"Traditional" vs "Modern" medicine

[Rickster]

Just to balance this statement a little bit and not to "argue" the opposite agenda,  the hole in this theory is the belief that if it is "natural", grown in "clean" dirt, found on a tree or bush, etc. it must be good for you which is not true either.

The "trick" is (for lack of better ones I'll use another fad term here)  a holistic, balanced approach recognizing both the strength and weaknesses of each system.

Dit da Jao is a prime example. I would use it for issues like bruising, muscle aches etc. I would not use the formulas for iron palm and shirt etc. as I don't trust the possible long term affects even if all the ingredients are "natural".

NightOwl

Nice points indeed. It isnt that I dont believe that natural remedies will or will not work. I personally have one particular cohort, who drives a great distance and through the heaviest of traffic, just to go to a whole foods, organic store. He says this is better and tastes better. Some cohorts and I, bought food from his organic store and a regular grocer. We had the "natural" cohort" taste foods from both with a taste test. To be fair, we did this test over a few days. We found that the "natural" cohort, really could not taste the difference as he claimed and it was a matter of what he preferred from his mental preferences. On some foods, he actually preferred the foods from the reg grocer items verses his coveted whole organic food store. Also, to add, as this "natural" cohort was in the belief that organic or being natural was more healthy for him, the extra driving he was doing for his preferences, was actualy emitting more carbons and toxins from the exhaust of his so-called compact hybrid car. From my view, the general mass population, (outside of Asia or poverish societies) go for modern medicine applications. For at least as much, convenience and ready to buy and use.

The people in my office seem to be ready to take whatever chemical substances they need in times of illnes, per anything from headaches to flu vaccines. Only a scant few are these "naturalists", which, they themselves will drop their "fad", in times of illness.

[Rickster]

Modern stuff has its cons as well as pros. However, in the conveyance of modern, society had to evolve to meet its needs. Simply, humans can no longer live in the dark ages, like it had for centuries.

[bogirl]

Modern technology is not always better.  For example, Monsanto developed a genetically altered soybean that is resistant to Roundup herbicide.  That means that the farmer can spray Roundup on his field to kill everything except the soybeans.  Sounds like a pretty good thing, right?

The problem is that now 90% of soybeans planted in the US are that particular strain of soybean, all genetically identical.  If a disease, blight or (technological warfare?) bacteria gets started that effects that particular strain, it could wipe out most of the soybean crop in the US. 

They've run into some of those issues in the past with some of the genetically altered corn.

Also if you watch the news, our food supply is more contaminated than it used to be.  E-coli and salmanella are even showing up in non-meat sources, like fresh veggies and peanut butter.  And because so much food is now processed in huge mega-factories, an infection leads to huge recalls all over the country. 

Just saying something is organic, isn't necessarily the answer, but getting back to growing food without added hormones and excess chemicals or other additives is healthier than some of the factory produced food is now.

Check this out. (warning it is 24 minutes long) <object width = "512" height = "328" > <param name = "movie" value = "http://www-tc.pbs.org/video/media/swf/PBSPlayer.swf" > </param><param name="flashvars" value="video=1143263943&player=viral" /> <param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param > <param name = "allowscriptaccess" value = "always" > </param><embed src="http://www-tc.pbs.org/video/media/swf/PBSPlayer.swf" flashvars="video=1143263943&player=viral" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="512" height="328" bgcolor="#000000"></embed></object><p style="font-size:11px; font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: #808080; margin-top: 5px; background: transparent; text-align: center; width: 512px;">Watch the <a style="text-decoration:none !important; font-weight:normal !important; height: 13px; color:#4eb2fe !important;" href="http://video.pbs.org/video/1143263943" target="_blank">full episode</a>. See more <a style="text-decoration:none !important; font-weight:normal !important; height: 13px; color:#4eb2fe !important;" href="http://www.pbs.org/now/index.html" target="_blank">NOW on PBS.</a></p>

[Rickster]

As I had said, my conclusions are based upon my culture and environment. If you desire to provide your own, I'll be glad to read your findings. if not, than I am entitled to mine.

[galahad25]

So your sample size for people who use home remedies is two?  I don't think that is really enough to come to the conclusion that people who use home remedies desire to do so for either nostalegia or are impoverished.

[Rickster]

Have you done a poll of people to verify this or are you using pre-determined assumptions?

Yes. the poll is upon my culture-environment exposure.

No one in my office of 200+ uses it.

Only two, out of my vast family from either side uses it, and these two are martial artists


That said, ginseng has hit the consumer in large recognition.

But, the Ginseng products out there for vast consumers (like bottled tea with Ginseng), I doubt retain the better qualities of Ginseng from the actual 6-7 year root/tea homemade.

And, goes right back to the consensus again, the vast population doesnt get the root to do this.

And speaking of Ginseng, it is said in some places, that the American species is better.

[galahad25]

These people who use home remedies desire to do so for either nostalegia or poverished (not avaiable)

Have you done a poll of people to verify this or are you using pre-determined assumptions?

