Panacea

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A '''panacea''' is something claimed to be able to cure many diseases. The longer the list of diseases claimed to be treatable, the higher the chance that the "cure" is [[woo]]. [[Deceit|Unsubstantiated]] [[Bullshit|miracle]] claims are an essential part of [[alternative medicine]] and are probably responsible for a great deal of its popularity. Virtually every medicinal herb is supposed to be a cure for [[cancer]] and what-have-you.
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A '''panacea''' is something claimed to be able to cure many diseases. The longer the list of diseases claimed to be treatable, the higher the chance that the "cure" is [[woo]]. [[Deceit|Unsubstantiated]] [[Bullshit|miracle]] claims are an essential part of [[alternative medicine]] and are probably responsible for most of its popularity. Virtually every medicinal herb is supposed to be a cure for [[cancer]] and what-have-you.
  
 
The reason that so many things are erronously considered panaceas is probably that the [[placebo effect]] occurs regardless of the specific treatment or disease. Some of the oldest known panaceas include [[bloodletting]] and [[trepanation]], which were used, at first, to expel evil spirits from the body, and later to balance the [[Heroic medicine|humors]].<ref name=pbs>[http://www.pbs.org/wnet/redgold/basics/bloodlettinghistory.html ''Bloodletting Over the Centuries''], Gilbert R. Seigworth, M.D.</ref> [[Tobacco]], likewise, was thought to be a cure for over <s>9000</s> 65 diseases, including cancer.<ref name=stewart>[http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1033728/ ''A history of the medicinal use of tobacco 1492-1860''], Grace G. Stewart, Med Hist. 1967 July; 11(3): 228–268. PMCID: PMC1033728.</ref>
 
The reason that so many things are erronously considered panaceas is probably that the [[placebo effect]] occurs regardless of the specific treatment or disease. Some of the oldest known panaceas include [[bloodletting]] and [[trepanation]], which were used, at first, to expel evil spirits from the body, and later to balance the [[Heroic medicine|humors]].<ref name=pbs>[http://www.pbs.org/wnet/redgold/basics/bloodlettinghistory.html ''Bloodletting Over the Centuries''], Gilbert R. Seigworth, M.D.</ref> [[Tobacco]], likewise, was thought to be a cure for over <s>9000</s> 65 diseases, including cancer.<ref name=stewart>[http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1033728/ ''A history of the medicinal use of tobacco 1492-1860''], Grace G. Stewart, Med Hist. 1967 July; 11(3): 228–268. PMCID: PMC1033728.</ref>

Revision as of 12:26, 23 September 2013

Against allopathy

Alternative medicine

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Alternative articles

A panacea is something claimed to be able to cure many diseases. The longer the list of diseases claimed to be treatable, the higher the chance that the "cure" is woo. Unsubstantiated miracle claims are an essential part of alternative medicine and are probably responsible for most of its popularity. Virtually every medicinal herb is supposed to be a cure for cancer and what-have-you.

The reason that so many things are erronously considered panaceas is probably that the placebo effect occurs regardless of the specific treatment or disease. Some of the oldest known panaceas include bloodletting and trepanation, which were used, at first, to expel evil spirits from the body, and later to balance the humors.[1] Tobacco, likewise, was thought to be a cure for over 9000 65 diseases, including cancer.[2]

The word panacea can also refer to non-medical courses of action or ideologies which can presumably fix everything.

Panaceas

Footnotes

  1. Bloodletting Over the Centuries, Gilbert R. Seigworth, M.D.
  2. A history of the medicinal use of tobacco 1492-1860, Grace G. Stewart, Med Hist. 1967 July; 11(3): 228–268. PMCID: PMC1033728.
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