Religion and Ethics Forum
Religion and Ethics Discussion => Philosophy, in all its guises. => Topic started by: Nearly Sane on January 19, 2017, 01:03:39 PM
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Sad tale to get you angry about such charlantanism
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-38650739
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It's incredibly sad.
And the fad for eating 'clean' is causing problems for the healthy too, from what I can gather. Yet even the BBC website has 'clean' recipes on it.
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I have read the article. It is depressing the way so many pseudos persuade people to part with money and reject modern medicine.
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Why didn't they just go to the doctor? Idiots. They could have asked them if the weirdo treatment was kosher or not.
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Why didn't they just go to the doctor? Idiots. They could have asked them if the weirdo treatment was kosher or not.
Its because the regular doctors had failed that she went to the alternate treatment.....which again is actually only about a diet. I don't see anything wrong with following a certain diet. Certain type of diets and even fasting have been known to restore body immunity and can perhaps heal many types of problems...including cancers.
I don't see anything odd or unusual about it in principle...except that the 'doctor' perhaps carried it to extremes instead of using it as a complementary treatment.
Why have they not interviewed any other patient who might have had a positive response to the diet?! Typical selective reporting IMO!
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Its because the regular doctors had failed that she went to the alternate treatment.....which again is actually only about a diet. I don't see anything wrong with following a certain diet. Certain type of diets and even fasting have been known to restore body immunity and can perhaps heal many types of problems...including cancers.
Citation please
I don't see anything odd or unusual about it in principle...except that the 'doctor' perhaps carried it to extremes instead of using it as a complementary treatment.
Why have they not interviewed any other patient who might have had a positive response to the diet?! Typical selective reporting IMO!
Maybe they couldn't find anyone who had a positive experience (unless depriving people of their money is a positive experience)
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And things would quickly fall apart if everyone who went to a doctor and was not absolutely cured thought the doctor had failed.
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I think the reason some people turn to alternatives once chemo has failed is that it is so rough on the body. It's not hard to see that for some going for a natural, non-toxic option seems better and the feeling is that doctors fail when someone has been made to feel incredibly ill by treatment that hasn't worked.
A friend of mine lost all her teeth thanks to chemo. And then she died.
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I think the reason some people turn to alternatives once chemo has failed is that it is so rough on the body. It's not hard to see that for some going for a natural, non-toxic option seems better and the feeling is that doctors fail when someone has been made to feel incredibly ill by treatment that hasn't worked.
A friend of mine lost all her teeth thanks to chemo. And then she died.
I didn't even know that was a thing :( Hair in some cases, sure, but not that. Condolences :'(
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I didn't even know that was a thing :( Hair in some cases, sure, but not that. Condolences :'(
I didn't until it happened to her. Apparently it's not uncommon with breast cancer treatment but I don't know about other kinds.
And thank you. We weren't close, she was someone I'd bump into at various things over the years. One of those people that was incredibly alive, if you know what I mean.
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I think the reason some people turn to alternatives once chemo has failed is that it is so rough on the body. It's not hard to see that for some going for a natural, non-toxic option seems better and the feeling is that doctors fail when someone has been made to feel incredibly ill by treatment that hasn't worked.
A friend of mine lost all her teeth thanks to chemo. And then she died.
I can understand why people turn to almost anything in such circumstances. I remember as a much loved friend went through a two year slow death with treatments including chemo and experimental for the time, the pull of magical thinking to the extent that if I got her the perfect present it would somehow mollify the great dark shadow that was her cancer.
But it's precisely that that makes me feel disgust and revulsion for those who prey on the suffering and tout their common little remedies with no evidence grossly inflated in price as the scum who Sriram has defended on this thread. When you think that someone buying a doctorate from a degree factory is justifiable, then you support lies and death.
Worth reading John Diamond's unfinished book on snake oil
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I can understand why people turn to almost anything in such circumstances. I remember as a much loved friend went through a two year slow death with treatments including chemo and experimental for the time, the pull of magical thinking to the extent that if I got her the perfect present it would somehow mollify the great dark shadow that was her cancer.
I do get quite annoyed by this cancer business at times >:( And it's something that so many of us are going to have to face up to in our lives. An increasing number of us, come to that.
But it's precisely that that makes me feel disgust and revulsion for those who prey on the suffering and tout their common little remedies with no evidence grossly inflated in price as the scum who Sriram has defended on this thread.
Well, let's face it; if there's some - any - kind of content-free, evidence-free woo around to be defended, he's going to defend it, this being a classic example. It's no surprise.
