"In medieval Baghdad, the 'license' to practice medicine was given as permission to practice in the marketplace...One of the rules was that an individual would be disqualified from the practice of medicine if they were observed to 'use a strong herb when a mild herb would suffice, use an herb when a food would suffice, or use a food when simple advice about lifestyle would suffice.'"Doesn't that sound kind of radical in our contemporary world? People tend to think more/"extra strength" is better.
In order to follow these rules, you would need to be knowledgeable and be paying careful attention to the needs of the people you are trying to assist. One size does not fit all if you are trying to choose the gentlest sufficient path to healing.
Substitute "pharmaceutical" for "herb" and you have:
One of the rules was that an individual would be disqualified from the practice of medicine if they were observed to 'use a strong pharmaceutical when a mild pharmaceutical would suffice, use a pharmaceutical when a food would suffice, or use a food when simple advice about lifestyle would suffice.'"Given the side-effects and costs associated with medicines, this seems like an approach worth considering. What do you think?
1 comment:
I say yes! I understand that medical school is tough, and that the pharmaceutical companies spend a lot of money courting doctors. But if all medical professionals were skilled in giving advice for healthy living and nutrition -- and people would heed it -- then perhaps so many meds wouldn't be necessary. I think part of the problem is we all expect to feel well all of the time, regardless of our lifestyles, and if we feel ill, we want an immediate fix.
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