Comments on: Surprise — Alternative Medicine Doesn’t Work! http://unreasonablefaith.com/2009/06/15/surprise-%e2%80%94-alternative-medicine-doesnt-work/ Reasonable Thoughts on Religion, Science, Skepticism, and Atheism Sun, 01 Aug 2010 04:39:28 -0400 hourly 1 By: Jabster http://unreasonablefaith.com/2009/06/15/surprise-%e2%80%94-alternative-medicine-doesnt-work/#comment-48142 Jabster Sun, 21 Jun 2009 10:04:44 +0000 http://unreasonablefaith.com/?p=5403#comment-48142 Yes but the birch bark is natural so it must be better and far more expensive? Yes but the birch bark is natural so it must be better and far more expensive?

]]> By: Aor http://unreasonablefaith.com/2009/06/15/surprise-%e2%80%94-alternative-medicine-doesnt-work/#comment-47712 Aor Fri, 19 Jun 2009 20:50:09 +0000 http://unreasonablefaith.com/?p=5403#comment-47712 Conspiracy theories are so disappointing. Do you understand that your beliefs imply that every doctor working for every pharmaceutical company in the entire world is part of a vast conspiracy to not cure diseases? When you take a step back and look at it, its just magical thinking. If you want to analyze whats really going on in your head, read this. http://scienceblogs.com/denialism/2009/06/the_psychology_of_crankery.php Conspiracy theories are so disappointing. Do you understand that your beliefs imply that every doctor working for every pharmaceutical company in the entire world is part of a vast conspiracy to not cure diseases? When you take a step back and look at it, its just magical thinking.

If you want to analyze whats really going on in your head, read this.

http://scienceblogs.com/denialism/2009/06/the_psychology_of_crankery.php

]]> By: Aor http://unreasonablefaith.com/2009/06/15/surprise-%e2%80%94-alternative-medicine-doesnt-work/#comment-47710 Aor Fri, 19 Jun 2009 20:47:05 +0000 http://unreasonablefaith.com/?p=5403#comment-47710 It sounds like the herbalist is practicing some cold reading. That makes him seem oh so trustworthy, doesn't it? It sounds like the herbalist is practicing some cold reading. That makes him seem oh so trustworthy, doesn’t it?

]]> By: Aor http://unreasonablefaith.com/2009/06/15/surprise-%e2%80%94-alternative-medicine-doesnt-work/#comment-47708 Aor Fri, 19 Jun 2009 20:45:29 +0000 http://unreasonablefaith.com/?p=5403#comment-47708 Aspirin comes from birch bark. That makes it a natural remedy, but also actual medicine. The terms are not mutual exclusive. Aspirin comes from birch bark. That makes it a natural remedy, but also actual medicine. The terms are not mutual exclusive.

]]> By: Sunny Day http://unreasonablefaith.com/2009/06/15/surprise-%e2%80%94-alternative-medicine-doesnt-work/#comment-47169 Sunny Day Wed, 17 Jun 2009 16:52:42 +0000 http://unreasonablefaith.com/?p=5403#comment-47169 Why tempt the release of the Big Wad of Crazy? Why tempt the release of the Big Wad of Crazy?

]]> By: Metro http://unreasonablefaith.com/2009/06/15/surprise-%e2%80%94-alternative-medicine-doesnt-work/#comment-47166 Metro Wed, 17 Jun 2009 16:28:05 +0000 http://unreasonablefaith.com/?p=5403#comment-47166 Pissing in the fountain of science is different from "vast shadowy conspiracy on the part of several hundred thousand people to keep the rest of us down." It's certainly wise to question tobacco-funded research into the effects of tobacco. That's why the US has the FDA and its agencies (which aren't perfect, but are better than allowing industry to self-police its claims). But it's a long step from there to an entire industry, made up of competing companies, with secret tendrils extending into government, engaging in a sub-rosa pact (that for some reason appears to be less than secret) that requires literally hundreds of thousands of people to keep absolutely quiet about it, including all media bigger than "this one guy I know who has a web page" ... Touchstone question: fftysmthg--How do you feel about the relationship between vaccines and autism? Pissing in the fountain of science is different from “vast shadowy conspiracy on the part of several hundred thousand people to keep the rest of us down.”

It’s certainly wise to question tobacco-funded research into the effects of tobacco. That’s why the US has the FDA and its agencies (which aren’t perfect, but are better than allowing industry to self-police its claims).

But it’s a long step from there to an entire industry, made up of competing companies, with secret tendrils extending into government, engaging in a sub-rosa pact (that for some reason appears to be less than secret) that requires literally hundreds of thousands of people to keep absolutely quiet about it, including all media bigger than “this one guy I know who has a web page” …

Touchstone question: fftysmthg–How do you feel about the relationship between vaccines and autism?

]]> By: Metro http://unreasonablefaith.com/2009/06/15/surprise-%e2%80%94-alternative-medicine-doesnt-work/#comment-47162 Metro Wed, 17 Jun 2009 16:20:22 +0000 http://unreasonablefaith.com/?p=5403#comment-47162 @ fftysmthg <a href="http://www.sequinsbyeileen.com/midi/kidsmidi/Jeopardy%20Theme%20Song.mid" rel="nofollow">Weeee're waiting.</a> Still no evidence. Well geez, that's kinda ... unsatisfying, y'know? @ fftysmthg
Weeee’re waiting.

Still no evidence. Well geez, that’s kinda … unsatisfying, y’know?

]]> By: Francesc http://unreasonablefaith.com/2009/06/15/surprise-%e2%80%94-alternative-medicine-doesnt-work/#comment-47123 Francesc Wed, 17 Jun 2009 12:37:50 +0000 http://unreasonablefaith.com/?p=5403#comment-47123 Couldn't it be done by a virus only able to infect cancer cells? Couldn’t it be done by a virus only able to infect cancer cells?

