Reply #66: the point of antacids was not symptomatic relief. is was aimed at the

[mopinko]

assumed cause- excess acidity in the stomachs of ulcer sufferers. that it helped the pain was incidental.
yes, western medicine is actually good at treating "symptoms", like pain. but when ever possible, the underlying cause is what the treatments are aimed at. since inflammation is the proximate cause of many, many illnesses, they are treated with anti-inflammatories. they happen to alleviate the pain, also.
gee, isn't that interesting.
your whole premise is actually a crock. any time the underlying cause is known, that is what is treated. any time the underlying cause is not known, but people are suffering and dying, there is research into those causes.
i have never had any complaint that was treated with symptomatic relief without an investigation into the cause. and i have been in plenty of rodeos.