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]]. 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. | 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 [[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. | ||
| − | + | Panaceas are so widespread in [[anecdote]]-based "medicine" mainly because of two factors: 1) the [[placebo effect]], which occurs regardless of the specific treatment or disease, and 2) the fact that many illnesses usually [[Regression to the mean|resolve without treatment]], and that even diseases that [[Improbable things happen|don't usually clear up on their own]] can sometimes, very suddenly, undergo [[spontaneous improvement]]. When one of these periods of natural recovery occurs concurrently with the use of a therapy, the coincidence will result in the improvement being credited, erroneously, to the treatment. Another factor is [[misdiagnosis]], which may lead to a person treating a disease they don't have. These are the reasons why, as [[Steven Novella]] notes, "If you are basing your claims on anecdotal experience, then any treatment will seem to work for anything and everything."<ref>[http://www.sciencebasedmedicine.org/the-cam-worldview/ ''The CAM Worldview''], [[Science-Based Medicine]], October 23, 2013.</ref> | |
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 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> | 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 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 18:58, 4 November 2013
| Against allopathy |
| 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.
Panaceas are so widespread in anecdote-based "medicine" mainly because of two factors: 1) the placebo effect, which occurs regardless of the specific treatment or disease, and 2) the fact that many illnesses usually resolve without treatment, and that even diseases that don't usually clear up on their own can sometimes, very suddenly, undergo spontaneous improvement. When one of these periods of natural recovery occurs concurrently with the use of a therapy, the coincidence will result in the improvement being credited, erroneously, to the treatment. Another factor is misdiagnosis, which may lead to a person treating a disease they don't have. These are the reasons why, as Steven Novella notes, "If you are basing your claims on anecdotal experience, then any treatment will seem to work for anything and everything."[1]
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.[2] Tobacco, likewise, was thought to be a cure for over 65 diseases, including cancer.[3]
The word panacea can also refer to non-medical courses of action or ideologies which can presumably fix everything.
Panaceas
- Most herbs
- Patent medicines
- Tobacco
- Bloodletting/Leeching
- Trepanation
- Brick therapy
- Chiropractic
- Birthwort (carcinogenic and can cause kidney failure)
- Rhino horn (endangered species)
- Asian ginseng
- Vitamins (chiefly C)
- Detoxing
- Acupuncture
- Faith healing, such as prayer and Christian Science
- Energy healing, such as Reiki and therapeutic touch
Footnotes
- ↑ The CAM Worldview, Science-Based Medicine, October 23, 2013.
- ↑ Bloodletting Over the Centuries, Gilbert R. Seigworth, M.D.
- ↑ 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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