Alternative medicine conversation questions

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Alternative medicine

• Why is alternative medicine called "alternative"?
• Do most people you know prefer traditional/alternative medicine, modern medicine, or a combination of the two? Which do you prefer?
• Have you tried any alternative medicines? What was the result?
• A "double blind" trial is a drug test whereby a drug is given to a patient but neither the patient not the doctor knows if the drug is real or a placebo (a fake). This means that any change to the patient can only be the result of the drug, and is not influenced by the doctor's or patient's expectations. Alternative medicines always do badly in such tests. Why do you think this might be?
• An "anecdote" is a report by a single person or a report by their friends. A "scientific trial" is a test monitored by many people under controlled conditions. Almost all alternative medicine success stories are "anecdotes". Why do you think this should be?
• One of the apparent advantages of alternative medicine is that it is said to have no side effects. Why do you think this should be?
• Are prescription medicines always good for you? How many do you know which have unpleasant side effects?
• People often maintain that alternative medicines are "natural". What does "natural" actually mean in this context?
• Is everything that is "natural" is good for you? What about the enormous number of plants which are deadly poisons?

Specific treatments

• What is your opinion of herbal medicines?
• What is your opinion of acupuncture?
• What is your opinion of homoeopathy?
• What is your opinion of faith healers and witch doctors? Are they both able to heal people and also curse them? In other words, can they have both a positive and a negative influence over a person?
• What do you think about the idea of alternative medicine being used in hospitals?
• What is your opinion of traditional Chinese medicine and its use of the bones of endangered animals such as tigers or bile extracted from live bears?
• There are, in fact, many types of alternative medicine including "colour therapy", "air therapy" and "fire therapy" - which use colour, air and fire as "treatments". What regulation do you think there should be over such therapies?

See also

• Death conversation questions
• Drugs conversation questions
• Food conversation questions
• Science fiction conversation questions
• Supernatural conversation questions

External links

New Scientist - Nocobo Teachers may want to read up on the "nocibo effect" before the class.