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There's a lot that doesn't make sense, but there is a lot that is useful too. I've noticed Chinese women taking ginger on their periods, for example, then looke
by lnanek2 13y ago
There's a lot that doesn't make sense, but there is a lot that is useful too. I've noticed Chinese women taking ginger on their periods, for example, then looked up ginger and surprise, it actually has been scientifically proven as a nausea killer. Similarly, foot pain relievers often have camphor or menthol in them. These are both proven anesthetics.
- shaggyfrog 13y ago"I'm sorry, 'herbal medicine', "Oh, herbal medicine's been around for thousands of years!" Indeed it has, and then we tested it all, and the stuff that worked became 'medicine'. And the rest of it is just a nice bowl of soup and some potpourri, so knock yourselves out." "Chinese medicine, oh, Chinese medicine! 'But there are billions of Chinese, Chinese medicine must be working.' Here's the skinny on Chinese medicine. A hundred years ago the average life expectancy in China was 30. The life expectancy in China at the moment is 73. And it's not feckin' tiger penis that turned it around for the Chinese. Didn't do much for the tiger, if you don't mind me pointing out." ― Dara Ó Briain
- cpncrunch 13y agoThe problem is that some of the stuff works but most of it is quackery. I just had a look, and there do seem to be some placebo-controlled trials showing ginger is effective at reducing vomiting in pregnancy. For acupuncture there are studies showing it is more effective than a placebo, although it doesn't seem to matter where you put the needles...basically it looks like poking yourself with needles reduces pain, but all the so-called acupuncture points are probably just quackery.