(no subject)

[theweaselking]

Murder-of-children-through-refusal-of-evidence-based-treatment isn't limited to religious nutbars. Homeopaths, antivaccinationers, and other illiterate morons kill people just as dead as the Jehovah's Witlesses and Christian Scientists.

Comments

[jsbowden.livejournal.com]

s/Homeopaths, antivaccinationers, and other illiterate morons kill people just as dead as the Jehovah's Witlesses and Christian Scientists./Nutbars of all flavors are equally stupid./

[anton-p-nym.livejournal.com]

I'm trying very hard not to imagine what death by eczema must've felt like... and failing, I fear. That's an appalling story.

-- Steve'd like to remind folks that modern medicine may not be perfect, but it's far less imperfect than folklore therapy.

[theweaselking.livejournal.com]

You know why it's called "alternative medicine"?

Because if it worked, they'd just call it "medicine".

[reyl.livejournal.com]

SCIENCE!

People who want to do what's best for their babies should maybe listen to people who have done research on what is best for their baby. Parents who are all worried about "big pharma" pimping vaccines for profit don't seem to be as concerned with the huge money-making machines of supplements and homeo/naturopathy. The main difference is big pharma is backed by science and regulated by the government.

[anton-p-nym.livejournal.com]

As for "traditional" medicine, well, considering that over the past eighty years the average lifespan in Canada has gone from 60 to 80 I say bring on the new stuff.

-- Steve thinks that any system that gives us the largest number of centenarians in our history is probably the one to go with, rather than the one that assumed you'd be dead before you could collect a pension.

[cuddlycthulhu.livejournal.com]

Let's not forget vegans who refuse to give baby's breast milk or any alternatives with adequate nutrional value.

[reyl.livejournal.com]

I'm sorry whut? Vegans who don't give babies breast milk? I disbelieve.

[jsbowden.livejournal.com]

Disbelieve roll: Fail.

Remember, these are the same group of idiots who kill their pets through malnutrition because they won't feed their carnivores meat.

[anton-p-nym.livejournal.com]

Make your saving throw versus surprise.

-- Steve got fightin' mad about that one a couple of years ago.

[cuddlycthulhu.livejournal.com]

As I said, "or any alternatives with adequate nutrional value."

I don't care if you're vegan, but if your ideology stands in the way of your growing child getting the basic requirements so it can be healthy, then you're just as misguided and harmfully ignorant as those mocked above.

[tsunami-ryuu.livejournal.com]

I cannot even comprehend the logic behind that one. Exploitation of one's own breasts?

[cuddlycthulhu.livejournal.com]

As far as I know the decision for such people is not about exploitation of animals so much as they don't want animal product int heir body.

[anivair.livejournal.com]

I don't get these people. okay. I'm a pagan. I'm into homepathy and magic healing. Those things are great. As long as they are used on top of standard medicine. You want to pray for healing and do a healing well and make tea that will drive out bad energy? Grat. Go see your doctor, too. Because while what you're doing, I think, will help, there is something to be said for medical science. Trust in Allah, but tie up your camel.

[anivair.livejournal.com]

... and while I'm on the subject: a guy with a medical degree trumps a book written by Moonsong Skybeam anytime. If some new age dumbass tells you that putting yew bark on your skin will help you and your doctor says that it will hurt you, listen to the man. He paid a lot of money to get that there diploma.

[pope-guilty.livejournal.com]

Those things are great. As long as they are used on top of standard medicine.

I chant magic spells that transport me where I'm going... along with my car.

I rub a lotion on my feet to keep dirt off them... and wear shoes.

I wear an amulet that keeps people from seeing my genitals... and I also wear pants.

[anivair.livejournal.com]

Pretty much my point. Only mine was less dismissive. I'm not going to say that alternative medicine does nothing, but I think it's not learly as useful or well documented as standard medicine. I'd say that it's a bit more complicated than magic amulets and chats, though,.

[endotoxin.livejournal.com]

http://whatstheharm.net/

[graethorne.livejournal.com]

Woof... that's quite a site, there...

[singingnettle.livejournal.com]

*Sigh* That's very sad.

I wouldn't paint all homeopaths that way, though. Not all homeopaths and naturopaths refuse to use allopathic medicine when it's appropriate. In fact, I'd say that the vast majority of people with "alternative" medical specialties recognize the strengths, weaknesses, and limits of what they do. They don't last very long as reputable professionals if they don't.

[singingnettle.livejournal.com]

...then again, my experience with alternative medicine is in Washington State, where naturopaths are licensed and regulated and most come through Bastyr University, which weeds out nutbars very fast.

[anivair.livejournal.com]

really, it's not different than religion or anything else. use it right and it's a good thing. Fail and it's a bad thing.

[theweaselking.livejournal.com]

"homeopath" means, by definition, clueless antiscience idiot. Homeopathy is like astrology - trivially disproven *by it's own rules*. It's not even internally consistent.

[mcfnord.livejournal.com]

I differentiate between people who deny scientific fact, and people who embrace religious requirements. Abortion is an example of a safe procedure often objected to on religious grounds. Accepting blood products is another safe procedure often objected to on religious grounds. These things seem different than objecting to MMR on the grounds of mistaken science.

[sivi-volk.livejournal.com]

Gyaaargh!

Sorry, I frequent http://www.sciencebasedmedicine.org/. Evidence? Prior plausibility? I keep forgetting how clueless people are about "actual science" and keep thinking "oh, it's just another point of view."

"Homeopathy and Evidence-Based Medicine: Back to the Future Parts I-V"

http://www.sciencebasedmedicine.org/?p=11
http://www.sciencebasedmedicine.org/?p=21
http://www.sciencebasedmedicine.org/?p=25
http://www.sciencebasedmedicine.org/?p=35
http://www.sciencebasedmedicine.org/?p=42

Homeopathy was 'discovered' before we even had the germ theory of disease. Reading through the actual discipline and study of homeopathy only makes you realize that it's crazier than you may have thought.

Acupuncture at least has some degree of plausibility, even though studies consistently show it as being barely above placebo, and that may be due to publication bias.

As I said above, exercise, healthy diet, and evidence-support supplements are NOT alt-med, they are actual medicine. CAM supporters consistently imply these things aren't a part of actual medicine to get their foot in the door for reiki, tapping, etc.

Never has this icon felt more appropriate.

[sivi-volk.livejournal.com]

Sorry for the ranting.