I have encoutered this argument a lot, and this is why I think it's harmful: The problem with this is that unsubstantiated cures, even really cheap ones appare

I have encoutered this argument a lot, and this is why I think it's harmful: The problem with this is that unsubstantiated cures, even really cheap ones apparently harmless ones, have an opportunity cost in time and effort, and the number of them that exist is almost unbounded. I have heard similar arguments about a hundred fad diets, a hundred nutritional supplements, going vegan/paleo/gluten-free/etc, meditation, homeopathy, accupunture, changing religions, "spacing out vacinations", and so on. Some of this stuff may actually be cheap and effective, but how do you choose? There are only so many hours in the day and every minute we spend chasing the next dubious fad cure is a minute we can't use to cook and eat healthy food, sleep enough, excercise, take care of our teeth, or go to a doctor. Furthermore, some of these things have negative side effects, even if those may only be apparent in aggregate (e.g. delaying vacinations). Call me when it replicates in a decent study.