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Is there a science at all underpinning such claims? Or do such
claims survive solely on the desperation of those who are ill
and are mere indicators of hope that if not that then this
magical remedy that would restore them back to health? What can
such claims contribute to medical science and is there any way
to put them to good use? This issue is of utmost importance
since along with the development of modern medicine there has
also been an upsurge in quackery that does not always stand
sustained tests. Many kings and noblemen, among them
Charles II of England and George Washington of the USA, have
died consequent to the bleeding caused by their doctors. The use
of contaminated honey and sugar has resulted in gangrene in many
cases. Licking wounds is not always safe since the saliva might
contain unknown pathogens. Snakes, it turns out, inject a
killing dose of venom only in about one-third of bite cases.
Infantile hydrocele, it is known, clears up on its own after a
while even without the intervention of the Babaji. And
yet, many times we prefer alternate therapy. Sometimes it works
and sometimes it does not.
Ironically, while
people are ever eager to sue their doctor for not providing
adequate cure, they are just as willing to be guinea pigs for
herbal and other alternate untested medicines and seldom insist
upon the same degree of care for their cure. As a result, some
do-gooders have even opened up extensively visited Websites to
warn the gullible about fraudulent panaceas (see
www.quackwatch.com).
Actually
charlatans as well as the best of scientists fill the history of
science with claims and counter-claims. For a layperson, to
determine the veracity of the one or the other becomes very
difficult. When the science is as inexact as medicine dealing
routinely with matters of suffering often gravitating close to
the line dividing life and death, there is a great desire to
suspend reason altogether in the hope of a miracle cure for a
life-threatening or a lingering illness. To make things more
complicated, many times the alternative to standard medical
practise does seem to work and much of standard medical practise
has actually been derived from folk remedies that have existed
for many centuries. So what is going on?
The Root-Bernstein
couple bring to bear the combined skills of a doctor and a
historian to delve into the history of medicine to inform us on
these issues. He has had a MacArthur Fellowship to write a book
on medicine and she has won prizes for her books on history.
Between them they have been able to martial a number of details
from the past, relate them to contemporary, more scientific
understanding and provide a most readable book that would
interest both doctors and laypersons.
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A
pure honey and sugar solution is said to cure burns and ulcers much
faster than any other known medication and without side effects.
Some kinds of clay are eaten as nutritional supplements, while
ingesting others can do wonders to rid the body of a number of
toxins. Licking wounds is said to cure them faster. Medicinal baths
have had a long history of curing dropsy cases, while bleeding
provides some relief to those suffering from persistent headaches.
Drinking one’s own urine is supposed to enhance one’s immunity.
Washing the face with urine is said to soften the skin and rid it of
wrinkles. Where clean water is not available, urine is said to be a
good substitute for cleaning wounds. Each instance of snakebite is
accompanied with stories of snake charmers who have saved lives from
snakebites without the use of antivenin. Many of us know of the Baba
who cured infantile hydrocele by merely piercing an ear lobe.