Worth reading John Diamond's unfinished book on snake oil
It may have been JD of blessed memory (possibly in C: Because Cowards Get Cancer Too, his earlier account of the illness and also a fine book well worth reading) who said that there's no such thing as alternative medicine; there's medicine that works and medicine that doesn't.
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Yes there's a lot of snake oil about.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/women/life/goodbye-goop-seven-of-gwyneth-paltrows-most-ridiculous-recommend/
Vaginal steaming ? ??? :o
Weird!
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What has a diet got to do with Woo? Some of you have woo in your brain!!!
Various types of diets are often prescribed for various illnesses. What is woo about it?! ::)
Anything you guys are not familiar with is 'woo' is it?! LOL! You guys get scared & flustered very easily, I must say! :D
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Not scared and flustered - contemptuous of blind credulity, especially in cases like this.
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What has a diet got to do with Woo? Some of you have woo in your brain!!!
Various types of diets are often prescribed for various illnesses. What is woo about it?! ::)
Anything you guys are not familiar with is 'woo' is it?! LOL! You guys get scared & flustered very easily, I must say! :D
Scared, no. Flustered, no. Contemptuous of your defence of someone charging huge amounts for a worthless piece of crap to a dying person and profiting from lies, yes.
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Scared, no. Flustered, no. Contemptuous of your defence of someone charging huge amounts for a worthless piece of crap to a dying person and profiting from lies, yes.
Even the mainstream chemo therapy was in effect a case of 'charging huge amounts for a worthless piece of crap to a dying person'...remember!!? That is why she went to the alternate treatment in the first place...remember again!!??
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Even the mainstream chemo therapy was in effect a case of 'charging huge amounts for a worthless piece of crap to a dying person'...remember!!? That is why she went to the alternate treatment in the first place...remember again!!??
Does chemo work everytine, nope. Does it have a scientifically proven benefit, yes. Whereas you want to defend someone their degree and benefitting from charging extortionate prices for snake oil. You defend the theivery and lies of people who prey on the dying.
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Does chemo work everytine, nope. Does it have a scientifically proven benefit, yes. Whereas you want to defend someone their degree and benefitting from charging extortionate prices for snake oil. You defend the theivery and lies of people who prey on the dying.
LOL!! He was not selling snake oil. So...stop saying that! Its a lie! He was prescribing a diet....which is perfectly legitimate. Maybe even that treatment does not work every time for everyone.....just like chemo!! Maybe!
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LOL!! He was not selling snake oil. So...stop saying that! Its a lie! He was prescribing a diet....which is perfectly legitimate. Maybe even that treatment does not work every time for everyone.....just like chemo!! Maybe!
With his bought degree. He's swelling snake oil. And you want to support him charging thousands of pounds for it to a dying person.
If you think that is laugh out loud funny, then you need to consider how evil, and rapacious that makes you look.
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With his bought degree. He's swelling snake oil. And you want to support him charging thousands of pounds for it to a dying person.
If you think that is laugh out loud funny, then you need to consider how evil, and rapacious that makes you look.
Oh....'Evil and Rapacious'...and all!!! Really?!! LOL! :D
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Oh....'Evil and Rapacious'...and all!!! Really?!! LOL! :D
Yep, you find the preying on the dying funny, and think charging them huge amounts for worthless snake oil a defensible thing. By your own words, you are condemned.
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It is not "treatment".
The pros and cons of any diet can be debated, however even if it is a great, healthy, diet - that has no bearing on the fact that Young's claims were false, his theories fraudulent, and he himself was a convicted fraudster and cheat, with full intention of profiting from the exploitation of dying people.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_O._Young
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Oh....'Evil and Rapacious'...and all!!! Really?!! LOL! :D
Certainly - if the arse in question is charging the gullible public thousands of pounds for a diet, and a treatment which has only his shifty sales technique to substantiate the claims made about it, he is certainly 'evil and rapacious' - unfortunately, unscrupulous turds exploiting the vulnerable and suffering abound, and they know there's easy money to be had.
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Well...Ok. Let me clarify that I was not supporting any individual, certainly not the chap in question.
I was supporting alternate treatments and diet changes. Yes...its possible that that particular person is a cheat. But alternate treatments prescribing changes in diet are not woo (whatever that is.....!). This is a clear case of....'we don't understand it so it must be woo'. ::)
Similar things were said about Yoga not very long ago....and are still said about Ayurveda, Acupuncture and so on.
