http://blog.oup.com/2010/10/alt-med/ Academic insights for the thinking world. Sun, 19 May 2013 05:35:14 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.4.2 http://blog.oup.com/2010/10/alt-med/#comment-182283 James Pannozzi Thu, 14 Oct 2010 17:13:43 +0000 http://blog.oup.com/?p=11614#comment-182283 Roberta is to be congratulated for avoiding doctrinaire scientism and instead focusing at getting at this "mysterious" factor which contributes to the enduring popularity of some forms of alternative medicine. The danger at the root of this "investigation" is the unstated but implied premise that there is a "deception" or "trickery" involved in alternative medicine. Instead, one must do exactly as the author of this article has done, but WITHOUT the a priori prejudice, though she may make pretensions of disavowal. By all means, look at the 19th century journals, and lots from the 20th - read of perfectly well qualified MD's and scientists, many at first totally sceptical of Homeopathy, for example, who later embrace it. Read of the MD investigator sent by Parliament to "expose" the cholera statistics clearly showing that the Homeopaths had absurdly low levels of mortality in their treatments, who later concluded ruefully that despite his initial prejudice, he was so taken by the quality of their treatments that he would entrust his own care, without hesitation, to them, were he to come down with cholera. Better yet, read of genuine MD's own clinical reports, detailed, sitting right there in books such as those by Dr. Dorothy Sheperd of the UK who again and again marvel at the superiour results of the alternative system of medicine that she embraced. Read of Acupuncture and the incredible twists in its acceptance and attempted banishment from China, its rebirth, after idealogical and scientistic "sanitation" during the early Mao era, and the vast "treasure trove" of ancient medicine (Mao's own words) much of which remains untranslated and even undiscovered to this very day, all while millions benefit from the obvious and powerful healing and curative effects of this ancient system of medicine. Perhaps the key answer to which the author seeks but somehow avoids, is that the secret to the "enduring popularity" of the alternative systems of medicine is that at least some of them work and work well!! But by all means let her continue the quest for the "mysterious" secret of its popularity. To many, it will be obvious. Disclaimer: I'm an Acupuncturist and graduate of a college of Traditional Chinese Medicine. Roberta is to be congratulated for avoiding doctrinaire scientism and instead focusing at getting at this “mysterious” factor which contributes to the enduring popularity of some forms of alternative medicine.
The danger at the root of this “investigation” is the unstated but implied premise that there is a “deception” or “trickery” involved in alternative medicine.
Instead, one must do exactly as the author of this article has done, but WITHOUT the a priori prejudice, though she may make pretensions of disavowal. By all means, look at the 19th century journals, and lots from the 20th – read of perfectly well qualified MD’s and scientists, many at first totally sceptical of Homeopathy, for example, who later embrace it. Read of the MD investigator sent by Parliament to “expose” the cholera statistics clearly showing that the Homeopaths had absurdly low levels of mortality in their treatments, who later concluded ruefully that despite his initial prejudice, he was so taken by the quality of their treatments that he would entrust his own care, without hesitation, to them, were he to come down with cholera.
Better yet, read of genuine MD’s own clinical reports, detailed, sitting right there in books such as those by Dr. Dorothy Sheperd of the UK who again and again marvel at the superiour results of the alternative system of medicine that she embraced.
Read of Acupuncture and the incredible twists in its acceptance and attempted banishment from China, its rebirth, after idealogical and scientistic “sanitation” during the early Mao era, and the vast “treasure trove” of ancient medicine (Mao’s own words) much of which remains untranslated and even undiscovered to this very day, all while millions benefit from the obvious and powerful healing and curative effects of this ancient system of medicine.
Perhaps the key answer to which the author seeks but somehow avoids, is that the secret to the “enduring popularity” of the alternative systems of medicine is that at least some of them work and work well!! But by all means let her continue the quest for the “mysterious” secret of its popularity. To many, it will be obvious.
Disclaimer: I’m an Acupuncturist and graduate of a college of Traditional Chinese Medicine.

]]> http://blog.oup.com/2010/10/alt-med/#comment-181753 Tweets that mention OUPblog » Blog Archive » Questioning Alternative Medicine -- Topsy.com Wed, 13 Oct 2010 08:29:18 +0000 http://blog.oup.com/?p=11614#comment-181753 [...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Victor Kauffman, Jessica, Lauren, Fran Christiana, Foot Odor Treatment and others. Foot Odor Treatment said: Questioning Alternative Medicine: Other people are asking simply for advice: is it worth trying acupuncture, say, ... http://bit.ly/cRZciF [...] [...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Victor Kauffman, Jessica, Lauren, Fran Christiana, Foot Odor Treatment and others. Foot Odor Treatment said: Questioning Alternative Medicine: Other people are asking simply for advice: is it worth trying acupuncture, say, … http://bit.ly/cRZciF [...]

]]>