Recently there was news coverage of the story of an American soldier, Brendan Marracco, who has survived after losing all four limbs in the Iraq war and had recently been given a double-arm transplant. He had also received bone marrow from the deceased donor of his arms, which should help the body accept the new limbs with minimal medication - truly amazing! Operations of this type are evidence of how medical science has progressed over the past century. The human body is so complex that nobody could truthfully claim to understand it fully, yet through intensive scientific research, trial and error, advances continue to be made in the cure of diseases, repair of injuries and replacement of body parts.
Although the surgery that was performed on Brendan Marracco was extremely skilful, it was based on techniques and medical care that were all well-researched and proven, with documented evidence to support it. Yes it could have gone wrong but I am sure the medical team would have justifiably assumed a high probability of success. This 'orthodox' approach to surgery and medicine contrasts to what is known as 'Complementary and Alternative Medicine', CAM, which includes homeopathy, acupuncture as well as the administering of all manner of pills and potions, which are not supported by evidence-based research. Now you might ask, does it matter? If it works don't knock it? But the real question is, how do we know it works?
I am slightly embarrassed to admit that I have been taken in by the alternative medicine brigade. I went through a period when I suffered from mouth ulcers and I decided to try a homeopathic cure. I can't remember the name of the active ingredient, but did it work? Well in time the ulcers did disappear but ulcers do go eventually - I don't know anyone who has had them for life! Around the same period of time, my dog had a tooth abscess. He hated the vet so I tried a homeopathic remedy, which didn't work! I took him to the vet and despite the trauma for the dog (and me!) a tooth was removed and subsequent 'orthodox' medication led the dog back to good health. Another CAM experience for me was when my ears became partially blocked with wax and a friend recommended a local 'specialist' who was proficient in the use of Ear Candles. I went to her surgery and underwent treatment that consisted in placing special candles in each ear (not at the same time!), which when lit I was told would suck the impurities out of ear. Sure enough, at the end of the 'operation' each candle was opened up and I was shown a familiar waxy orange substance, which must surely be earwax. Did I feel better? Well strangely enough for a while I thought there was an improvement but not for long. Eventually I went to an 'orthodox' doctor who syringed my ears and I left his surgery with perfect hearing - job done!
After I had overcome the embarrassment of those personal experiences, I did my own research on the methods employed, firstly homeopathy. What I couldn't understand was why the strength of homeopathic remedies is apparently inversely proportional to the amount of 'active' ingredient contained in the pill, so the weaker the dose, the more effective the cure! But what's more, a concentration of, for example, 30C, is a dilution of one part per million million million million million million million million million million!!!! This means there will be no molecules of the active ingredient left in the dose you get. So if an active ingredient is a cure for a disease, but it is administered in a pill that doesn't contain it, how can it possibly do the job?! I rest my case!
In the case of the Ear Candles, I discovered two important features of these 'wonder cures'. Firstly, if you light the candle and hold it over some dust, you will see little evidence of any suction. Secondly, if after it has burnt down, you cut it open, you will find a waxy orange substance, despite the fact it hasn't been in anyone's ear! Again, I rest my case!
So why do these CAM procedures, pills and potions work with some people? Well, I think most 'orthodox' practitioners recognise the 'placebo effect', this is the phenomenon of a patient's perceived medical improvement following treatment with an inert substance, such as a sugar pill. Tests on placebos have yielded interesting results. Apparently blue sugar pills are more effective than white ones and an injection of salt water gives even better results! So maybe CAM procedures and pills are merely different forms of placebos. Whatever, I will conclude with a quotation from the French philosopher, Voltaire - "The art of medicine consists in amusing the patient while nature cures the disease".
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