Episode 869 - Western vs. Eastern Medicine (w/ Brett Gelman)

[JulyDiaz 2797]

Brett Gelman (Dinner in America with Brett Gelman) joins Andrew to talk about Western and Eastern medicine. Make sure to leave us a message about anything you think is racist at (323) 389-RACE.

[Kaiser Sausage 13]

I dislike the use of the term "eastern" and "western" medicine, since it kinda reeks of orientalism. It also suggest that science is something exclusive to the west. Bloodletting and other non evidence based medicine that have been used traditionally in the west are not part of "Western medicine".

[turdlyfurthington 28]

Most scientific progress in the early stages of scientific medicine was of "eastern" origin. We still commonly refer to stuff found in Arab and Perisan empires to this day and Ibn Sina's The Canon of Medicine was still taught in the 18th century (haven been written in 1025).

 

On the other hand, traditional Chinese medicine is one of the most dangerous and destructive forms of medicine in the world and is directly responsible for destruction of endangered species.