Introduction (2-3 pieces of evidence per source)
Main Inquiry/Thesis
- This scientific paper started with a very simple question: why do people have such polarizing beliefs in regards to the healthcare system
- There are one group of people that not only swear by medicine produced by pharmacies, but depend on it
- However, there is other that believes the holistic approach is the best way
- Even if they have the same health conditions
- The thesis of this paper is that both industries like pharmaceutical and the alternative medicine can be extremely beneficial or extremely detrimental
- The consumer would need to keep an open mind and do thorough research beforehand
- It is important to note though that the very fact that consumers need to research very hard before they come to a conclusion is a concern of its own
What is the Pharmaceutical Industry (give one example of a notable feat in the industry, my example is penicillin)
“The modern pharmaceutical industry traces its origin to two sources: apothecaries that moved into wholesale production of drugs such as morphine, quinine, and strychnine in the middle of the 19th century and dye and chemical companies that established research labs and discovered medical applications for their products starting in the 1880s. Merck, for example, began as a small apothecary shop in Darmstadt, Germany, in 1668, only beginning wholesale production of drugs in the 1840s.”
“ Those activities were largely monopolized by German chemists working in conjunction with the major German chemical companies. World War I blockades forced U.S. chemists to replicate German processes for producing drugs such as aspirin; Salvarsan; and Veronal, a powerful hypnotic useful in easing the pain of battle wounds. In 1920, the ACS division renamed itself the Division of Medicinal Products to reflect the wartime change in focus from analysis to synthesis.”
“Those activities were largely monopolized by German chemists working in conjunction with the major German chemical companies. World War I blockades forced U.S. chemists to replicate German processes for producing drugs such as aspirin; Salvarsan; and Veronal, a powerful hypnotic useful in easing the pain of battle wounds. In 1920, the ACS division renamed itself the Division of Medicinal Products to reflect the wartime change in focus from analysis to synthesis.”
Insulin: Discovery and Controversy | Clinical Chemistry | Oxford Academic (oup.com)
“One day in May, Macleod introduced Banting to the two student assistants he had employed as demonstrators in the physiology laboratory. Charles Herbert Best (1899–1978) (Fig. 3), and Edward Clark Noble (1900–1978) were seniors in the physiology and biochemistry honors program and were planning to pursue a master of arts degree. They had also been working as research assistants in the production of experimental diabetes and had acquired experience in the analysis of blood sugar. Macleod also wanted measurements of the ratio of glucose (dextrose) to nitrogen (D:N ratio) in the urine. The D:N ratio was thought to be a particularly accurate reflection of the diabetic state. Macleod left it to Best and Noble to decide how they would divide the summer in helping Banting test his hypothesis. What began as a summer research job for a student turned into one of the most exciting and controversial medical adventures of modern times.”
What is “Alternative Medicine” and where did it come from?
What Is Alternative Medicine? (cancer.org)
“Some alternative methods may be appealing because they use your own body and mind, or things found in nature. Some even promise wellness using methods that sound simple, natural, and without side effects, which is rarely true of standard cancer treatments.”
https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/alternative-medicine#mind-body-therapies
“Many studies have verified that meditation has health benefits. It can lower blood pressure and stress levels. Research suggest it may also reduce the symptoms of: Anxiety, depression, irritable bowel syndrome, insomnia, menopause”
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3068720/
“Alternative medicine refers to therapeutic approaches taken in place of traditional medicine and used to treat or ameliorate disease. Integrative medicine refers to combining complementary treatments with conventional care. The basic philosophy of complementary and alternative medicine include holistic care, which focuses on treating a human being as a whole person.”
The Cons of each industry (Intro would basically have the pros) (2-3 rhetorical choices) (2-3 pieces of evidence per source)
Corruption within the Pharmaceutical industry and its effect on US citizens (we’re focusing mostly on the US pharmaceutical company)
How Big Pharma Reaps Profits While Hurting Everyday Americans – Center for American Progress
“These sharp increases in price occur as companies continue to report millions of dollars in revenue. In 2018, Allergan reported $15.8 million in revenue, while Teva Pharmaceuticals reported $18.8 million in revenue.
Pharmaceutical companies’ profit margins receive significant bumps when they launch new drugs, specifically specialty drugs, used to treat life-threatening conditions. These drugs often cost more than most Americans can afford. “
“The authors of the Cochrane Review conclude: “Our analyses suggest the existence of an industry bias that cannot be explained by standard ‘Risk of bias’ assessments” (Lundh et al., 2017). When pharmaceutical and other companies sponsor research there is a bias—a systematic tendency toward results serving their interests—but the bias is not seen in the formal factors routinely associated with low-quality science. “
Fraud within the “Alternative Medicine” Industry
The Most Common Frauds of Alternative Medicine – The Health Wyze Report
Homeopathy, quackery and fraud | James Randi – YouTube
What are the consequences of a healthcare/wellness industry that can’t be fully trusted? (2-3 rhetorical choices) (2-3 pieces of evidence per source)
Consumerism and the problem of many choices (how can people choose the right option for them?)
When Are Consumers Most Likely to Feel Overwhelmed by Their Options? (northwestern.edu)
How does “Alternative medicine” appropriate non-western forms of holistic medicine like Ayurveda
Appropriation in Ayurveda – Dr. Claudia Welch (drclaudiawelch.com)
“ In this regard it is worth noting that after 1835 C.E. Ayurveda was subjected to “negative cultural appropriation” when the British promoted English literature and sciences, taught in the medium of English, within India, and actively discouraged and suppressed Indian literature, languages and sciences, including Ayurveda.”
“However, with each successful trial, the Western world took away the cultural significance of that practice and found a way to profit from it.
Acupuncture is one of the most famous TCM practices, yet, in America, more than 50% of acupuncturists are white, which is more than double the number of Chinese practitioners. The majority of patients that seek out acupuncture therapy are white as well. ”