Most such dietary and alternate treatments are real treatments that could improve the immune system and cure illnesses. And just because they fail in one case, they cannot be dismissed as nonsense without a thorough investigation of all such cases. Comparing them all to 'sale of snake oil' is absolute rubbish and is typical of the ivory tower that many 'mainstream' people are locking themselves in!!
No other patient taking treatment from the above person has been interviewed. So...clearly there is bias at work here and there is no effort to take an unbiased view of his work and treatment.
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No other patient taking treatment from the above person has been interviewed. So...clearly there is bias at work here and there is no effort to take an unbiased view of his work and treatment.
The death of a young woman given injections of baking soda to treat cancer tends to do that.
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I was supporting alternate treatments and diet changes. Yes...its possible that that particular person is a cheat. But alternate treatments prescribing changes in diet are not woo (whatever that is.....!). This is a clear case of....'we don't understand it so it must be woo'. ::)
Minchin, T. 'Storm' (2008) "You know what they call alternative medicine that's been proven to work... medicine."
Similar things were said about Yoga not very long ago....and are still said about Ayurveda, Acupuncture and so on.
What things were said? It really rather depends on which claims are being espoused. Yoga, for instance, is a good system of exercise and pseudo-meditative activity, and as such is a good preventive measure against a number of ailments - but only to the same degree a wide number of other gentle exercise programmes.
Most such dietary and alternate treatments are real treatments that could improve the immune system and cure illnesses.
Some. In most instances, the general advice to moderate what you eat, reduce meat consumption (especially red meat) and increase the variety[/] and quantity of vegetables is dietary advice that will improve the immune system and prevent illness; there aren't many illnesses that can be 'cured' by dietary intervention.
And just because they fail in one case, they cannot be dismissed as nonsense without a thorough investigation of all such cases.
What 'thorough investigation' is required to know that the theory 'increasing blood alkalinity will stop blood cells turning into germs' is nonsense?
Comparing them all to 'sale of snake oil' is absolute rubbish and is typical of the ivory tower that many 'mainstream' people are locking themselves in!!
Indeed - snake oil is rich in omega-3 fatty acids, and as a dietary supplement can help to alleviate some of the symptoms of certain types of arthritic complaints. Snake oil has some benefits, but has a history of being over-hyped, whereas injecting bicarbonate of soda has no demonstrable benefits.
O.
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Minchin, T. 'Storm' (2008) "You know what they call alternative medicine that's been proven to work... medicine."
What things were said? It really rather depends on which claims are being espoused. Yoga, for instance, is a good system of exercise and pseudo-meditative activity, and as such is a good preventive measure against a number of ailments - but only to the same degree a wide number of other gentle exercise programmes.
Some. In most instances, the general advice to moderate what you eat, reduce meat consumption (especially red meat) and increase the variety[/] and quantity of vegetables is dietary advice that will improve the immune system and prevent illness; there aren't many illnesses that can be 'cured' by dietary intervention.
What 'thorough investigation' is required to know that the theory 'increasing blood alkalinity will stop blood cells turning into germs' is nonsense?
Indeed - snake oil is rich in omega-3 fatty acids, and as a dietary supplement can help to alleviate some of the symptoms of certain types of arthritic complaints. Snake oil has some benefits, but has a history of being over-hyped, whereas injecting bicarbonate of soda has no demonstrable benefits.
O.
Outrider,
1. Investigations and clinical research are normally carried out in developed, rich countries like America and Europe... but only on things that are within their culture and their lifestyle. No one carries out research on diets or practices or lifestyles that are present in Asia, middle east or other places. These are usually disregarded...unless they start impacting western lifestyles significantly (like Yoga).
Some papers have been published now in the west on the benefits of fasting...though it is a common practice in India for centuries but in the west was laughed at till recently as a poverty driven practice.
2. In countries like India there is very little interest and scarce resources to carry out such formal research on all the hundreds of traditional diets, customs and medical practices. Where are the sponsors, professionals and other resources? Many day to day practices, diets, food items are continued to be used on the basis of either traditional authority or anecdotal evidence and no one looks around for formal clinical research reports.
3. In all countries, even in the UK I am sure, many traditional practices, customs and methods are still prevalent among the people, though no formal research has been conducted on these or their efficacy established beyond doubt. It is impossible to establish such matters beyond doubt in all cases. Who will sponsor the research?
