Why do you think pseudo science is constantly given so much respect over conventional science?
I most recently experienced this with dieting. I'm currently on my "healthy" diet cycle, I consulted with a registered doctor who is also a nutritionist. We sat down and I told him what I'd like to achieve in terms of body fat and muscle mass and made out a plan according to my needs (he took bloods, heart rate, BP etc).
I however know someone on a new diet for the summer, taking these very odd "natural" supplements. They apparently harness the power of something or other, in conjunction with a raw food diet. She's very much into "alternative medicine" and the such. Apparently her local herbalist gave her some information.
Personally I attribute this reverence to pseudo science because it's easier to understand. It's less work and often less initially expensive. A bottle of these supplements is maybe twenty euro, my doctor visit was quite a bit more.
But what do you think? Why do people give so much rope to pseudo science?
And let's be clear: Herbalism can be science, but many branches of it are nonsense, e.g. homeopathy