Comments for Skepticism on the Road: A Glimpse of Traditional Medicine in China at http://randi.org/site , comment 1 to 10 out of 10 comments http://randi.org/site Wed, 22 May 2013 14:24:22 +0100 FeedCreator 1.7.3 http://randi.org/site/index.php/swift-blog/1585-skepticism-on-the-road-a-glimpse-of-traditional-medicine-in-china.html#comment-24597 Facts are stubborn things. - Caller X Sat, 14 Jan 2012 22:33:14 +0100 http://randi.org/site/index.php/swift-blog/1585-skepticism-on-the-road-a-glimpse-of-traditional-medicine-in-china.html#comment-24595 I'm just glad that we could focus on the important parts of the article. - SciPhile Sat, 14 Jan 2012 03:36:44 +0100 http://randi.org/site/index.php/swift-blog/1585-skepticism-on-the-road-a-glimpse-of-traditional-medicine-in-china.html#comment-24593 [quote]written by SciPhile, January 12, 2012 Oh I apologize. I forgot that you spoke to the owner of the various books and examined them first hand.[/quote] No need to apologize. You're young yet. Take an herb and chill. [i] "Those books you showed are not written by hand, they are printed, and they are most certainly not 150 years old."[/i] I can read Chinese, and just like with English I can distinguish between something written by hand and something printed. It is so far from difficult that the concept of easy or difficult doesn't even apply. It's either printed or written by hand, just like in English, and the books you showed in the photographs are printed. [quote][The Dao Shi then was then kind enough to produce the source of much of his medical knowledge, 150-year-old books from the Ching Dynasty. The books were exquisite pieces of history that were completely hand-written.][/quote] "Those books you showed..." Perhaps there was one that was handwritten, that you didn't show. [quote]Every medical practitioner has referenced a medical textbook for help, I’m sure, but I doubt that the textbook was over a century old.[/quote] I apologize. I forgot that you spoke to the author of the book (or looked at the publisher's information near the beginning). - Caller X Fri, 13 Jan 2012 23:50:05 +0100 http://randi.org/site/index.php/swift-blog/1585-skepticism-on-the-road-a-glimpse-of-traditional-medicine-in-china.html#comment-24588 Yes, good piece of travel writing. I share the author's scepticism about the efficacy of dried scorpions to cure anything other than a chronic desire to get rid of some cash. However, it would be unfair (and, dare I say, 'unscientific'?) to characterise herbalism - Chinese or other - in general and acupuncture in particular as hokum. I remember as a kid that my family's GP always had a cigarette in his mouth and whiskey on his breath. The doctors waiting room was invariably filled with smoke and in those days the only time you'd benefit from a clean needle was if you were first in the inoculation line! So, yes, Chinese medical establishments are probably well behind the curve when it comes to hygiene, not all TCM treatments are 'appropriate', but to paint the whole as little more than voodoo is pretty insulting to the Chinese. It would also come as quite a shock to the many patients in Chinese general hospitals where herbalism sits comfortably alongside more familiar 'western' procedures and where acupuncture is routinely used in place of anaesthetic. We shouldn't let our - recently acquired - obsession with germ and smoke free environments (which has, strangely, coincided with the emergence of hospital-born 'superbugs') to blind us to the possible merits of another way of doing things. Good Health! - Surferboy Fri, 13 Jan 2012 00:13:52 +0100 http://randi.org/site/index.php/swift-blog/1585-skepticism-on-the-road-a-glimpse-of-traditional-medicine-in-china.html#comment-24586 Oh I apologize. I forgot that you spoke to the owner of the various books and examined them first hand. - SciPhile Thu, 12 Jan 2012 21:53:51 +0100 http://randi.org/site/index.php/swift-blog/1585-skepticism-on-the-road-a-glimpse-of-traditional-medicine-in-china.html#comment-24585 Those books you showed are not written by hand, they are printed, and they are most certainly not 150 years old. - Caller X Thu, 12 Jan 2012 21:05:34 +0100 http://randi.org/site/index.php/swift-blog/1585-skepticism-on-the-road-a-glimpse-of-traditional-medicine-in-china.html#comment-24577 That was fascinating. Thank you for giving me a glimpse into typical Chinese medical practice. The ancient books you photoed are beautiful. The skill and art put into every page is amazing. You mentioned more than once that the lack of sterility bothered you. Since the treatments were prescribed to be cooked and strained, I would think that the final fluid would be sterile. The fluid is to be swallowed. If it was to be injected, I would fear the lax cleanliness much more. The creatures appear to be well dried. If so, they could last a long time without rotting. The lack of cleanliness and sterility suggests to me that the treatments aren't specific or potent. Cutting and grinding one medicine in the dust of the previous treatment would mix medications. If that doesn't matter, I have to wonder why to keep so many different supplies. Why not just keep a stock of ground ox bone and give that to all patients? I share your concern about the unsterilized acupuncture needles. Side rant: the trade in tiger bones and rhino horns [b]must[/b] end! - Blizno Thu, 12 Jan 2012 08:53:50 +0100 http://randi.org/site/index.php/swift-blog/1585-skepticism-on-the-road-a-glimpse-of-traditional-medicine-in-china.html#comment-24576 Thanks for one of the best articles I've seen published on Swift. Also, as an aside, I've always assumed that the Chinese government actually supports this traditional medicine because the country simply could not support professional health care for their large population. By allowing such a widely citizen-run distributed system to fill that gap, it placates the population in its health care concerns. Can you imagine what would happen if the population suddenly demanded better? Also, as another a side, "Gliding lizards on sticks" is a great name for a band. - denver Thu, 12 Jan 2012 08:29:40 +0100 http://randi.org/site/index.php/swift-blog/1585-skepticism-on-the-road-a-glimpse-of-traditional-medicine-in-china.html#comment-24573 Somewhat supporting my point about governmental acceptance of TCM is the news that China is investing a billion dollars into the advancement of the TCM industry: http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/usa/china/2012-01/10/content_14418180.htm - SciPhile Thu, 12 Jan 2012 07:30:19 +0100 http://randi.org/site/index.php/swift-blog/1585-skepticism-on-the-road-a-glimpse-of-traditional-medicine-in-china.html#comment-24571 Very interesting and well written piece. I will recommend this article to many others. - fishbait Thu, 12 Jan 2012 06:23:33 +0100