what saved the man? his belief in what the doctors had said! not medicine, not drugs, but magical words from a powerful doctor. -- but remember, our medicine is scientific, and its the other guys who are witch doctors!
[/rant]
Our medicine is scientific, and generally more advanced, but that in no way means that others are primitive or should be denigrated out of hand. Many of these traditional medicines have been discovered by observation and analysis, which are the basis of "our" science. (If I remember correctly, aspirin (ASA) is found in a plant.)
Unfortunately, sometimes proponents of natural products make outrageous claims that cannot be verified and complain when people (typically governments or bodies like the College of Physicians and Surgeons) have the temerity to ask if there are studies to back up their claims. I was in a health food store looking at a particular supplement. I asked the clerk if there were any side-effects. "Oh no! It's all natural" was the response. My rejoinder, "Rattlesnake venom is also all natural" drew a blank stare.
By the same token, pharmaceutical companies are also guilty of exageration at times.
Last year my father almost died following heart surgery. My mother read to him every day; there was always one of us with him, trying to encourage him and keep that last ember from going out. I know our faith had a positive effect and it buoyed him, but without dialysis, a pig's heart valve, and powerful antibiotics all of the faith in the world would not have saved him.
