The Defenders of AYUSH
It seems to me that I can reproduce my blog posts from Quora here without any risk of being banned. Therefore:
I recently answered a question about my opposition to AYUSH.
I merely pointed out that I did not care about the name of a medicine or treatment but that any treatment administered to patients should be supported by evidence of its efficacy in the form of well conducted clinical trials.
Some might recall an earlier discussion in which a banker and avid Ayurveda enthusiast insisted that since his pet dog’s ‘back problem’ was resolved by an Ayurvedic massage, the general efficacy of all Ayurvedic medicine was therefore demonstrated, including for the treatment of liver cancer. My admittedly sarcastic response to that gentleman led to my answer being collapsed and no-doubt contributed to my recent one week ban from Quora.
A similar response to this answer serves to illustrate the thought processes and probably intelligence of the defenders of the faith.
The respondent is one Shubham Sharma whose profile reads ‘lives in India’. User
He made a rather strange offering to the altar of evidence based medicine:
‘Since you think Ayurveda is bad and you always ask for proof for its effectiveness may I suggest you to give patanjali toothpaste a try for a month.’
I’m not at all sure what the toothpaste offered by Baba Ramdev has to do with the efficacy of Ayurveda in the treatment of disease but I responded with an appeal to logic.
‘You have a very strange idea of what constitutes proof of effectiveness.’
He responded, enlarging upon his strange thought processes.
‘The product is marketed as totally ayuevedic with very little or no chemicals.If it's better than normal Chemical toothpaste then it will suggest that Ayurveda is not as ineffective as you think.I have read many of your answers and you asked for proof so I advised you this.’
Ignoring, for the nonce, the strange spelling and grammar, I responded, desperately trying to maintain civil discourse:
‘Labelling a consumer product like toothpaste ‘Ayurvedic’ means it does not have to meet the same quality standards as toothpaste sold as a dental hygiene product. I don’t see how this has anything to do with the efficacy of Ayurvedic medicines. However, thank you for the example. I can use it for a blog post.’
His rather strange response, which does not really seem to have anything to do with the subject under discussion was:
‘I have one query.Drinking 100 mL of alcohol every day or alternate day is considered beneficial.Is this true? Thank you.’
With thought processes like these, I am not surprised at the vigorous proliferation of the Baba’s enterprises. Perhaps this will eventually lead to a Darwinian survival effect and improve the average intelligence of the Indian population.
So, instead of reddit, we move to Blogger .
ReplyDeleteNot a bad choice at all.
Regards,
P.S. We do miss you on Quora, also, I have to inform you of a profile in your name that has come up in the not so distant past, that asks strange questions.
Kindly report.
Thanks
I have been banned remember. I have no way to report or even read anything.
ReplyDeleteVery nice post sir. Miss you on Quora.
ReplyDeleteSir i miss you so much on quora. I was undergoing exams while all this banning thing happened. But it's great to know i can still read you somewhere. :)
ReplyDeleteThank you. I'm kind of stuck in the US for a few weeks with nothing very useful to do so I'm likely to active here.
ReplyDeleteDear Sir, You can imagine now the agony of students of BAMS! These kinds of 'teachers' teach us and we are expected to show the difference. I do not know how you can do this, but if possible stop damage being created to students of BAMS. Because these same students attach the title of 'Dr.' and further damage the health of people by their illogical concepts.
ReplyDelete