What do you do when your eyeballs are leaking blood?

I listen to a very entertaining / informative podcast called the Skeptic's Guide to the Universe. It's the most educational hour of my week and I always look forward to listening to it Monday mornings on my journey to work. One of the panel read out a great quote on this week's show:

"It's curious, isn't it, that with low grade chronic conditions like back pain, Seasonal Affective Disorder etc. people are eager to try alternative hocus pocus. But bring on something virulent, acute, and truly terrifying then, brother, bring on Western medicine. Nothing like your eyeballs leaking blood to put things into perspective."

This really resonated with me. Not even the most ardent New Age believer would use magic crystals or homeopathy for blood-leaking eyeballs or a broken leg. So why have faith in them for chronic conditions where symptoms fluctuate over time and effectiveness is difficult to measure?

I guess it's much easier to suspend disbelief when the effects are invisible, and one can convince oneself that magical energy forces are healing the body.