Alternative Medicine

I don’t think I’ve been ambiguous about my opinion of “alternative schools of medical thought” so my opinion on this should come as no surprise.

Now, I don’t deny that the possibility exists that some alternative treatments might prove efficacious, but all they have to do is be proved to work and they’d become mainstream medicine. (Don’t go on about the insidious pharmaceutical cartel that slaves tirelessly to prevent us access to effective but inexpensive and unpatentable treatments.)

Nonetheless, the problem with believing in these kinds of nonsense is that it causes peoples’ brains to rot. Take for example this following translation of a recent (completely serious) post on a Taiwanese website.

Lately, I don’t feel quiet right.
My period lasts unusually long.
Finally it was over; however, my left side got numb since yesterday.
I am worried that I might have a stroke.
My blood pressure and eating habits are normal, but I don’t know why I don’t feel well.
I kept wondering maybe it has something to do with the two rose bushes I planted in the front yard last September.
The rose buds were very ugly and kept eaten by bugs in the beginning.
However, the bushes have been blooming lately and the roses are very beautiful.
I think the rose bushes are interfering with my health.
Does anyone know something about it? Please help me.
If my condition gets worse, I might go to see a doctor.
I am so worried.

Well, if the experts on an online parents’ forum can’t help you with some sage gardening advice about your possible stroke, as a last resort, you might try seeing a doctor.

Translated by my wife. For those who read Chinese, the original is below:

最近身體很差
一下MC留不停
現在已經解決了
結果昨天又左半邊腳酸手麻
一直到今天左半邊都怪怪
很怕自己是中風的現象
但是我血壓正常飲食正常
也不知道是為什麼
一直懷疑是9月10月的在家門口種了兩株玫瑰花的原因
起初玫瑰花長的醜醜都會被蟲吃
但是最近花苞一直開
花朵也漂亮
所以在懷疑是不是因為種了玫瑰花
影響我的身體呢
有媽咪知道嗎
拜託幫幫忙嚕
我想再繼續麻下去得去檢查了
好擔心喔