Quote:
Originally Posted by GoNative
The main problem I have with many alternative treatments is that they have not gone through any of the normal rigorous clinical trials to prove their efficacy or possible side effects. Sure most are pretty benign (because they actually do nothing at all) but the prices some people pay for these things are not so benign. And some like accupunture have been shown to have virtually no other effect other than what you would expect from a placebo in a clinical trial for most of the ailments it can supposedly assist with.
I know there's been some pretty dodgy western medicines released and undoubtedly some unscrupulous practices at times (with a lot of money involved it's not surprising) but at least there regulation and oversight of the industry. There is little of either for many of the alternatives treatments out there.
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I agree with this.
When it comes to any medicine or cure I think all that really matters is if it does what it claims to do. But yeah clinical trials to prove their efficacy or possible side effects matter because a lot of older medicine is tied up with folklore or older belief systems.
Using acupuncture as an example:
Whether the whole charka thing is real not is metaphysical and is a whole different discussion.
Whether they found through that belief something that works for the physical reality or not can be tested through scientific methods like a clinical trial.
(regardless if the beliefs which the practice formed by is true or not)