tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8211371452778645597.post8378599317218019836..comments2023-07-15T04:39:59.759-07:00Comments on Genomics, Medicine, and Pseudoscience: Save NIH $$$: eliminate “alternative” medicineSteven Salzberghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16549957293973146438noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8211371452778645597.post-51681691771391258802010-06-14T22:03:12.051-07:002010-06-14T22:03:12.051-07:00Steven:
When there is a study with no statistical...Steven:<br /><br />When there is a study with no statistical significance performed with Ebola, you publicize the study with the title: <br /><br />A breakthrough cure for Ebola.<br /><br />Now here's my question: if an alternative medical treatment were conducted and yielded results of effectiveness with NO statistical significance, would you say the following:<br /><br />Alternative Medicine Yields Breakthrough Cure.<br /><br />Isn't this a double standard?<br /><br />By the way, the general idea of homeopathy is not without support in conventional medicine.<br /><br />Vaccines use small doses of the infectious agent in order to prevent the full blown disease from occurring.<br /><br />I believe the same idea is used in some treatment of hyperactivity (ie the treatment of hyperactivity with a dose of a stimulant drug that would cause unnatural stimulation in a normal person).Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8211371452778645597.post-66073912536900387762010-06-14T11:58:08.692-07:002010-06-14T11:58:08.692-07:00Tim: you are right to be concerned about oversight...Tim: you are right to be concerned about oversight, but NIH does not do oversight of drugs. That is the FDA's mandate. But unfortunately, supplements such as St. John's wort are treated differently from drugs, and are almost completely unregulated, even by the FDA, thanks to a federal law (DSHEA) that was passed years ago and that is fiercely protected by the supplements industry.Steven Salzberghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16549957293973146438noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8211371452778645597.post-44803787355464262072010-06-14T11:49:58.869-07:002010-06-14T11:49:58.869-07:00I wory that if you get rid of it all together ther...I wory that if you get rid of it all together there will be less oversight over alternative medicine. The case I'm familiar with is St. Johns Wort(which is a proven herbal treatment for depression). St. Johns Wort is a powerful drug, yet it is sold over the counter. It has the same dangers as a normal antidepressant(people with bipolar dissorder, psychosis, or sleep disturbances may become manic, anxious, suicidal or psychotic well taking the drug). AKA, it's EXTREMELY dangerous. There needs to be research and oversight given to these alternative substances because they are potentially just as harmfull as their perscription counterparts.Timhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04693463383819587298noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8211371452778645597.post-36703061335803215802010-06-14T06:16:30.263-07:002010-06-14T06:16:30.263-07:00I'm wondering if Varmus is going to quietly ch...I'm wondering if Varmus is going to quietly champion -- if one can quietly champion something -- getting rid of NCCAM and OCCAM now that he's back working for the gov't. <br /><br />Also, how come I never noticed that the cancer alt med agency is called OCCAM? Ha!Caddy Wumpushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02467035349362347449noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8211371452778645597.post-41589564151101657622010-06-13T20:46:00.099-07:002010-06-13T20:46:00.099-07:00I think part of the problem is that the public doe...I think part of the problem is that the public doesn't get that science isn't just empirical studies of phenomena. Empirical results are of course important, but a solid theoretical basis is as well. If the supposed results can only be explained by what amounts to magic (as is the case for homeopathy and Reiki), this is an excellent reason to study something more plausible instead.Jonathan Badgerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04921990886076027719noreply@blogger.com