Without the Whitecoat
Testimonies vs. evidence-based practice
Perhaps you have heard of a radio advertisement about a certain herbal medicine where a lady who works in a drugstore gives a testimony pertaining to its effectiveness. That sales clerk in the radio advertisement says that a lot of their customers reported that they were cured after they have taken that so-called herbal concoction.
With her daily work as the drug store clerk or cashier she has observed the progress of her customer, diagnosed as hypertensive, every time it buys the herbal concoction. Well, the drugstore management should perhaps do something about this sales clerk?
With a lot of herbal preparations advertised on the air we are made to believe that there is a cure-all herbal preparation from some small mass to cancer as promised. A liniment which when rub over the skin promises to remove all maladies of the skin. From some products named "Pao" to some drops that will enhance the immune system of the body and then lately to some "virgin" coconut extract that promises to make a part of your body stand. Did we ask ourselves if this advertisements are accurate or just plain misleading on the part of the consumer? We may have lived a culture that searches for a "cure-all" potion, concoction or preparation to address all the problems that we face in life including our pockets and wallets. In the other end of the stick those who believe that testimonials are facts or some sort of a supporting document or statement to make the product acceptable with some pharmaceutical basis, disregarding that in the field of medical practice is evidence or practice based.
We always forget the so-called "herbal nephropathy" that will affect our kidneys. If we look on the shelves of supermarkets we have seen that "virgin" oil which promises a remedy for all. With escalating cost of medications and pharmaceutical products, even though the physician practices pharmacoeconomics the patient as we see it is still on the receiving end short of the financial means to buy the medications. It is always the physician that consultations have to be thrust to not to some ordinary pharmacy clerk, or cashier. We should all remember that the medications prescribed by our doctors went thru some careful testing and studies, the pharmaceutical companies have spent a lot of "mullah" for research and development thus to deliver to all of us a safe and effective medications.
Unfortunately, it seems that there is no government agency that regulates these radio advertisements or commercials. As consumers we must be well aware not to take any commercials hook line and sinker, the testimonies will just serve to back or support any claim by this herbal companies, but in doubt we must always consult our doctors and trust our physicians since they know best.