4. Even in areas where formal research has been conducted and results published, one cannot be too sure of the correctness of the results. We have seen how oils and fats were rejected by doctors for decades (much against common wisdom) but are suddenly today being touted as healthy. Even the much talked about good cholesterol vs bad cholesterol issue, which formed the basis of most medical diagnosis....is now under review with many experts saying that cholesterol is not responsible for heart problems.
So...what really is all this research worth?!
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Outrider,
1. Investigations and clinical research are normally carried out in developed, rich countries like America and Europe... but only on things that are within their culture and their lifestyle. No one carries out research on diets or practices or lifestyles that are present in Asia, middle east or other places. These are usually disregarded...unless they start impacting western lifestyles significantly (like Yoga).
Some papers have been published now in the west on the benefits of fasting...though it is a common practice in India for centuries but in the west was laughed at till recently as a poverty driven practice.
2. In countries like India there is very little interest and scarce resources to carry out such formal research on all the hundreds of traditional diets, customs and medical practices. Where are the sponsors, professionals and other resources? Many day to day practices, diets, food items are continued to be used on the basis of either traditional authority or anecdotal evidence and no one looks around for formal clinical research reports.
3. In all countries, even in the UK I am sure, many traditional practices, customs and methods are still prevalent among the people, though no formal research has been conducted on these or their efficacy established beyond doubt. It is impossible to establish such matters beyond doubt in all cases. Who will sponsor the research?
4. Even in areas where formal research has been conducted and results published, one cannot be too sure of the correctness of the results. We have seen how oils and fats were rejected by doctors for decades (much against common wisdom) but are suddenly today being touted as healthy. Even the much talked about good cholesterol vs bad cholesterol issue, which formed the basis of most medical diagnosis....is now under review with many experts saying that cholesterol is not responsible for heart problems.
So...what really is all this research worth?!
So you would like that there be research done on points 1, 2 and 3. Then when the results are in, dismiss them because the research won't be worth a thing?
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1. Investigations and clinical research are normally carried out in developed, rich countries like America and Europe... but only on things that are within their culture and their lifestyle. No one carries out research on diets or practices or lifestyles that are present in Asia, middle east or other places. These are usually disregarded...unless they start impacting western lifestyles significantly (like Yoga).
Right - I fail to see how that justifies your suggestion that we haven't given the obviously fraudulent nonsense being pandered in the original argument a fair go. Yes, there is a strong streak of western mono-culturalism in western culture - that doesn't mean that bicarbonate of soda suddenly cures cancer in other places, or that oriental blood cells turn in to germs.
2. In countries like India there is very little interest and scarce resources to carry out such formal research on all the hundreds of traditional diets, customs and medical practices. Where are the sponsors, professionals and other resources? Many day to day practices, diets, food items are continued to be used on the basis of either traditional authority or anecdotal evidence and no one looks around for formal clinical research reports.
And... Firstly, we weren't looking at someone operating in India, but rather the US, where there is an agency that is supposed to enforce such things. Secondly, the lack of rigorous standards and enforcement in a developing nation doesn't mean that obviously fraudulent practices should get a free ride, even there.
3. In all countries, even in the UK I am sure, many traditional practices, customs and methods are still prevalent among the people, though no formal research has been conducted on these or their efficacy established beyond doubt. It is impossible to establish such matters beyond doubt in all cases. Who will sponsor the research?
On the contrary, any number of studies are conducted to see what the veracity of various 'old wives tales' and remedies might be. None of which, by the way, has the slightest impact on this baseless stupidity about 'alkalinity' in the human body.
4. Even in areas where formal research has been conducted and results published, one cannot be too sure of the correctness of the results. We have seen how oils and fats were rejected by doctors for decades (much against common wisdom) but are suddenly today being touted as healthy. Even the much talked about good cholesterol vs bad cholesterol issue, which formed the basis of most medical diagnosis....is now under review with many experts saying that cholesterol is not responsible for heart problems.
Yep. Science has been done badly, on occasion. At least it's been done, at least there was some sort of justification for the decisions, though.
So...what really is all this research worth?!
I'd say that the eradication of a number of previously common diseases, a massive increase in life-expectancy around the world (including the developing nations) and pharmaceutical and surgical techniques to mitigate or eradicate conditions that previously would have resulted in a torturous, hard, nasty, short life speak for themselves. If you're discarding the results of science and medicine out of hand, who's guilty of cultural imperialism now?
O.
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Right - I fail to see how that justifies your suggestion that we haven't given the obviously fraudulent nonsense being pandered in the original argument a fair go. Yes, there is a strong streak of western mono-culturalism in western culture - that doesn't mean that bicarbonate of soda suddenly cures cancer in other places, or that oriental blood cells turn in to germs.