[Rickster]

I hear you saying here essentially that these other "heathens" can eat and do what ever they want but we Americans are scientifically superior  (an arrogant fallacy by the way) therefore we shall make our medicines and foods in a laboratory. It's after all, our patriotic duty even if it kills us.

NightOwl

Look at it this way. Everything has to evolve.

These people who use home remedies desire to do so for either nostalegia or poverished (not avaiable)

This would be like, because something is done from a period long ago, anything coming new should faulter
These people, most who really do not have to make such remedies, do so out of nostalgia.

This would be like using lamps instead of electricity.

[Rickster]

Perhaps for some it could be considered a "fad" However there is some very strong science behind it.  Its a case of recognising the details of a manufacturing process.

In the "Natural" scheme of things humans are essentialy apex predators.  We are at the top of the food chain.  Chemicals such as DDT, Mercury, Organophoshates (other pesticides), and other goodies like Dioxin can end up concentrated in us causing all kinds of problems.  Just like its been documented that they have in the Condor, the Brown Pelican, the Paragren Falcon, and others. 

We don't always know the long term affects of these chemicals on the environment and ourselves. Prime examples are  DDT and Dioxin. Today's pesticide/defolient/ artificial growth hormone could very well be tomorrows carcinogen, teratagen, etc. 


The organic food movement is an out growth of the awareness of this reality of life as is the  growing popularity of "natural pathic"  remedies.

NightOwl

I agree while there exists chemical additives or processes in foods, I am speaking in terms of fads.

Long before these additives, people became ill because foods were not treated or processed properly.

Homogenized/Pasteurized are prome examples of forward process beyond normal organic natural consumption

[NightOwl]

The organic food movement is an out growth of the awareness of this reality of life as is the  growing popularity of "natural pathic"  remedies. 

Just to balance this statement a little bit and not to "argue" the opposite agenda,  the hole in this theory is the belief that if it is "natural", grown in "clean" dirt, found on a tree or bush, etc. it must be good for you which is not true either.

The "trick" is (for lack of better ones I'll use another fad term here)  a holistic, balanced approach recognizing both the strength and weaknesses of each system.

Dit da Jao is a prime example. I would use it for issues like bruising, muscle aches etc. I would not use the formulas for iron palm and shirt etc. as I don't trust the possible long term affects even if all the ingredients are "natural".


NightOwl

[NightOwl]

This is like saying that other countries eat beef in comparison to the US.
(US culture consumes the most beef in comparison)

I hear you saying here essentially that these other "heathens" can eat and do what ever they want but we Americans are scientifically superior  (an arrogant fallacy by the way) therefore we shall make our medicines and foods in a laboratory. It's after all, our patriotic duty even if it kills us.

NightOwl

[NightOwl]

Fear of chemicals. Could be. however, people are turining to "organic" stuff, although I think this is a fad as well

Perhaps for some it could be considered a "fad" However there is some very strong science behind it.  Its a case of recognising the details of a manufacturing process.

In the "Natural" scheme of things humans are essentialy apex predators.  We are at the top of the food chain.  Chemicals such as DDT, Mercury, Organophoshates (other pesticides), and other goodies like Dioxin can end up concentrated in us causing all kinds of problems.  Just like its been documented that they have in the Condor, the Brown Pelican, the Paragren Falcon, and others. 

We don't always know the long term affects of these chemicals on the environment and ourselves. Prime examples are  DDT and Dioxin. Today's pesticide/defolient/ artificial growth hormone could very well be tomorrows carcinogen, teratagen, etc. 


The organic food movement is an out growth of the awareness of this reality of life as is the  growing popularity of "natural pathic"  remedies.

NightOwl

[Rickster]

I do believe that these remedies are virtually the same as something like Icy Hot.  They use the same response of wounds to external chemical treatment.  As for benefit over chemicals, some people just don't like to use manufactured chemicals that will be absorbed in to the skin.  I'm not sure I call that a fad, but more of a fear of produced chemicals.

Fear of chemicals. Could be. however, people are turining to "organic" stuff, although I think this is a fad as well

[Rickster]

For the most part the peoples that use these remedies, it isnt so much about them being impovished as is why should they try something that is not of their culture  and unfamiliar to them? TO them Western Modern medicine is the "Fad" when remedies such as Dit Da Jiao has been the trusted norm for in thier respective culture for centuries??. China specifically, which by the way is quickly becoming if not already an Economic Giant for which our country is is indebted to.

Good point.

However, I wasnt speaking in terms of China or other Asiatic cultures, who still use these.

This is like saying that other countries eat beef in comparison to the US.
(US culture consumes the most beef in comparison)

[galahad25]

I do believe that these remedies are virtually the same as something like Icy Hot.  They use the same response of wounds to external chemical treatment.  As for benefit over chemicals, some people just don't like to use manufactured chemicals that will be absorbed in to the skin.  I'm not sure I call that a fad, but more of a fear of produced chemicals.