|
Post by Amaris on Apr 25, 2008 23:54:14 GMT
Money is behind the dismaying trend of universities in the UK offering courses on unproven therapies such as "...Chinese medicine and acupuncture, complementary therapies, homoeopathy, naturopathy plus remedial massage and neuromuscular therapy." A list of the institutions that value income over integrity has been compiled by Edzard Ernst, professor of complementary medicine at Exeter University, and science writer Simon Singh (he of the fascinating Five Numbers radio show) in order to "...provoke vice-chancellors into debating the scientific basis for such degrees." Which should prove interesting, to say the least. Defences offered so far are less than convincing, "...Middlesex University said Indians and Sri Lankans had considered Ayurveda a science for thousands of years."
So what? Just because a belief in a therapy has endured for thousands of years is no indication of its efficacy otherwise we would still be bleeding people. Besides how "authentic" is it? As noted by Dr. Stephen Barrett "Proponents state that ayurvedic medicine originated in ancient time, but much of it was lost until reconstituted in the early 1980s by the Maharishi Mahesh Yogi. Its origin is traced to four Sanskrit books called the Vedas-the oldest and most important scriptures of India, shaped sometime before 200 B.C.E. These books attributed most disease and bad luck to demons, devils, and the influence of stars and planets. Ayurveda's basic theory states that the body's functions are regulated by three "irreducible physiological principles" called doshas, whose Sanskrit names are vata, pitta, and kapha. Like astrologic "signs," these terms are used to designate body types as well as the traits that typify them." This is nonsense and if anyone forsakes real evidence-based treatment for such mumbo-jumbo, possibly fatal nonsense. The higher academic institutions that offer courses in what is little more than superstition in order to boost their income are beneath contempt (as is a government that underfunds education and yet can waste billions on a glorified sports day). It is very welcome that scientists are becoming more vocal in opposing such practises and asking those who embrace such things for real world evidence. The universities named and shamed should put up or shut up.
|
|
|
Post by bobdezon on Apr 26, 2008 0:40:51 GMT
Middlesex University said Indians and Sri Lankans had considered Ayurveda a science for thousands of years." That is a logical fallacy called Argumentum ad antiquitatem.
|
|
|
Post by Amaris on Apr 26, 2008 1:13:42 GMT
Argumentum ad antiquitatem This is the fallacy of asserting that something is right or good simply because it's old, or because "that's the way it's always been." had to look it up
|
|
|
Post by bobdezon on Apr 26, 2008 2:47:36 GMT
And thusly, the seed of knowlege planted in fertile soil, becomes fruitful and bountiful.
|
|
|
Post by Amaris on Apr 26, 2008 4:55:04 GMT
And thusly, the seed of knowlege planted in fertile soil, becomes fruitful and bountiful. ;D
|
|
|
Post by lilith on Apr 26, 2008 10:50:13 GMT
Money is behind the dismaying trend of universities in the UK offering courses on unproven therapies such as "...Chinese medicine and acupuncture, complementary therapies, homoeopathy, naturopathy plus remedial massage and neuromuscular therapy." A list of the institutions that value income over integrity has been compiled by Edzard Ernst, professor of complementary medicine at Exeter University, and science writer Simon Singh (he of the fascinating Five Numbers radio show) in order to "...provoke vice-chancellors into debating the scientific basis for such degrees." Which should prove interesting, to say the least. Defences offered so far are less than convincing, "...Middlesex University said Indians and Sri Lankans had considered Ayurveda a science for thousands of years." So what? Just because a belief in a therapy has endured for thousands of years is no indication of its efficacy otherwise we would still be bleeding people. Besides how "authentic" is it? As noted by Dr. Stephen Barrett "Proponents state that ayurvedic medicine originated in ancient time, but much of it was lost until reconstituted in the early 1980s by the Maharishi Mahesh Yogi. Its origin is traced to four Sanskrit books called the Vedas-the oldest and most important scriptures of India, shaped sometime before 200 B.C.E. These books attributed most disease and bad luck to demons, devils, and the influence of stars and planets. Ayurveda's basic theory states that the body's functions are regulated by three "irreducible physiological principles" called doshas, whose Sanskrit names are vata, pitta, and kapha. Like astrologic "signs," these terms are used to designate body types as well as the traits that typify them." This is nonsense and if anyone forsakes real evidence-based treatment for such mumbo-jumbo, possibly fatal nonsense. The higher academic institutions that offer courses in what is little more than superstition in order to boost their income are beneath contempt (as is a government that underfunds education and yet can waste billions on a glorified sports day). It is very welcome that scientists are becoming more vocal in opposing such practises and asking those who embrace such things for real world evidence. The universities named and shamed should put up or shut up. Excellent post Amaris, I hadn't heard about this. Do you know which universities are offering these courses? P.S, have a Karma for "as is a government that underfunds education and yet can waste billions on a glorified sports day". Amen to that!
