Am I correct to notice a bias against evidence-based medicine here and in favor of natural or alternative medicines?

Similar questions: correct notice bias evidence based medicine favor natural alternative medicines.

I hope not. I think there are many questions about such things, but I don't know if I'd call that a bias. I wouldn't expect to see many questions concerning evidence-based medicine, except in those instances where a layman's understanding of medicine is suitable for discourse.

What I notice are many questions concerning the efficacy of alternative treatments (acupuncture in many disease contexts; I answered one question about chelation therapy; a few have popped up about homeopathy and chiropractic), and the people asking the questions aren't illustrating a bias towards these treatments; they're asking for information. So if there's a bias it must be in the answering community, and I've noticed that I'm seldom the only skeptical voice in such questions, when I answer them. But at the same time, there are many affirmative voices speaking in support of such nonsense.

However, I don't think it's fair to take that loaded sample set (people who are a interested in answering a question be capable of answering a question both intellectually and temporally and c actually answer the question) and use it to gauge the bias of the "askvile community" as a whole. There's also the phenomena of "someone else's problem" -- I mean, I won't answer the question "does acupuncture help fertility" because I figure the answer's NO and if I answered as such I a don't have anything to back that up and am not interested in doing that research and be might get punished by the credulous believers who answer with YES. So assuming I'm not the only one behaving in such a fashion, that serves to skew the observed answers even farther toward the credulous end without affecting the overall bias of the community.So my question is, "Is the appearance of bias the same as actual bias?

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Yes, I have noticed it, too. I think the main problem here is the lack of health insurance for many people. They are on their own, and seek information from others because they have no doctor to consult, or can't afford to see a doctor if it's not an emergency.It's a crisis in more ways than one.

Getting information from strangers, or even friends (even if they mean well), on alternative medicines only mean more delays in seeing a doctor for the problem condition which might mean a more severe medical crisis down the line. And the more one gets advice from strangers, such as on this web site, the more one tends to think that this is the thing to do. I have become more concerned about this, because although I have good health insurance, my adult son does not, and uses alternative medications that I think are a lot of bunk, not to mention a waste of money instead of asking his doctor for information.

He doesn't want to pay the co-payment for something that he doesn't consider an emergency. It's disheartening. Sources: personal experience/opinion .

My take... People just seem to have more questions about alternative medicine. It’s so avant garde to so many people. I think that’s why you’ll see so many Qs about it.As far as answers,what better way to distinguish your answer from so many others?

You don’t need a prescription to get any of the supplements or herbal remedies. They are something that an answerer can recommend that’s easily accessible.It’s also easer to find articles written for lamens on herbal/alternative meds. Therefore you can post your "proof" in an easy to read defense of the product or service.

People can’t ask there doctors about these things,because doctors HATE allternative medicine(exception chiropractors). That’s my opinion in a big fat nutshell. Widgets aren't working for some reason.

I had some good book suggestions based on my studies. Sources: My Epinion .

Depends who are the first 5 to answer! Not at all to be assumed! I answered an allergy question a few days back with a suggestion of biresonance and got a negative rating .

1 I am watching this one - it reminds me of a dark video put out by the Dixie Chicks - don't recall the name of the song, but it is current. We do understand that as research as evolved, so has current medications - used to be certain groups were used in testing, or for example, women's treatments were based on male rat studies, from what I've read. In a way, the question begs for an answer, I think - we are evidence, for a moment, but 'evidence-based medicine' is what it is, until it is disproven or the variables change.

I have mixed feelings about Western standards - because, I still believe in the FDA, etc. , but think that drug companies need to fire legal and hire Ed to make the decisions - tongue in check humor - I watched Leno last night and LOL! Yes, I think you are right, in all truth - there may be a bias one way or another, but we don't have to agree. Your question struck a chord in me because of the number of our troops coming back from Iraq are suffering from PTSD - Scary, and we need medication, treatment and possibly OTC natural meds - we just need to find a cure trauma - and the treatments are not black/white - that may be the resistance to generalizations of this or that drug, by askvillers.

Great thought-provoking question - looking forward to seeing your responses, as the question is now closed! .

I am watching this one - it reminds me of a dark video put out by the Dixie Chicks - don't recall the name of the song, but it is current. We do understand that as research as evolved, so has current medications - used to be certain groups were used in testing, or for example, women's treatments were based on male rat studies, from what I've read. In a way, the question begs for an answer, I think - we are evidence, for a moment, but 'evidence-based medicine' is what it is, until it is disproven or the variables change.

I have mixed feelings about Western standards - because, I still believe in the FDA, etc. , but think that drug companies need to fire legal and hire Ed to make the decisions - tongue in check humor - I watched Leno last night and LOL! Yes, I think you are right, in all truth - there may be a bias one way or another, but we don't have to agree. Your question struck a chord in me because of the number of our troops coming back from Iraq are suffering from PTSD - Scary, and we need medication, treatment and possibly OTC natural meds - we just need to find a cure trauma - and the treatments are not black/white - that may be the resistance to generalizations of this or that drug, by askvillers.

Great thought-provoking question - looking forward to seeing your responses, as the question is now closed!

I cant really gove you an answer,but what I can give you is a way to a solution, that is you have to find the anglde that you relate to or peaks your interest. A good paper is one that people get drawn into because it reaches them ln some way.As for me WW11 to me, I think of the holocaust and the effect it had on the survivors, their families and those who stood by and did nothing until it was too late.