Just reading the thread on prednisone and learned that it "only
suppress symptoms" without getting to the root of the problem.
Since we just finished a thread that concluded that there was no way to
choose among alt.professionals ("philosophical affinity") and presumably
if you we knew which alt.med "got to the root of the problem" you would
have a way to choose among them (or maybe they ALL get to the root), I
have a question.
How do the local experts know that alt.med (any one) "really gets to the
root" of disease any more than prednisone?
- because they believe it?
- because the claimed mechanism of action of the remedy "ought" to result
in cure (by realigning with normal . . .)?
- because people are cured after a course of therapy (ie no longer need
the therapy and are symptom free)?
You see – I ask because it isn’t clear from the discussion what you mean
by "root of the disease" for any given disease and how you can possibly
know that the alt.med "gets at it" any more than you know which one is
"best"?
In article <33nlts$…@news.u.washington.edu> nim…@u.washington.edu
(GDR) writes:
Just reading the thread on prednisone and learned that it "only
suppress symptoms" without getting to the root of the problem.
Since we just finished a thread that concluded that there was no way to
choose among alt.professionals ("philosophical affinity") and presumably
if you we knew which alt.med "got to the root of the problem" you would
have a way to choose among them (or maybe they ALL get to the root), I
have a question.
Whether prednisone only suppresses symptoms (and it does) is
independent of whether any alternative treatment cures the prblem. The
clear and obvious test of whther any medical treatment cures the
problem or merely suppresses the symptoms is whether the symptoms
occur again after treatment is stopped (like the treatment of hayfever
with antihistamines). Generally speaking, there are no controlled tests
of alternative medicine on chronic illness, but there is clinical
experience.
–
Bernie Simon Amidst concrete and clay and general decay
(bsi…@stsci.edu) Nature will still find a way — The Smiths
To: Bernie Simon,bsi…@stsci.edu,Internet
BS> Whether prednisone only suppresses symptoms (and it does) is
BS> independent of whether any alternative treatment cures the prblem. The
BS> clear and obvious test of whther any medical treatment cures the
BS> problem or merely suppresses the symptoms is whether the symptoms
BS> occur again after treatment is stopped (like the treatment of hayfever
BS> with antihistamines). Generally speaking, there are no controlled
BS> tests of alternative medicine on chronic illness, but there is
BS> clinical experience.
Nope, don’t agree. "Cure" <can> be defined as the elimination of symptoms,
but this is precisely why we say that the healer must have a better
conception of health than the patient. Cure is the return to health–this is
often fundamentally not what is happening when symptoms disappear or are
forced to retreat under a bombardment of aggressive drugging. Lobotomy made
erratic behavior disappear, so it "cured" mental illness. Hysterectomy makes
menstruation stop, so it "cures" dysmennorhea. A sling approximates a
fracture, so it "cures" a bone break (even though there is extensive loss of
range of motion). You get the idea.
- "I’ve seen archipelagoes like skies of stars! Isles whose heavens made the
voyager mad with Freedom." -Arthur Rimbaud