Guest guest Posted October 14, 2003 Report Share Posted October 14, 2003 wainwrightchurchill 3) " It may be that alternative medicines have demanded the placebo investigation. " Has anyone on this list, eager for the scientific study of CM, demanded the placebo investigation? Wainwright, I have initiated 8 randomized, placebo-controlled, blinded studies involving Chinese herb formulas targeted at specific clinical outcomes and what I anticipated were related physiological mechanisms. The results of these studies would have been interpreted very differently if there had not been a placebo group, and in one study there was an additional control group that did nothing. The issue of what a placebo actually does definitely complicates the interpretation of research results, especially since a placebo effect is not going to be the same when measuring the outcomes of different conditions. However, it is useful as a point of reference. In one study we had both placebo and a second control group that did nothing and it turned out that those two groups had the exact same outcomes and biochemistry. What would be a better way to address the question of whether doing nothing would result in similar treatment outcomes as a particular therapy than to have a control? If you have suggestions I'd be interested in hearing them. By the way, the groups taking Chinese herbs achieved statistically significant improvements in all 8 studies. Stephen Morrissey OMD Chinese Herbal Medicine, a voluntary organization of licensed healthcare practitioners, matriculated students and postgraduate academics specializing in Chinese Herbal Medicine, provides a variety of professional services, including board approved online continuing education. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You are posting as a guest. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.