Quote:
Originally Posted by jammies
False. Drug companies test herbal medicines to find out the active ingredients, then synthesize them, then patent them, then sell them. For example 5 seconds on google found http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paclitaxel, which was discovered by analyzing the anti-cancer effects of Pacific yew tree bark.
www.google.com. Try it out. |
There are plenty of similar examples. That is completely beside that point and in no way validates that point that if what alternative medicine prescribes works there would be a drug based on it available. The claim that just because a drug company hasn't yet released a drug based on a compound that alternative medicine claims works means that it doesn't work ignores the facts that it takes time and costs money to investigate these compounds, and then turn them into profitable forms. There are 10's of thousands of natural remedies, and there is no way that drug companies are going to spend a lot money looking into something that, while it may provide a benefit for a very small portion of the population, doesn't claim cure anything chronic, deadly, or acute.
Further, many of the prescriptions prescribed by alternative medicine are simply vitamin and mineral combinations you can buy off the shelf nearly anywhere, often with some decent evidence, but not statistically valid double blind study quality evidence. This is why I keep saying a healthy diet and exercise routine has a greater benefit to most people.