]]> By: Olaf http://unreasonablefaith.com/2009/06/15/surprise-%e2%80%94-alternative-medicine-doesnt-work/#comment-47121 Olaf Wed, 17 Jun 2009 12:07:43 +0000 http://unreasonablefaith.com/?p=5403#comment-47121 No it doesn't, it kills ALL cells with different degrees, but because cancer cells are mostly weak they die sooner. The tricky thing is to find good checmicals that kills far more cancer cells than good cels so you can have a lower dosis. No it doesn’t, it kills ALL cells with different degrees, but because cancer cells are mostly weak they die sooner. The tricky thing is to find good checmicals that kills far more cancer cells than good cels so you can have a lower dosis.

]]> By: ThisGodlessEndeavor http://unreasonablefaith.com/2009/06/15/surprise-%e2%80%94-alternative-medicine-doesnt-work/#comment-47013 ThisGodlessEndeavor Tue, 16 Jun 2009 16:22:09 +0000 http://unreasonablefaith.com/?p=5403#comment-47013 It is poison to a degree, as the goal is to kill actively dividing cells (in most cases) but the problem is the body is full of healthy actively dividing cells too. And unlike an invasive bacteria which have a vastly different chemical composition than our own cells, cancer arises from our own cells and still bears much of the same characteristics of healthy cells. Curing cancer has never been a problem...Curing cancer without killing the patient is the real problem. But the more we learn about different potential targets of carcinomas the better we can attack only those specific cells. In fact, if you are rich enough there are a few companies offering complete genomic assesments for your specific cancer and then tayloring your treatment for optimal results with much greater success than standard treatment...problem is the price tag is about 1 million dollars. Hopefully in 15-25 years this will be much cheaper and available to far more people. It is poison to a degree, as the goal is to kill actively dividing cells (in most cases) but the problem is the body is full of healthy actively dividing cells too. And unlike an invasive bacteria which have a vastly different chemical composition than our own cells, cancer arises from our own cells and still bears much of the same characteristics of healthy cells.

Curing cancer has never been a problem…Curing cancer without killing the patient is the real problem.

But the more we learn about different potential targets of carcinomas the better we can attack only those specific cells.

In fact, if you are rich enough there are a few companies offering complete genomic assesments for your specific cancer and then tayloring your treatment for optimal results with much greater success than standard treatment…problem is the price tag is about 1 million dollars. Hopefully in 15-25 years this will be much cheaper and available to far more people.

]]> By: bluelyon http://unreasonablefaith.com/2009/06/15/surprise-%e2%80%94-alternative-medicine-doesnt-work/#comment-47011 bluelyon Tue, 16 Jun 2009 16:10:37 +0000 http://unreasonablefaith.com/?p=5403#comment-47011 I think some people mistake "<b>home</b>opathy" for "<b>home</b>-made medicine" as compared to "pharma-made medicine" rather than homeopathy being, as you describe, basically water with magical powers. I think some people mistake “homeopathy” for “home-made medicine” as compared to “pharma-made medicine” rather than homeopathy being, as you describe, basically water with magical powers.

]]> By: Fentwin http://unreasonablefaith.com/2009/06/15/surprise-%e2%80%94-alternative-medicine-doesnt-work/#comment-47008 Fentwin Tue, 16 Jun 2009 15:42:11 +0000 http://unreasonablefaith.com/?p=5403#comment-47008 I guess Mr. Pibb is the "alternative" to Dr. Pepper. I guess Mr. Pibb is the “alternative” to Dr. Pepper.

]]> By: Fentwin http://unreasonablefaith.com/2009/06/15/surprise-%e2%80%94-alternative-medicine-doesnt-work/#comment-47007 Fentwin Tue, 16 Jun 2009 15:39:48 +0000 http://unreasonablefaith.com/?p=5403#comment-47007 Ha. I read that as "BK is part of the constipation", and I couldn't disagree. :) Ha. I read that as “BK is part of the constipation”, and I couldn’t disagree. :)

]]> By: Fentwin http://unreasonablefaith.com/2009/06/15/surprise-%e2%80%94-alternative-medicine-doesnt-work/#comment-47006 Fentwin Tue, 16 Jun 2009 15:37:44 +0000 http://unreasonablefaith.com/?p=5403#comment-47006 I've also read that CHinese traditional medicine can cure a viral infection in, oh, about two to three weeks (snickers...heheheheh). Curious thing though, it can take about that long for a virus to run its natural course. Credulity can be a curious thing. I’ve also read that CHinese traditional medicine can cure a viral infection in, oh, about two to three weeks (snickers…heheheheh).

Curious thing though, it can take about that long for a virus to run its natural course.

Credulity can be a curious thing.

]]> By: Joe B http://unreasonablefaith.com/2009/06/15/surprise-%e2%80%94-alternative-medicine-doesnt-work/#comment-47002 Joe B Tue, 16 Jun 2009 15:07:34 +0000 http://unreasonablefaith.com/?p=5403#comment-47002 How does marijuana fit into homeopathy at all? If Marijuana was taken by diluting it up in some water to the point where not a single molecule is present then using it, it would be homeopathy. Do you mean a herbal remedy? Because no one is saying that there aren't some plants with medicinal effects. It's just that nearly all of them that have shown effects have had the effective component isolated and synthesized into a pharmaceutical. How does marijuana fit into homeopathy at all? If Marijuana was taken by diluting it up in some water to the point where not a single molecule is present then using it, it would be homeopathy.

Do you mean a herbal remedy? Because no one is saying that there aren’t some plants with medicinal effects. It’s just that nearly all of them that have shown effects have had the effective component isolated and synthesized into a pharmaceutical.

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