The
stupidity of assuming we are alternative medicine
I was today
shocked to read a bunch of idiots have lobbied us to be part of AUYSH (for
people who don’t know AUYSH- it is the clubbing of all magical medicine from India
and one nonsense from Germany). This is what happens if people who are lobbying
and in the politics of associations are uneducated and have a poor
understanding of medicine.
There are
only 2 types of medicine-1. Modern medicine and 2. traditional medicine. Modern
medicine is an evolution of traditional medicine and it should be not called
allopathy or English medicine. What do I mean by evolution of traditional
medicine? Modern medicine developed as we find more science in our traditional
methods of treating. Classical example is treatment of malaria using chloroquine.
It is a common method of treating
malaria derived from traditional knowledge and it transformed into modern
medicine because it has been put through scientific rigor rather than just believing
it to be the treatment because someone in the 2 century or some sidhar wrote it
in 10 century.
Physiotherapy
is part of modern medicine. Why? Because we don’t believe in the five element
theory of disease as in acupuncture or Ayurveda, or some fantastic pseudo-science
–“like cures like” (homeopathy) or vertebral subulxation (magic from north America-
chiropractic) and follow modern
physiology. We do trials to confirm and deny our science (read Cochrane summaries). But you will not read those in traditional
medicine, were the founders and the bibles which are written in a different era
is still considered as the truth. Modern
medicine is dynamic; it changes with new findings and research.
So, pray
who are we. We are should be and are department of physical
medicine and rehabilitation. We are part
of a team of health provider including physicians, surgeons (as in acute
physical medicine- example, cardiorespiratory PT), with OT, clinical psychologist
and others as in case of Neuro-rehabilitation. I hope I don’t have to elaborate
on ortho-PT (where I believe we should be primary health care providers in case
of cold orthopedics and part of the team in traumatolgy). We should be striving
for these issues. We should learn to be primary source of knowledge in these
areas and work as part of the medical team. A classical example is dental. T they
are part of the modern medicine and at the same time have created a knowledge
base of dentistry which is unique to them (remember some of their principles will
be similar to ortho).
Sensible people should educate our presidents, prime ministers and other cabinet ministers of our association
I accept many of valid points , but I don't completely agree your view on AYUSH -because now they also becoming modern from their mystic approach ,for example now Siddha has become a course and in future they also come up with evidence based practice .So requeat not to degrade that , I personally believe if put in to right track...those courses / therapy will also become scientific.....other points are totally agreed sir.....
ReplyDeleteI am not sure how sidha can become scientific? some of there preparation may undergo RCTs to prove their effectiveness however, any point of time the physiology and pathology will always be wrong because it was written when we have not even invented paper.
ReplyDeleteThe other problem is- i am not sure wether the people who wrote these treatment had any idea about half of the diseases- why weill science devlopes, even in my 20 years i have changed most of my opinion on PT but that cannot and will not happen in sidha. I am also not sure why i should be insulting these treatment. It is not as though they are treating real patients with real problems!
Need to laugh with my ass for your comments on siddha. I apologize for my language but I do. Most of US universities and medical firms are having an eye on siddha research in India and are re testing them because of zero side effects. Guys like you write blogs with barely no knowledge and degrade your country's and indeed your credibility. For your Info Sidda is getting popular here, it surely replaces the medicinal component of allopathy in about 50-100 years. The surgical component may exist. The knowledge shared before the paper was invented in India are treasure which you won't appreciate. There are many in US and UK who opt spicy Indian food (Kurries/ spicy stew/ soups) when they have common cold and they have better relief, I very well know sidda preparations are these spices used in Indian Kitchens. Please do not overrate Cochrane summaries on PT approach, cochrane summaries are good for measured dosages in medicine (e.g. mg/kg of body weight /day). It does not hold good for PT where we need to appreciate individual differences in dosages and there are many variables that are not appreciatable with PT (therapist) scope of practice. It is a tough science which you won't get, mere reading of books and being greedy of knowing every thing won't help. I am sure it won't get in your brain, you are tough nut to crack!!
ReplyDeleteI am not sure how you know i dont have knowledge on sidha? Of course as i have wrote some of its preperation have some value, but its premise of science is outdated. to think it does not have side effects makes me laugh and am sure you have very little understanding of sidha. liver failure, kidney failure to simple teeth falling of is common.
ReplyDeleteI am not over estimating reviews, but am saying RCTs are the only way (there by reviews) are the only way to progress science.
oooh it helps cold the biggest killer disease in India. learned people like you should shut up and stop teaching me about spice and sidha medicine.