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HI Wendy, Sure there are problems in the traditional medical system (especially in health care delivery) But the current system also opens itself up to be challenged and questioned. The fact that these questions are being asked- both ethical and scientific- demonstrate the strength of the scientific method. If data is found to be gathered through means that has a built-in bias or or other defective methodology that system will be modified. It is imperfect but to me infinitely preferable to the word of a Shaman or even a thousand year tradition. I think it is reasonable to test traditional medical remedies scientifically. I think it is likely that a number of the remedies will be found to be safe and effective, while a far greater number will be ineffective and a few will be downright dangerous. Wendy- I think the story that you are gloating over shows the strength of the scientific method. BTW isn't tobacco a traditional remedy? Charlie "Tebay, Wendy M" wrote: > Just wanted to say I found this bit of news rather ironic/humorous, > considering I recently had a few people trying to convince me of the safety, > and hence implied superiority, of our conventional medical system vs > alternative ones. I think I, like this article, tried to point out the > existence of risks, as well as sometimes potential conflicts of interests, > inherent in our preferred system as well. Not to say that our system > doesn't have more safeguards in place at the moment, but people do tend to > accept the standard way they're familiar with without question most of the > time. And to say that alternative medicine hasn't been sufficiently proven > either effective or safe, as a blanket statement, is to ignore practices > like acupuncture, which to me is about as safe as it gets. If it's been > used for thousands of years, is non-invasive, etc., I think it could pretty > well be said to pass the safety and effectiveness tests, even without having > gone through double-blind studies. It may not be effective for all > illnesses, but it is obviously for some. > > I just get bothered when I see unquestioned acceptance or obedience, or > anything of that sort, to any system, whether it be medicine, religion, > political, etc. I believe one should critically examine everything, and > sometimes, most particularly, those things which one might pass over due to > their familiarity. They in fact are often in the most need of scrutiny, in > my opinion. > > Wendy Tebay -- ****************************************************************************************** Charles T. Meyer, M.D. Middleton (Madison), Wisconsin [log in to unmask] ******************************************************************************************