Humoral medicine - discussion

[homeopathic_meditations]

Today, ritaer has posted an invitation to discuss Galenic medicine. Specifically, to challenge the idea that our ancestors were idiots who never noticed that did not work at all.

"Any westerner who has studied the history of medicine has been exposed to the horror stories about the pre-modern practice of medicine in Europe and the Americas. "Heroic" measures including copious bleeding, purging with toxic metals such as mercury compounds and prescriptions made up of 20-20 ingredients are assumed to have killed more than they cured."

I am afraid Magic Monday will run out in a few hours. Therefore, if you are interested in this discussion, I am willing to pick up the ball and host it here for the rest of the week. Please share your comments and enjoy a thoughtful exchange of ideas.

Comments

Ear "Infection"

[moser99]

It's funny you mention ear "infection". I use the quotes because truth-be-known-if-there-is-a-truth, you are never sure it is a microbe causing the problem.

I have had a painful ear for 55 years, maybe longer. It got to the point in 2014 that it was bleeding regularly so I went to an ear-nose-throat specialist MD in Seattle, a young Asian guy who who dressed and acted Perfectly Seattle.

Even tho I was already on a self-described "boatload of antibiotics" from am infectious disease guy back East, the ear-nose-and throat MD started me on a course of cookbook antibiotics for ear infections.

I went back 3 times and he finally painted my eardrum with gentian blue that took care of the problem for a few months. The supermarket in my hometown had a "Mexican" section where they sold gentian blue for $1 a bottle. My wife and I were paying $14K a year for private health insurance and I still had to pay cool-guy ENT MD $1100.

The ear problem still comes and goes. I can learn more from one story than the best clinical trial ever published.

Re: Ear "Infection"

[homeopathic_meditations]

Curiously enough, my first big error in acupuncture caused a mild ear infection to get much worse; thankfully the patient was myself. This happened back in 2011 and I struggled with that issue for the most part of the following decade.
I did not keep detailed records, but from what I recall: Practicing taiji-quan helped, but I still suffered from itching and overproduction of earwax. Eventually this faded away, roughly around the time when I started experimenting with intermittent fasting.

Re: Ear "Infection"

[moser99]

Thanks for the report. I thought I might get scolded for not noticing I was replying to an old thread.

Have you read Steve Solomon wife's book on fasting? I think her name is Isabelle Moser. Steve wrote my favorite gardening book. soilandhealth.org Maybe you know all this,

Re: Ear "Infection"

[homeopathic_meditations]

Nope, never heard of it. Sounds interesting, I will give it a look and see if it's a good match for me. Thanks!