THE SCIENCE CLUB

THE SCIENCE CLUB

As the name suggests this group is open to all those who are science - enthusiasts. All the participants will contribute on scientific topics, about myths and facts, mysteries, the known and the unknown, life and death, horoscope and face-reading & palmistry, science and religion, oneirology and any other topic. 
  
Quacks

"Everyone knows someone who claims he has either heard of or experienced a magical remedy. In the situation of a condition that is particularly difficult to treat, relatives, friends or neighbours always have well meaning advice to offer -- much of it based on stories or experiences related by others. Strangely, none of these people tend to be a doctor, and doctors who hear such stories find it interesting, if not amusing", so says Dr. Altaf Patel in one of his columns.


Most of these are old wives tales and if any such magical remedies were indeed there, medical science would documented it. No doubt, we are often amazed at the well meaning advice that many of us get from lay men regarding some medical problems, that we or someone in the group may have. These  advices are free flowing even at parties and gatherings. At times I do  affront them, but most often I sit and listen - and I'm beginning to think the whole world loves to play doctor for the moment. 

It times, we may find all this ludicrous and amusing, but could turn to be dangerous and fatal. As it happened in this particular

magical remedy anecdotes.There was this self proclaimed scientist and miracle doctor, who sold a liquid medicine, 'Body Revival' for  Rs. 16,000 for a 100 ml bottle that was advertised tall and false claim of curing  everything from diabetes to cancer. Several thousand people took this medication and many I know swore that they experienced much relief. The 'scientist' in question had made several TV appearances and was seen and shown on TV rubbing shoulders with many celebrities from cinema and political world. In fact, when raided, he was found yo be in possession of a large sum of money - the kind that most doctors don't earn in a lifetime. At times, one wonders how thousands of people queue up for supposed magical remedies. Is it because of the Placebo Effect or Placebo Response, which is remarkable phenomenon in which a placebo - a fake treatment, an an inactive substance (without any therapeutic value), is given or administered as a medicine, and it sometimes improves the patient's condition simply because the patient has the expectation that it will be helpful. Here again, if one is convinced that one is going to get well than the placebo will benefit. However, there are also instances where a placebo has produced negative symptoms, the so called nocebo effect. Is this ethical? Doctors too use the power of suggestion, don't they? But if the doctors behave like this 'scientist' administer inactive substance in the name of medicine and for the sole purpose of making money, they would not only be deemed cheaters and fraud, but stand to lose their licence as well. 

Vinay Trilokekar