John in Georgia asks: How did we find out which natural medicines worked?
Trial and error mostly. Long before animals were used in scientifically controlled lab experiments our ancestors were forced to use other humans to discover if something was good or bad for us. The only way to find out if a particular plant had a curative effect was for the medicine man to persuade the tribe idiot into eating it. If it cured an ailment it was good. If it killed him it wasn’t so good, and duly noted to avoid that plant next time around. Over the centuries thousands of perfectly good village idiots died for the betterment of mankind.
So next time you swallow a herb like catuaba to help “raise the flagpole”, take just a second to salute all the prior guinea pigs that paved the way to gain this vital knowledge.
2 comments:
For some strange reason this reminds me that the common natural location for the bacteria that makes yogurt is between your toes.
For some reason, this reminds me that the natural location of the bacteria used for making yogurt is between your toes. Did someone step in a bowl of milk and then tried it some time later?
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