The problems with research - Part III
In Parts I & II of this article we discussed many of the issues with research. Knowing vital data used in the research makes a world of difference in interpreting research so that we can intelligently apply it to our health care decisions.
As published in the Journal of the American Medical Association, Dr. John P.A. Ioannidis, chief of Stanford University's Prevention Research took 49 of the largest, most well-accepted research studies and studied them. He concluded that 41% had been convincingly shown to be wrong or significantly exaggerated. If you can't trust these, what can you trust?
Hormone Replacement is another faux pas. When found that estrogen had natural protective effects against heart disease and osteoporosis, an assumption was made that giving synthetic hormones would do the same. Wrong! Instead of being protective, studies found that not only did synthetic HRT not hold to the original premise, but caused a greater potential for strokes, coronary heart events, and breast cancer.
Yet, additional concerns from another side, are the limitations imposed on research. For example, acupuncture research is coming out in hoards, just about all of which has been great. But I look at the results and think, "Oh come on! I get much better results than that!"
Then I remember that in real practice (as opposed to in a research lab), we are taking the whole person, the entire spectrum of signs and symptoms, into consideration when selecting acupuncture points to treat. We could have 10 patients come in with seemingly the same type of arthritis, for example, and have a different formulary of treatment points for each, depending on their other symptoms and signs.
In a research lab, they are forced to use only a few, very selective points, without deviation. That makes a tremendous difference in response rate!
As we are being whipped around by claims that support the efficacy of one product or food, then another denouncing it, how can we possibly know what is true? How can we make health giving, or even life-saving decisions! I hate to say it, because most everyone can't do it, but unless you read the entirety of the study and understand the bias and all aspects of the components used in the study, you really can't rely on it at all.
As more and more scholars are scrutinizing research and discovering that the very framework and the biases are skewing the results, we are now in a place where we must question everything! As health care costs are soaring and many, if not most of the regimes are dependent on research, it is vital that research be taken apart and questioned with an all probing eye. It's sad to know that this system we have become so reliant on has actually been leading patients and physicians astray, causing harm and even death.
My advice: Before relying on research, study the research (not just read the summary) or use just plain common sense!
Dr. Holly Carling is a Doctor of Oriental Medicine, Licensed Acupuncturist, Doctor of Naturopathy, Clinical Nutritionist and Master Herbologist with over 30 years of experience. Dr. Carling is currently accepting new patients and offers natural health care services and whole food nutritional supplements in her Coeur d'Alene clinic. Visit Dr. Carling's website at www.vitalhealthandfitness.com to learn more about Dr. Carling, view a list of upcoming health classes and read other informative articles. Dr. Carling can be reached at (208) 765-1994 and would be happy to answer any questions regarding this topic.