@algancao – on TCM as Pseudoscience

@chigurh is TCM pseudoscience? Only when we’re trying to explain it in the West. Many feel the need to try and speak in biomedical terms.

TCM and pseudoscience: I think that our expectations of anything called “medicine” must be “scientific”. That’s a modern prejudice.

TCM (herbalism) is more like cooking than pharmacology. Different chefs include variant ingredients for the same dish, such as pasta sauce.

Last modified: January 21, 2010 · al · No Comments
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@algancao – On Placebo

Problem with acupuncture is that everything works, or nothing works. We all repeat whatever works, but it is a personal choice.

Placebo is written off by researchers. I think that’s a big mistake. It holds the promise to unlocking vistas of insight into our mind/body.

I notice that an early CM advocate and author Ted Kaptchuk is focusing on researching the placebo response these days. Not at all surprised.

Problem with looking for biomedical mechanisms for acupuncture is everywhere we look, there it is. Hormones, neurotransmitters, nerves, etc.

Last modified: September 9, 2009 · al · No Comments
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