this post was submitted on 29 Jul 2024
25 points (83.8% liked)

Unpopular Opinion

6216 readers
2 users here now

Welcome to the Unpopular Opinion community!


How voting works:

Vote the opposite of the norm.


If you agree that the opinion is unpopular give it an arrow up. If it's something that's widely accepted, give it an arrow down.



Guidelines:

Tag your post, if possible (not required)


  • If your post is a "General" unpopular opinion, start the subject with [GENERAL].
  • If it is a Lemmy-specific unpopular opinion, start it with [LEMMY].


Rules:

1. NO POLITICS


Politics is everywhere. Let's make this about [general] and [lemmy] - specific topics, and keep politics out of it.


2. Be civil.


Disagreements happen, but that doesn’t provide the right to personally attack others. No racism/sexism/bigotry. Please also refrain from gatekeeping others' opinions.


3. No bots, spam or self-promotion.


Only approved bots, which follow the guidelines for bots set by the instance, are allowed.


4. Shitposts and memes are allowed but...


Only until they prove to be a problem. They can and will be removed at moderator discretion.


5. No trolling.


This shouldn't need an explanation. If your post or comment is made just to get a rise with no real value, it will be removed. You do this too often, you will get a vacation to touch grass, away from this community for 1 or more days. Repeat offenses will result in a perma-ban.



Instance-wide rules always apply. https://legal.lemmy.world/tos/

founded 1 year ago
MODERATORS
 

They are much more predictable, well understood and easier to dose than the chemical cocktail of natural compounds. Please note that I am not saying that there aren't any useful natural medicines. I am stating that it is better to isolate the active components.

you are viewing a single comment's thread
view the rest of the comments
[–] [email protected] 1 points 3 months ago (1 children)

For better or worse, the pharmaceutical companies do a good job of selecting what remedies are actually helpful and have a proven effect.

If garlic actually boosted the immune system, then the pharmaceutical companies would immediately start working on a garlic-derived medication to help the immunocompromised. If elderberry was actually helpful in curing a cold, then doctors would be prescribing a corporate-produced elderberry derivative.

To a large extent, the natural remedies that haven't been studied, refined, and monetized aren't remedies at all. They're a placebo. I firmly believe there is no natural remedy that performs as well as whatever the standard medication is for treating the condition you're trying to fix.

"Alternative medicine that works is just called medicine."

[–] [email protected] 1 points 3 months ago (1 children)

I agree with general sentiment that pharmaceuticals are stronger. And when I need it, I go for it. But sometimes I don't need the strongest stuff. Sometimes my body just needs a helping hand, not a nuke. Pharma industry is about quick and easy - but that doesn't mean it's always good.

Calling something placebo just because it is not s strong is certainly over the line though.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 3 months ago (1 children)

My point wasn't that pharmaceuticals are stronger, it's that they actually work. Your doctor isnt going prescribe IV morphine for a headache, but they'll probably tell you to take a low-dose NSAID. The vast majority of natural remedies have no clinically significant effect on the body. The ones that DO have an effect have been turned into real medicine.

When I said that natural remedies are a placebo, I don't mean that to be insulting. That's literally why people think they work is because of the placebo effect.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 3 months ago

Well... idk where you are from but here doctors would recommend natural stuff where applicable. And many times there are actual remedies made based on natural stuff, as you say.

By saying I prefer natural based medicine I don't mean thay when I feel sick I go pick herbs by the moonlight and only use that.