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Some old ways do work and it is worth asking whether they work. Aspirin was infamously drawn from Willow bark as a treatment. Artemisinin which treats chloroqui
by darth_avocado 1y ago
Some old ways do work and it is worth asking whether they work. Aspirin was infamously drawn from Willow bark as a treatment. Artemisinin which treats chloroquine resistant malaria was derived from wormwood after looking for inspiration in ancient Chinese medicine. There are probably more examples out there where ancient medicine has informed modern medicine.
- __alexs 1y agoI am not arguing that plants do not contain interesting chemicals. I am arguing that they are typically used in a ways that are ineffective and the users don't care because they fulfilled their main priority, taking part in a ritual.
- 4gotunameagain 1y agoThe ritual is the entire evolutionary societal mechanism that allowed us to use plants as medicine, or safely prepare toxic foodstuff. This is the very nature of evolution; not all rituals will make sense. The ones that do, prevail.
- __alexs 1y agoScience is itself a form of ritual for sure. I didn't say we shouldn't have rituals and I support your right to chew on a tree if that's what you want to do.