And... Firstly, we weren't looking at someone operating in India, but rather the US, where there is an agency that is supposed to enforce such things. Secondly, the lack of rigorous standards and enforcement in a developing nation doesn't mean that obviously fraudulent practices should get a free ride, even there.
On the contrary, any number of studies are conducted to see what the veracity of various 'old wives tales' and remedies might be. None of which, by the way, has the slightest impact on this baseless stupidity about 'alkalinity' in the human body.
Yep. Science has been done badly, on occasion. At least it's been done, at least there was some sort of justification for the decisions, though.
I'd say that the eradication of a number of previously common diseases, a massive increase in life-expectancy around the world (including the developing nations) and pharmaceutical and surgical techniques to mitigate or eradicate conditions that previously would have resulted in a torturous, hard, nasty, short life speak for themselves. If you're discarding the results of science and medicine out of hand, who's guilty of cultural imperialism now?
O.
No...I am not advocating any specific method or practice and nor am I advocating that science and clinical research should be discarded. Not at all!
I am only saying that every idea, system and practice across the globe cannot be tested clinically. It is a practical impossibility. And even if something is tested clinically...there is no guarantee that the results are correct. Further research could easily reverse the first result.
So...many traditional practices could, should and inevitably will exist alongside clinically tested methods. That is my point. Merely because something does not have the tag of clinical testing....does not mean it is fraudulent or incorrect or cannot work.
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Outrider,
1. Investigations and clinical research are normally carried out in developed, rich countries like America and Europe... but only on things that are within their culture and their lifestyle. No one carries out research on diets or practices or lifestyles that are present in Asia, middle east or other places. These are usually disregarded...unless they start impacting western lifestyles significantly (like Yoga).
Some papers have been published now in the west on the benefits of fasting...though it is a common practice in India for centuries but in the west was laughed at till recently as a poverty driven practice.
2. In countries like India there is very little interest and scarce resources to carry out such formal research on all the hundreds of traditional diets, customs and medical practices. Where are the sponsors, professionals and other resources? Many day to day practices, diets, food items are continued to be used on the basis of either traditional authority or anecdotal evidence and no one looks around for formal clinical research reports.
3. In all countries, even in the UK I am sure, many traditional practices, customs and methods are still prevalent among the people, though no formal research has been conducted on these or their efficacy established beyond doubt. It is impossible to establish such matters beyond doubt in all cases. Who will sponsor the research?
4. Even in areas where formal research has been conducted and results published, one cannot be too sure of the correctness of the results. We have seen how oils and fats were rejected by doctors for decades (much against common wisdom) but are suddenly today being touted as healthy. Even the much talked about good cholesterol vs bad cholesterol issue, which formed the basis of most medical diagnosis....is now under review with many experts saying that cholesterol is not responsible for heart problems.
So...what really is all this research worth?!
I can see why you are such an admirer of Donald Trump's way of working. No need for research or even real facts. Just make them up.
Don't have that vaccine it will give you autism (even though there is no evidence for it) - on the other hand plenty of evidence for the effects of MMR infections. But we now have alternative facts. So even though people die from Measles, Mumps and rubella we'll ignore that for the alt-fact that though there is no evidence for it, autism is caused by vaccination.
And then children will die. That is not an alt-fact. That is the truth.
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I can see why you are such an admirer of Donald Trump's way of working. No need for research or even real facts. Just make them up.
Don't have that vaccine it will give you autism (even though there is no evidence for it) - on the other hand plenty of evidence for the effects of MMR infections. But we now have alternative facts. So even though people die from Measles, Mumps and rubella we'll ignore that for the alt-fact that though there is no evidence for it, autism is caused by vaccination.
And then children will die. That is not an alt-fact. That is the truth.
? ? ? ?
As always you go off at a tangent!!! ::)
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So you don't get measles, mumps and rubella in India then?
Well I'll go to the foot of our stairs.
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No...I am not advocating any specific method or practice and nor am I advocating that science and clinical research should be discarded. Not at all!
Fair enough.
I am only saying that every idea, system and practice across the globe cannot be tested clinically. It is a practical impossibility.
Not really, it just takes time and will - it's not a 'practical impossibility', there's just not enough determination to make it happen, compounded by the fact that when some things are studied and demonstrated not to work there are vested interests that are always prepared to ignore that, for various reasons: see homeopathy as a suitable demonstration of that.
