New Avengers #28: A Medical Review
New Avengers #28 “Revolution, part 2”
Brian Michael Bendis, writer
Leinil Yu, penciler
This is yet another example of the word homeopathic being used as a buzzword in a situation where it makes no sense.
Homeopathy was developed in the 19th century as an alternative to the conventional medical care of the time. Of course, given that 19th century medicine consisted of such wonderful concepts as bloodletting, cupping, and trepanation, it’s understandable that a less aggressive manner of treatment was developed. Since the 19th century, conventional medicine has progressed by leaps and bounds — homeopathy has stayed the same.
Homeopathy follows two “principles”: The Principle of Similarities, and the Principle of the Infintesimals. Let’s say that we had a patient with hives. The Principle of Similarities states that to treat a symptom, you need a substance that causes the same symptoms. For the purpose of our example, to treat hives, we would need to use a substance that actually caused hives. A solution would be made from this substance and then diluted down (the Principle of Infintesimals) to such an incredible extent that it is unlikely that even one molecule of the original substance would remain in the solution. This ultra-dilute solution (in reality: water) would be used to treat the hives.
Medically, Homeopathy is nonsense and bunk. Logically, it makes no sense, and multiple rigorous scientific studies have confirmed that it works no better than placebo. I’ll grant you that there are no side effects — but that’s just because the treatment is simply water. But let’s assume for a minute that Homeopathy does work — and even then Dr. Strange’s statements make no sense. Is he casting a spell that actually worsens her vital signs, but “diluting” the magic? Casting a placebo spell?
I’d suggest he become less chatty and simply cast some real magic, or at the very least use some of his medical skills to stabilize her vitals.
May 18th, 2007 at 9:52 am
Homeopathy and ‘magic’? it’s a mental crap-fest!
That said, Dr. Strange is one of my favorite comics. When he was in the Defenders, every issue was like an acid trip.
May 18th, 2007 at 9:58 am
So the ever popular, and expensive, Zicam is simply water? Wonder how that fights of colds quicker.
May 18th, 2007 at 10:10 am
If I remember correctly, Zicam isn’t actually homeopathic, it’s just using the buzzword, since it’s an unregulated term that most people don’t actually understand. Most folks tend to think it means “herbal” or “nontraditional” remedy and leave it at that.
May 18th, 2007 at 11:20 am
Well, since he *is* using magic, I suppose it’s possible for Strange to actually make homeopathy work, even if that’s about the only way to do so. And that’s if he’s not just using it as a buzzword.
Actually, maybe there’s a correspondence between the homeopathic Principle of Similarities and Frazer’s Law of Similarity from the Golden Bough, one of his proposed implicit laws of magic. That would make sense, since I think we can agree that homeopathy relies heavily on what psychologists call magical thinking. Of course, since Strange is just gesturing here, I’m not sure what the similar item is that he’s using – perhaps a few words, or gestures used as words, or just the though of the injurious substance? Whatever, he’s going beyond homeopathy as theorized in our world and actually using a symbol of something to affect the thing symbolized; magic is just applied semiotics.
May 18th, 2007 at 12:07 pm
Welcome back, Scott! Here’s something I don’t get — if homeopathy is bunk because of the Principle of Similarities, what does that make, for instance, flu shots? Don’t they operate on the same principle (i.e., that if you’re given something that causes a milder version of what you’re trying to prevent, it’ll trigger your immune system against it)?
May 18th, 2007 at 5:14 pm
Elayne, vaccinations are different from homeopathy because they have actual molecules of the weakened virus or dead virus, which causes the body’s immune system to then mount a defense, leaving the person receiving the vaccine able to fend off the full virus if she should later be exposed to it. In homeopathy, a bit of an irritant is put into thousands of gallons of water. One homeopathic cure is thus microscopically the exact same as any other homeopathic cure, which is the same as a glass of water. Well, that’s not quite right. Rescue Remedy is largely a homeopathic dilution in alcohol instead of water.
Furthermore, no responsible doctor would infect a patient with a disease the patient already has, which is the idea behind the principle of similarities. If you go to your doctor with a case of poison ivy, you will not be treated by being exposed to more poison ivy. The homeopathic “remedy” for poison ivy is poison ivy, or more accurately, water that had a bit of poison ivy in it.
May 18th, 2007 at 5:39 pm
Maybe the word he means is “homeostatic”? That might make a bit more sense in context.
May 18th, 2007 at 11:12 pm
He should just use StrangeOn!
Apply the Eye of Agamotto directly to the forehead.
Apply the Eye of Agamotto directly to the forehead.
Apply the Eye of Agamotto directly to the forehead.
May 20th, 2007 at 3:28 am
It didn’t even occur to me that he might not mean that he’s using the law of similarity in some way to stabilise her.
After all, homeopathy is magic, basically.
May 20th, 2007 at 11:41 am
I remember once a show I like did a report on homeopathic treatments, explaining everything in detail and then they went on to do an experiment: they took homeopathic medicine and water and gave them to different groups of people and then looked for something in their blood (can’t remember what it was). For a moment they thought something was wrong because the results all pointed to the homeopathic treatments working; but it turned out to be just a coincidence as they went down the table it turned out 50% water 50% homeopathic.
I hope that makes sense since I’m very hungry and not thinking straight.
May 21st, 2007 at 10:02 am
It seems to me that you’ve taken quite a literal view defining homeopathic. Yes, that is the traditional definition: however, today, I would say that any treatment that is not part of established American medicine, any alternative medicine, would be bunched under the homeopathic tent. There are both good and bad things under there, obviously, but some treatments, such as accupuncture, have been shown in studies to be useful and better than placebo. I’m a pediatrician who works with children with autism, so I run into bunk treatments a lot…but many of the psychotropic medications prescribed to these children also don’t work well and are used without much in the way of actual science to guide their use. Anyway…when reading the New Avengers issue, it didn’t bother me that Doctor Strange used the term as, given his history, he probably sees all alternative (read: mystical) healing, even when effective, as homeopathic.
May 24th, 2007 at 1:48 pm
“Homeopathic does NOT equal Natural” needs to be added to the sign that hangs above every comic book writer’s desk, right under “Y’All is Plural” and “Heat Rises”.
June 8th, 2007 at 10:47 am
Oops — that Lancet article was from August of 2005, not 2006.
September 5th, 2007 at 12:47 pm
[...] Trying to stabilize her vital signs through a series of homeopathic enchantment spells! [...]
April 5th, 2008 at 10:30 pm
No wonder Dr. Strange has become less powerful lately: his spells that are so watered down that they no longer contain a molecule of magic (figuratively speaking).
Leave a Reply
Contact Me
About
Subscribe:
The Best Of...
Special Topics
Archives
Categories
Twitter
See Also
Comic Blogs
Medical/Science Blogs
Currently Reading
Arbitrarily Interesting Medical Condition
Syndrome
The Net:
Contents may have settled during shipping. Past results are no guarantee of future performance. No animals were harmed during the production of this product. Void where prohibited by law. All rights reserved. Not valid with other offers or specials. Professional driver on a closed track. Your financial institution may impose other fees. All models are over 18 years of age. Employees must wash hands before returning to work. Results not typical. Many suitcases look alike. 18% gratuity added to tables of six or more.
Do not taunt Happy Fun Ball.
© 2004-2012 Polite Dissent. Powered by WordPress