Re:How to Avoid a Post-Antibiotic World
by tomhoward on Sunday January 22, 2017 @08:22AM
(#13455077)
That doesn't contradict anything I said.
The crucial difference between the pharmaceutical industry and the alternative health sector is centralisation vs fragmentation.
Due to being vast, centralised entities, pharmaceutical companies can utilise mass marketing, lobbying and the perception of scientific validity and government endorsement to get their products into the hands of customers, and can continue to do so even if their products cause widespread harm [1]).
But every natural/holistic practitioner is an independent operator servicing a small local area, and must work hard to provide a high degree of satisfaction to every customer every day, and face the reality that a single instance of serious harm will put them out of business for good.
The article you cited demonstrating the size of the industry only confirms that for the most part, practitioners are doing a pretty good job.
I'm not arguing that mainstream medicine and pharma shouldn't exist, or should even be dramatically changed. I happily use it, and find it very beneficial. But I also know from personal experience and simple market economics, that the oft-touted-here attitude, that most/all natural/holistic/alternative medicine is useless/harmful snake-oil peddled by charlatans to morons, is misinformed and mostly false.
The crucial difference between the pharmaceutical industry and the alternative health sector is centralisation vs fragmentation.
Due to being vast, centralised entities, pharmaceutical companies can utilise mass marketing, lobbying and the perception of scientific validity and government endorsement to get their products into the hands of customers, and can continue to do so even if their products cause widespread harm [1]).
But every natural/holistic practitioner is an independent operator servicing a small local area, and must work hard to provide a high degree of satisfaction to every customer every day, and face the reality that a single instance of serious harm will put them out of business for good.
The article you cited demonstrating the size of the industry only confirms that for the most part, practitioners are doing a pretty good job.
I'm not arguing that mainstream medicine and pharma shouldn't exist, or should even be dramatically changed. I happily use it, and find it very beneficial. But I also know from personal experience and simple market economics, that the oft-touted-here attitude, that most/all natural/holistic/alternative medicine is useless/harmful snake-oil peddled by charlatans to morons, is misinformed and mostly false.
[1] http://www.livescience.com/57268-fentanyl-overdose-deaths-do...