Medieval Healthcare

Medical science remains 400 years behind physics. Physics requires proof of theory and medical science relies on correlation of statistics that report possible exposure to carcinogens. The use of helium balloons to defy the law of gravity did not disprove the law of gravity. We invented the microscope in the 1590, but physicians didn’t use it until 1900.

It is becoming clear that patients must become responsibly involved in curing their own diseases by reporting what works, what doesn’t work and what makes things worse in this “trial and error” process. Patients must act quickly to escape the trap of continuing treatment that doesn’t work, to prevent their conditions from getting far worse.

Chronic diseases like Diabetes II and many heart and arterial diseases are preventable and reversible with weight loss and diet. Cancer and Alzheimer’s remain a mystery. We now know more about what we don’t know. Toxic cancer treatments like radiation and chemotherapy are being replaced by treatments that don’t destroy our immune systems. Other promising work on gut microorganism is being investigated.

Proof of theory is needed so that causation can be identified. It is not likely that all the things we’ve been told cause cancer are accurate. These have been determined by correlation and that isn’t proof of causation. We all know life-long tobacco smokers who have lived to be 100 years old and we all know life-long non-smokers who died of cancer before age 50. We won’t know how to cure cancer until we learn what causes it.

Medicine remains a “trial and error” process like trying to invent the lightbulb. All patients are unique and their health is affected by nutrition, diet, weight, enzymes, gut microorganisms, pharmaceutical side effects and organ functions. Maintaining health will require unique strategies until we actually determine the proven causes of each disease.

Significant advances in medicine have been few and far between.  The last major advance in medicine was the accidental discovery of penicillin in 1928 that finally resulted in the successful use of anti-biotics in the 1940s. Anti-biotics reversed the deadly effects of infection, inflammation, fever and infectious diseases and plagues. Bubonic plague, smallpox, malaria, pneumonia, leprosy, yellow fever, typhus, cholera, influenza, meningitis, hepatitis, encephalitis, salmonella and polio are now treatable. Infection from flesh eating bacteria still results in amputation.

The parallel advance in medicine also came from microscopic examination of drinking water to discover bacteria that caused diphtheria. In the late 1800s in England the home addresses of diphtheria victims was used to isolate the well that was transmitting diphtheria and was it was closed.  Using correlation to discover the source was an effective tactic, but didn’t address water treatment. Chlorine was discovered to kill this bacteria and applied to water supplies after 1900.

Prior to 1900, treatment of injuries like broken bones involved manually resetting the bone, applying splints and required bedrest for weeks. Treatment of open wounds required either, preventing infection and inflammation that was rare, or amputation that was usually required. 100 Proof Whisky was widely available and was widely used as a disinfectant.

Infection prevention began after 1900 using the microscope to detect bacteria. This enabled surgeons to test surfaces for bacteria and ensure that their instruments were sterile to reduce wound infections.

Wound care became a “slam-dunk” after anti-biotics were available.  Surgical outcomes improved dramatically after 1900. It became possible to treat serious injuries. Anesthesia, pharmaceuticals, testing, monitoring and rehab improved.

Orthopedics included adding stainless steel and titanium inserts, knee and hip replacements, but these methods often fail to achieve full restoration without further surgery. Orthoscopic surgery is less invasive and has fewer problems.

Nutrition is advancing as patients attempt to establish their own diets.  Vitamin and mineral daily requirements, blood tests and trial and error are helping patients find their own pace with food choices, portions and exercise. We are very complex chemical factories and we are all unique.

We are justifiably skeptical of our current healthcare system.

Healthcare has abandoned the scientific method and is driven by correlation without proof of causation. We doubt that everything causes cancer. We suspect that the side- effects of overtreatment are destructive.

Norb Leahy, Dunwoody GA Tea Party Leader