The Townsend Letter is a periodical publication

Periodical publication

Periodical literature is a published work that appears in a new edition on a regular schedule. The most familiar examples are the newspaper, often published daily, or weekly; or the magazine, typically published weekly, monthly or as a quarterly...

 focusing on alternative medicine

Alternative medicine

Alternative medicine is any healing practice, "that does not fall within the realm of conventional medicine." It is based on historical or cultural traditions, rather than on scientific evidence....

 which has been in circulation since 1983. It aims to provide the alternative medical community with a forum to discuss a wide variety of health-related topics. The Letter notes in a disclaimer: "We encourage reports which frequently are not data-based but are anecdotal. Hence, information presented may not be proven or factually correct." The Townsend Letter is listed as a "nonrecommended periodical" by Quackwatch

Quackwatch

Quackwatch is an American non-profit organization founded by Stephen Barrett with the stated aim being to "combat health-related frauds, myths, fads, fallacies, and misconduct" and with a primary focus on providing "quackery-related information that is difficult or impossible to get elsewhere."...

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