This is the last entry you can comment on for mid October to mid-November.
What do you think about alternative medicine? Do people have a tendency to want to take drugs that they feel are natural or traditional, ignoring the fact that these can also be harmful? Could this be seen in responses to the COVID epidemic? Does it bother you that X (ex-twitter) is blocking the tweets of people like Dr. Philips?
The main problem with alternative medicine I noticed in this article is that people tend to self medicate since the herbs and such seem harmless. Not only can they endanger themselves but also their families or friends. Even though one may feel that they have done enough research to use the medication on their own they may have just been misled by misinformation on the internet. While I do not completely disagree with the usage of homeopathics I still think that patients should consult their doctor. Furthermore it should not be just any type of a “doctor” who specializes in alternative medicine without a proper degree. But rather a qualified doctor who possesses the necessary knowledge about the potential side effects. Additionally the most helpful method would be to ask multiple doctors based on their field of expertise and qualifications. While doing extensive research is important, the essential part of it is for people to realize which sources are credible and which are not.
ReplyDeleteThe article surprised me most by the fact that a certified doctor spreading awareness about potentially harmful medicine has been banned by X. In my opinion his criticism towards alternative drugs seems valid and may play an important role for people researching this type of medicine. He even mentions investing in his own research on the Himalaya’s products and their results. I do not think that X should forbid doctors and other professionals from informing people about the risks of substances that are very accessible while also being harmful. Banning such a person can make their valid arguments look like false claims and discredit similar information from other credible sources. Such an action by a big media like X can affect masses of people and make them question scientists. So not only is a voice of the scientific community silenced and punished there are also more global consequences. That is why big corporations should not always be listened to but rather criticized when they take the wrong precautions towards a user.
- Maria
Hi, Majka, I agree with you that the perception of herbs as being harmless can be dangerous when it comes to self-medication. When people lose the respect for natural medications, they tend to believe in various misinformation about supernatural healing effects without checking the medicine’s risk. Another thing is that various sources will often prescribe different cures for the same symptoms. And also, what works for one person might not work for another.
DeleteHowever, I do not agree with you when it comes to the banning. I think that fault should be placed on the side of the court which ordered the suspension and subsequent banning rather than on the side of the social media. I am not sure to what extent social media are obliged to obey foreign court decisions. On the other hand, I agree with you that independent doctors who uncover the dark side of natural and alternative remedies should not be silenced. When a claim regarding the risks is publicized, it should be scientifically proven and the methods should be transparent so that anyone can check the procedures. If a difference of opinions occurs such as this one, I think that third-party research should be conducted before arriving at any ruling.
- Oliver