[lbo-talk] putting quackery to the test

[ravi]

At around 7/8/06 8:59 am, Doug Henwood wrote:
> Wall Street Journal - August 7, 2006
> 
> No 'Alternative'
> By JEROME GROOPMAN
> 
> Some 60 million Americans use supplements, megavitamins, herbs and other
> so-called "alternative" treatments. Their out-of-pocket costs approach
> $40 billion a year. Their therapies are promoted by a vast number of
> self-help books, Web sites and talk shows that feature thrilling
> testimonials of benefits for maladies that mainstream medicine cannot
> remedy. But we are now learning what happens when the testimonials are
> subjected to objective testing. In February, the results of a large
> clinical trial of the supplements glucosamine and chondroitin sulfate
> for osteoarthritis were released. These data came on the heels of a
> rigorous assessment of the herb saw palmetto for symptoms of an enlarged
> prostate gland. Both studies failed to show clinical efficacy. All this
> should mark a sea change in how the public views such treatments.
> 

Why? The real comparison should be to the efficacy of "mainstream"
medicine (henceforth referred to as professional-racket-medicine),
especially as a ratio of public and individual dollars spent. Setting
aside the silly anecdotes (man I would love to take the guy who
introduced this style of writing -- Jane Ficklebottom of Wasatch knows
the other side. Her family of five, including newborn Jason, have led
the archetypal exurban life for four years.... yadda, yadda.... -- to a
parking lot), there is (in the above article) a bit of attention (in the
manner of Fox News "Fair and Balanced") to the excesses and accuracy of
professional-racket-medicine medicine. Nor is the promiscuous nature of
professional-racket-medicine made obvious, as remedies stolen from
"alternative" medicine are quickly incorporated into professional-racket
medicine, and even claimed as one of its successes.

	--ravi

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