And even if something is tested clinically...there is no guarantee that the results are correct. Further research could easily reverse the first result.
That's a possibility - science isn't always as rigorous as we'd like it to be, but that's why we have agencies to review the findings of trials, and why we set minimum standards for what we'll accept and license as medicines, whilst legislating against people making medicinal claims unless they've undergone those minimum requirements.
So...many traditional practices could, should and inevitably will exist alongside clinically tested methods. That is my point. Merely because something does not have the tag of clinical testing....does not mean it is fraudulent or incorrect or cannot work.
It doesn't intrinsically, no. All treatments were unvalidated at some point. In the broader context, yes, there are undoubtedly some current treatments that have some efficacy that haven't been rigorously reviewed yet. Equally undoubtedly, there are a larger number of them that are either useless or significantly over-hyped.
In the narrower context of this particular case, though, the man's talking nonsense about bicarbonate of soda, is defrauding people in a country which is supposed to license medical claims, and deserves to have a number of books thrown at him for profiting from other people's pain and suffering.
O.
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Fair enough.
Not really, it just takes time and will - it's not a 'practical impossibility', there's just not enough determination to make it happen, compounded by the fact that when some things are studied and demonstrated not to work there are vested interests that are always prepared to ignore that, for various reasons: see homeopathy as a suitable demonstration of that.
That's a possibility - science isn't always as rigorous as we'd like it to be, but that's why we have agencies to review the findings of trials, and why we set minimum standards for what we'll accept and license as medicines, whilst legislating against people making medicinal claims unless they've undergone those minimum requirements.
It doesn't intrinsically, no. All treatments were unvalidated at some point. In the broader context, yes, there are undoubtedly some current treatments that have some efficacy that haven't been rigorously reviewed yet. Equally undoubtedly, there are a larger number of them that are either useless or significantly over-hyped.
In the narrower context of this particular case, though, the man's talking nonsense about bicarbonate of soda, is defrauding people in a country which is supposed to license medical claims, and deserves to have a number of books thrown at him for profiting from other people's pain and suffering.
O.
My argument was that anything we don't understand need not be 'woo' or a witch doctor treatment. May things may seem as nonsense but could be very effective. Yoga, fasting, vegetable diet and so on are examples that the west was not very favorable to till recent years.
Secondly, diet has been a part of medical treatment since ancient times. In Ayurveda in particular, diet and fasting are an integral and important part of the treatment. Maybe clinical testing of such treatments has not been done....but millions are using the treatments for centuries and are benefiting from them. Anecdotal evidence cannot be dismissed.
In fact, after some years of a lull, Ayurveda is now becoming much more popular than before and many people (wealthy and educated) are migrating away from modern medicine to such traditional systems. The Govt. is also investing heavily in the promotion and development of such traditional systems.
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My argument was that anything we don't understand need not be 'woo' or a witch doctor treatment. May things may seem as nonsense but could be very effective.
And I'm agreeing with you. However, until we've done some sort of investigation, we don't know which ones will be beneficial, and which just have tradition and cultural inertia on their side, or vested interested with marketing budgets.
Yoga, fasting, vegetable diet and so on are examples that the west was not very favorable to till recent years.
And now that they've been investigated, their benefits have been established and quantified.
Secondly, diet has been a part of medical treatment since ancient times. In Ayurveda in particular, diet and fasting are an integral and important part of the treatment. Maybe clinical testing of such treatments has not been done....but millions are using the treatments for centuries and are benefiting from them.
If you've not done testing, then you don't know if they've benefited from them or not, or if they're purely incidental to the result. That people got better who underwent a certain regimen does not mean that particular regimen had any bearing on their improvement.
Anecdotal evidence cannot be dismissed.
As it can't be relied upon, ultimately, not only can it be dismissed but it has to be.
In fact, after some years of a lull, Ayurveda is now becoming much more popular than before and many people (wealthy and educated) are migrating away from modern medicine to such traditional systems.
What people want, though, isn't always what's demonstrably best for them.
The Govt. is also investing heavily in the promotion and development of such traditional systems.
Because it works or because it's popular?
O.
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In fact, after some years of a lull, Ayurveda is now becoming much more popular than before and many people (wealthy and educated) are migrating away from modern medicine to such traditional systems. The Govt. is also investing heavily in the promotion and development of such traditional systems.
If the government is investing in these without evidence based knowledge of efficacy, without researching these systems - that is a false economy. India does have the resources to investigate them properly.