Skepticism doesn't just question religion

I found this on Skeptchick. This is second post about alternative medicine I have seen on their blog in the last couple of days. The topic of "Alternative Medicine" is one of my biggest pet peeves next to religion. I question why we are so willing to dump concentrates and compounds into our body that have not been evaluated by the FDA.

So I am ready for the responses which indict the FDA, the Drug Companies, the Capitalists, Communists, and Fascists who are trying to keep us sick by feeding us scientifically evaluated medicine which have gone through peer reviewed studies. This idea that a grand conspiracy has been has been invented to keep us sick and dependant on the medicine is ridiculous. Doctors who are acting in good faith do not put their patients at risk. The day of the snake oil salesman were gone almost 100 years ago. However with our regression back toward religion we are seeing a rebirth of miracle cures.

Doctors who abandon scientifically based medicine like Deepak Chopra are radical quacks who found away to exploit our willingness to believe everything. PZ Myers posted on his blog this story: Cancer is a Disease. The story outlines the suffering that can be imposed on someone who is already suffering from a potentially fatal disease. The prescription offered is criminal. Much like religion's premise that if you do not feel the spirit you should pray more, fast more, give more money, and if that doesn't work...its you! Deepak offers the prescription that positive thinking and meditation will rid you of your disease and if that fails...its because you were not positive enough early enough.

Equally criminal is the marketing of products that have miracle properties. The Acai Berry, Tahitian Noni Juice, oxygen drops, homeopathic remedies, many vitamins and the nearly credible Airborne "created by school teachers" and packaged to look like real cold medicine. Because they do not claim to be traditional medicine they do not have to go through the rigorous FDA evaluation process. US senators like Orin Hatch have worked overtime to keep them from being regulated. In most cases we find they do not do what they claim and in many other we find they are harmful. In most cases the only benefit the consumer gets from the ingestion of theses products in anecdotal.

In another article Elyse of Skepchick answers an offer by a Doctor peddling his new alt. migraine remedy. I love her her response and think it is well worth your time to read and this one which really got me started on the topic at the first of the year.

7. Good for You or Healthy As opposed to what? Says who?

I think that is the question. Whether we explore the claims of religion or alternative medicine we should be asking...Who says and with what proof. A feeling is nice but at the end of the day it is anecdotal. In the case of alternative medicine "if alternative medicine has been proved to work then its medicine."

Talk among yourselves....