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January 7, 2009
Trick or Treatment
Just finished Trick or Treatment : The Undeniable Facts about Alternative Medicine - a scathing indictment of alternative medical practice.
I first heard about the book on NPR, before this story broke, and it finally arrived at the library just after the New Year.
The book progresses from a stance of healthy skepticism to, as the evidence mounts, the point here it's hard not to describe it as curmudgeonly, frustrated, and railing. And I mean that in the best way possible.
From the introduction, which begins with a quote from Hippocrates
There are, in fact, two things, science and opinion; the former begets knowledge, the latter ignorance.
through the first chapter ("How Do You Determine the Truth") the authors make clear their purpose - to apply science to alternative medicine, with an open mind, and healthy scepticism.
After establishing the notion of a double-blind randomized trial, they the authors (with a medical doctorate and two PhDs between them) examine the major "alternative medical practices" (acupuncture, homeopathy, chiropractic, and herbal medicine.
The results aren't quite what I expected, but were delivered without apology or pretense.
The final chapter, "Does the Truth Matter" looks at why alternative medicines that are no more beneficial than the placebo effect are, in the authors opinion, damaging, and calls out a list of their "top ten culprits in the promotion of unproven and disproven medicine."
The entire book is poignant, well written, well researched, attributed, and spot on. A must read.
And it made me proud that while other children were idolizing sports figures and other manner of pop celebrity, the closest I can count as heroes from my childhood are the likes of Carl Sagan (millions and billions), Linus Pauling (never mind the Orthomolecular medicine bit), and James Burke. Oh, and Douglas Adams and Tom Lehrer, but for totally different reasons.
... at the heart of science is an essential balance between two seemingly contradictory attitudes -- an openness to new ideas, no matter how bizarre or counterintuitive, and the most ruthlessly skeptical scrutiny of all ideas, old and new. This is how deep truths are winnowed from deep nonsense.Carl Sagan
Posted by dberger at January 7, 2009 9:07 PM