Shamanic Medicines Want to Help

[OxQQme]

a Broken and Addicted U.S. Mental Health Care System -

See more at: http://www.ouramazingworld.org/life/shamanicoptions

Home page: http://www.ouramazingworld.org/

[longship]

1. This OP is so wrong.

What's amazing about their amazing world is how ignorant people can be to believe that the ancient peoples of the world somehow knew more about medicine than science does today.

This site promotes abject quackery. I suggest you self delete it. I like the comment about the so-called Shaman who apparently heals people, but he really likes peyote. Yup, that's the guy I want to treat my illnesses.

The only thing to do for this post is to ridicule it.

[a la izquierda]

8. Peyote has been used for thousands of years...

To treat a number of ailments. It is part of the religious rituals of several indigenous groups in Mexico, as well as the Native American Church.

[longship]

9. Far out, man. Far out.

Just which ailments does it cure. I'll look on PubMed and find out.

Oopsie! Not any, apparently.

[a la izquierda]

11. Well, are we an offensive asshole.

I'll take the hide. I've been studying indigenous uses of peyote for 10 years. I don't believe in woo, but I'll defer to them on this.

[longship]

14. In other words, you will defer to a DU post rather than the science.

I got that. I disagree, but I got it.

BTW, all I asked for was published medical research that supports the claim in the OP.

And as I pointed out, that's right, there isn't any.

I would gladly change my opinion if I was mistaken, however PubMed seems to agree with my opinion.

QED

[panader0]

21. Have you ever tried it? You should. You would change your mind, so to speak.

I have and found it to be a powerful way to look within.

[LanternWaste]

22. I act out when I believe science is on my side too.

I act out when I believe science is on my side too. And, like you, I cower behind implication when called on it.

A person can be right. A person can also be both right and a jerk, rationalizing the latter as righteous ridicule.

[LeftyMom]

16. Iirc you're an anthropologist?

[truebluegreen]

12. There is no greater barrier to knowledge

than contempt prior to investigation.

After all, we just know that peyote or ayahuasca have absolutely no therapeutic value. Just like marijuana.

[longship]

13. I just go by the science.

And I would gladly agree with ANY science that says that peyote has any curative abilities. Alas, the only thing I have ever read about that was written by Carlos Castaneda, which was strictly anecdotal, in other words worthless.

Nevertheless, the books were a real trip -- if you get my meaning. That I was studying physics at the time I knew that it was all bunkum. There is zero science that supports any curative power with peyote.

However, one might be tempted to say, "Far out, man. Far out" (which might make one think one was cured). Nevertheless, none of that is admissible as scientific evidence.

[truebluegreen]

17. I get what you are saying

but what I am saying is that none of this has been investigated, and until it is, dismissing it out of hand is inappropriate imo.

And I don't know how old you are or when you read Carlos Castaneda, but "science", particularly physics, has changed a whole bunch since I read those books (and had the same reaction).

[longship]

18. Well, I studied physics.

It has not changed that much since my degree (1978). For instance, the Higgs was theorized in 1964 and quantum chromodynamics and electroweak were completed in the 70's.

I try to keep up with things as best as I can.

Medicine is not my field, but I pay attention to the alt-med stuff, which is mostly quackery according to doctors following it closely. One of my favorite sources is Science-Based Medicine, which I highly recommend.

My best to you.

[PasadenaTrudy]

19. I love that SBM site

but some of the comments...oy

[PufPuf23]

20. You are blind.

The OP and linked website state that they want to add to not replace modern medicine.

Certainly much is unknown and the linked website has an agenda.

Psychotropic drugs have been systematically suppressed in modern medicine.

Medicines of native peoples have use, in fact medical science has looked to the uses of native peoples for drugs that can be adapted; prime example is aspirin.

LSD was a highly effective sure for alcoholism back in the 1950s until misused for recreation and demonized.

Here is a link to the MAPS website. MAPS supports scientific research into the specific drugs mentioned and plays by the rules of the modern medical community, albeit swimming against the current.

These are serious people.

IMO you have mischaracterized the website http://www.ouramazingworld.org/life/shamanicoptions linked in the OP.

[Matariki]

23. Mental health today vs mental health in indigenous societies?

I'd tend to agree with you on physical health, but what are the facts on mental health issues in our society vs indigenous societies? Do you know?

My suspicion is that we've got a lot of problems in that regard and tend to treat the issue (poorly) with pills.

[name not needed]

2. I for one find gypsy tears to be the best way of preventing illness.

[truebluegreen]

3. Disagree 100% with previous poster:

it should all be looked at (modern pharmaceuticals don't inspire any confidence in me, at least where mental illness is concerned). Thanks for posting.

[petronius]

4. That's a very creative understanding of quotation on display there:

pretty bold to include the link to Nature while cherry-picking and rearranging what Nature actually said...

[longship]

5. I saw that.

Quack medicine always cherry picks their science. Just like other kooks and charlatans.

[wheniwasincongress]

6. Is OP trolling?

[X_Digger]

7. Walks like a duck, quacks like a duck.. n/t

[edhopper]

10. woo woo!

[Lancero]

15. Intresting, lets have a look see...

Hmm...

May have use in treating fever, joint pain, bone fractures, wounds and 'other conditons' (Including, but not limited to, liver cancer and tuberculosis) though further research is required to rate what, if any, effect they actually have.

Hmm...

Minor side effects include nausea and vomiting, anxiety, paranoia and emotional instability Further side effects include increased blood pressure, heart rate, and respiration rate.

Although Peyote is rarely fatal itself, it can cause homicidal, psychotic, or suicidal thoughts in response to hallucinations.

Women who are pregnant or breastfeeding should not use Peyote as Mescaline, found in Peyote, has been linked to birth defects.

Hmm...

Hmm, sounds safe enough. Well, just so long as you don't have a hallucination of Trump becoming President. Or, you know, have a heart attack. Personally though, the former sounds to be the most dangerous of the two.

[Matariki]

24. Well, Marijuana is turning out to be quite the wonder drug

so who knows?

People who pray at the church of science don't have scientific minds.