Doctors have had a much longer time than LessWrong to get their act together.

The idea of teaching people to think better isn't new. Aristoteles also tried to teach a form of rationality. But even if the idea would be radically new, why would that matter?

Why should newer ideas be subject to a lower standard of evidence? Fairness? If you want to know the truth fairness has no place.

Let's look at another example: Romantic courtship. Do you practice evidence-based courtship, when you seek a fulfilling relationship with a woman? Would you say there no other form of courtship besides evidence-based courtship?

Most humans don't practice evidence-based courtship. Sometimes courtship doesn't work out. You can blame it on couple not being familiar with the scientific papers that are published on the subject of human courtship.

Nobody has shown that given the couple those scientific papers improves their relationship changes. Nobody has shown with EBM like evidence standards that doctors who are in touch with the scientific literature archieve better health outcomes for their patients.

That doesn't mean to me that EBM has no place, but I don't see a reason to reject any approach to increase my health that isn't backed by EBM.

There's some scientific evidence that suggests that vitamin D is good. In the blogosphere there are people who found that taking vitamin D supplements first thing in the morning is better than taking them in the evening. There's no trial for the timing of vitamin D supplements. I still take them first thing in the morning.