A Rational Look at Alternative Healing
A Scientific View of the World of Alternative Medicine
Nov 19, 2008
Modern medicine is one of the greatest achievements of mankind. Illnesses and diseases that in the past wiped out millions are now confined to the history books. With every passing year, huge leaps in the understanding of the human body are made, combined with rapid advances in technological capabilities.
The future promises to be a disease-free utopia, where individuals are treated on a genetic level using machines and medicines undreamed of today.
Amidst this torrent of new scientific facts and knowledge there is alternative healing. This includes areas such as homoeopathy, crystal healing, herbalism, and ancient traditional medicine, such as that from China.
These methods claim, in many cases, to be able to go beyond conventional medicine. Millions of people around the world regularly partake in alternative healing, either because conventional medicine has failed, or because they are suspicious of modern medicine's methods and potential side-effects.
From a scientific point-of-view, alternative healing does not appear to be a valid form of treatment. The simple fact is, any 'alternative' method of healing that is found to work under properly devised tests is simply incorporated into conventional medicine.
The Alleged Healing Capabilities of Homoeopathy
Homeopathy, to take one example, claims that if substances that can produce similar symptoms to a particular disease are given to a patient, then the disease can be treated. This, in itself, is doubtful enough, but the solutions used are diluted several times. These dilutions are so extreme that not a single molecule of the original substance remains. The patient takes, from a scientific perspective, a sample of pure water.
It is claimed that despite the chosen chemical being completely removed from the water, that some 'essence' of the ingredient remains. For the water to be altered in this way, a fundamental change in the understanding of molecular physics would be needed. Anyone truly convinced of homeopathy's validity would be wise to study this effect, as if proven true, they would surely win a Nobel Prize.
The Alternative Explanation of Homoeopathy
The reason for the current trend in alternative medicine could be due to a number of factors. One such factor is a growing fear of the power of modern medicine. Society is on the brink of a genetic revolution in medicine, a revolution that few outside of genetic research understands. This ever growing complexity in the field of conventional medicine creates an ever greater detachment of understanding by the public. The result is a wave of support for more traditional, even ancient practices.
Another reason for support of alternative healing stems from the fact that some of it may actually benefit the practitioner. This is due to the Placebo effect. This is where a patient's condition may improve simply because they believe that the treatment is working. This positive thinking has long been linked to positive physiological effects.
Is There Any Harm in Alternative Medicine?
Using alternative healing techniques in conjunction with conventional medicine is unlikely to cause harm. The danger, however, is when conventional medicine is abandoned in favour of alternative techniques.
Patients are risking their health and their lives on treatments for which there is no scientific evidence to suggest that they work. Placebo effects may help, but from a scientific, historical, and statistical perspective, modern conventional medicine is the best tool available for the treatment of illness and disease. And with each passing year, it improves, advances, and saves even more lives.
References
- Sagan, Carl. The Demon Haunted World. Headline Book Publishing; New edition edition (9 Jan 1997)
- Dawkins, Richard. The Enemies of Reason. Channel 4 Productions, 2008.
- Puncturing the Acupuncture Myth, eSkeptic
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