|
|
|
Post by tomroberts on Apr 26, 2008 13:10:19 GMT
Top five complementary medicine providers Institution Courses Award Course title University of Westminster 6 BSc (Hons) Traditional Chinese medicine: acupuncture BSc (Hons) Health sciences: complementary therapies BSc (Hons) Health sciences: homoeopathy BSc (Hons) Health sciences: naturopathy BSc (Hons) Health sciences: remedial massage and neuromuscular therapy MSc Chinese herbal medicine Middlesex University 5 BSc (Hons) Traditional Chinese medicine BSc (Hons) Complementary health sciences BSc (Hons) MSc Complementary health sciences (Ayurveda) MSc Ayurvedic medicine MSc Chinese medicine University of Greenwich 5 BSc (Hons) Aromatherapy and therapeutic bodywork BSc (Hons) Complementary therapies (aromatherapy) BSc (Hons) Complementary therapies BSc (Hons) Complementary therapies (stress management) BSc (Hons) Health sciences for complementary therapies University of Salford 4 BSc (Hons) Homoeopathy/acupuncture/complementary medicine in practice (top-up) BSc (Hons) Traditional Chinese medicine (acupuncture) BSc (Hons) Complementary medicine and health sciences BSc (Hons) Counselling and complementary medicine Thames Valley University 3 BSc (Hons) Complementary medicine in healthcare BSc (Hons) Homoeopathy MA Naad yoga [healing through music] Source: Ucas website and university websites. Excludes degrees in “herbal medicine” and “nutritional therapy/medicine” because, as taught in some evidence-based contexts, they are considered scientifically acceptable, according to Dr Singh and Professor Ernst.
|
|
|
Post by lilith on Apr 26, 2008 13:25:53 GMT
There are taught as science degrees too! Wait a sec, that means that as a student of arts I couldn't get any funding to do my MA course and had to turn down the place I'd been offered two years running but people wanting to do post grads in "Traditional Chinese Medicine" will, presumably, be given funding because it's a medical degree! Noooooooooo!
|
|
|
Post by johndouglas on Apr 26, 2008 15:21:16 GMT
So where do these universities stand under the new act? If I throw my dosh at them, attend a course in complimentary medicine, pass with flying colours and then find out it fails to cure anyone, I can sue them for my money back and wasting my time?
|
|
|
Post by Amaris on Apr 27, 2008 15:31:30 GMT
So where do these universities stand under the new act? If I throw my dosh at them, attend a course in complimentary medicine, pass with flying colours and then find out it fails to cure anyone, I can sue them for my money back and wasting my time? Good point!!
|
|
|
Post by Amaris on Apr 27, 2008 15:32:52 GMT
P.S, have a Karma for "as is a government that underfunds education and yet can waste billions on a glorified sports day". Amen to that! Thanks for the karma Lilith but I can't take credit for the quote! Although I totally agree with it. Please don't smite me
|
|