General Discussion
In reply to the discussion: Giving a lecture on old-timey quack medicines tomorrow [View all]Confusious
(8,317 posts)Lots of things are overprescribed, antibiotics would be on the top of my list.
50% seems pretty good for something like the brain which we have only begun to understand.
As for Chinese medicine, it is worthless. The gains are outweighed by losses.
http://www.worldwildlife.org/what/globalmarkets/wildlifetrade/traditionalchinesemedicine.html
http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/gallery/2012/jul/25/manta-ray-extinction-chinese-medicine
http://advocacy.britannica.com/blog/advocacy/2008/09/traditional-chinese-medicine-and-endangered-animals-2/
http://www.ourfutureplanet.org/news/336-chinese-medicine-activists-argue-traditional-medicines-threaten-mass-suffering-and-extinction-
http://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/Ten-Threatened-and-Endangered-Species-Used-in-Traditional-Medicine.html
I got about 11 animals, and about 3 plant species in these.
http://www.nature.com/news/screen-uncovers-hidden-ingredients-of-chinese-medicine-1.10430
plus hidden ingredients, which can cause, among other things, kidney and liver damage and bladder cancer.