Doug asks:
> I'd like to see rigorous trials of alternative therapies, but as far as I know, there have been very few. Am I wrong? And if I'm not wrong, why have there been so few trials?
There have been very few trials.
1) It is often difficult to ensure that all the herbal/alternative remedies are consistent in their make-up.
2) You cannot patent many of these therapies. I remember from my ACT UP days that we finally found a company that would test intravenous vitamin c treatment for AIDS since they could patent the home delivery system.
3) There was a thought of having herbal remedies regulated by the FDA, it was not a popular idea since people beleived it would ruin the market, drive up prices and drive people out of business. It still is an open question for many people: do we want to regulate natural/holistic products.
Doug also asks:
> If there really were an untapped trove of "cures" in the alternative armamentarium, wouldn't the drug industry be all over them, trying to standardize, patent, and overcharge?
Patent is the problem. You cannot patent something found in nature. That is why vitamins were so pooh-poohed for so long. How can you take a huge mark up on something somebody else can also sell?
Brian Dauth Queer Buddhist Resister