
healing centre in Staverton. Ms Knowland is seeking children suffering
from cystic fibrosis to undergo treatment at her centre. It is clear
from her website that she is a New Age crackpot peddling worthless
therapies, and among the many illnesses she claims to have treated
successfully is Cancer. Surely it is illegal to make this claim in the
UK? “
It appears that Mr Murrison didn’t read the email properly, as this was his reply:
“Thank you. As far as I'm aware there is no requirement for alternative
therapists to be licensed or to be able to provide an evidence base for
their remedies. She would of course be subject to normal civil and
criminal proceedings in the event of one of her treatments going wrong.
You may like to complain to the Editor of the WT who is at 12 Duke
Street Trowbridge.”
therapists to be licensed or to be able to provide an evidence base for
their remedies. She would of course be subject to normal civil and
criminal proceedings in the event of one of her treatments going wrong.
You may like to complain to the Editor of the WT who is at 12 Duke
Street Trowbridge.”
Julia did not ask about licensing, she asked if it was illegal to make the claim to cure cancer. His response should have been “Yes, it is under the Cancer Act 1939”. Instead, and to quote Julia, he’s playing the old “pass the buck game”.
Hayley, who had originally looked at the article, by this time had received a response from the editor of The Wiltshire Times:
"Thanks for your email. I accept that spiritual healing is a subject that provokes a wide range of opinions and I fully understand yours. However, others may think differently and if people want to approach Nina Knowland they are in their rights to do so.
As she has been established for 20 years, she is not some fly-by-night con artist and by putting a small news in brief in the paper we are not forcing anyone to do anything but some people might be interested in knowing the service is available.
Regards
Andy"
As she has been established for 20 years, she is not some fly-by-night con artist and by putting a small news in brief in the paper we are not forcing anyone to do anything but some people might be interested in knowing the service is available.
Regards
Andy"
So, just because she’s “been established for 20 years” everything is ok? Silvia Browne's Church, the Society of Novus Spirit, is 21 years old, and we all trust her don’t we…..
With this sort of editorial attitude it would be perfectly acceptable for the Wiltshire Times to publish an article promoting membership of Aum Shinrikyo, it was established over 20 years ago so its not a fly-by-night cult, cults provoke a wide range of opinions and if people want to approach Aum Shinrikyo they are in their rights to do so. Sure they may have been responsible for a Sarin gas attack on a Tokyo subway, but some people may be interested to know the cult is available….
Finally, a piece of good news from Trading Standards in an email to Julia:
“we are currently waiting for the implementation of the Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations 2007 (hopefully April 2008) which will give us more powers to deal with people making false claims. I understand that any offences under these Regulations will be strict liability and it will be for the person making the claims to prove they are not false.”
And about time too.
Meercat