> When I asked Weil about proof that these interventions work, based on randomized clinical trials, he told me that he believes such studies are not necessary when an intervention is unlikely to cause harm. “I grade evidence on a sliding scale,” he said.
I think this is a misrepresentation, or at least oversimplification of Weil's views.
Randomized clinical trials are expensive, and very often not available. If turmeric/meditation/fiber supplements (for example) are potentially effective but it's impossible to get funding for clinical trials, then it is quite reasonable to slide down to a lower standard of evidence. You're not replacing the clinical trial evidence, you're doing the best you can in it's absence, and either supplementing other medicine or trying to avoid expensive and potentially side effect laden treatments entirely.
As a personal example, I suffer from migraines, as do many people in my family. Sumatriptan works but I feel groggy for a day afterwards. If I'd listened to doctors I would have been placed on beta blockers or other daily medication years ago. Instead, I read a wide range of stuff, both western medicine and alternative. A lot of it was certainly bullshit. But a lot wasn't, too. I started listening to my body, getting more sleep, exercising more, and paying careful attention to what triggers migraines (a lot of it is food related, also alcohol, stress, stormy weather, too much caffeine, chocolate, old cheese). Now I very rarely get migraines, and I also live a healthier lifestyle.
I'm not in any way against medical treatment. If I hadn't been able to reduce migraines this way I would have gone back to the doctor. But it was only by ignoring their advice and doing my own research that I reached this healthy and non-medicated state.
> In decades past, alternative therapies may not have seemed so outlandish compared with conventional therapies, which often had significant side effects and limited efficacy. Now, though, doctors like me can prescribe treatments that turn many debilitating diseases into manageable conditions
This is definitely true! But conveniently leaves out all the other debilitating diseases for which modern medicine still doesn't have a good understanding or treatment that will reliably work (migraines, Alzheimers, chronic pain etc.), or work without bad side effects. It's great that this list is getting smaller, but it's honestly condescending to write an entire article condemning alternative treatments and lauding western medicine without addressing this in any way.
Some people do turn to alternative treatments because they've been taken in by charlatan TikTokers, or have an irrational mistrust of doctors. But many people do so because western medicine doesn't have all the answers yet, and as long as clinical trials get funded based on what will make the most money for pharmaceutical companies, never will either.
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