Fads and Fallacies in the Name of Medical Science List of Articles Fads and Fallacies in the Name of Medical Science Twentieth century life is complex, and may get even more complicated as we head into the next millenium. To get through the complexities, we all wish to have simple simple guidelines we can follow. The implication is that if we can just nourish and treat ourselves with natural substances, we will be all right. I wish it were that easy.
Nature is kind, but nature is also cruel.
Over the centuries man came to recognize the benefits of some of the medicinal plants - the bark of the cinchona tree contiaining quinine has been used to make to fight malaria, and the foxglove plant containing digitalsi used to treat cardiac arrhythmias. Cascara and the husks of the psylllium seed have been used to treat constipation. But nature is cruel. Drink a couple of bottles of alcohol, and you die. Some feel that it is a disservice to point these things out, because it would be easier if the answer were simple.