From a brief review of this thread all I can offer is my own views on science which to greater or lesser degrees have already been touched upon by others.
My background is largely an historical one. From my perspective, all science is founded upon what was at one time misunderstood as magic, satan worship and "quackery". In my mind, science is not unlike a house of cards where each new theory is built upon previously accepted theories and when casually viewed from a distance, the illusion of a solid house is perceived. Then comes the Einsteins and Hawkings of the world who give us pause and challenge us to rethink the indisputable laws of nature that "we" were willing to kill others for doubting in years gone by. The kings of science who are very nearly worshipped, like Neuton, are eventually relegated to the sidelines of their art.
In this sense, forming strong opinions one way or the other about something that is so little understood only guarantees that you will find yourself being "proven" wrong when the dust settles.
What I choose to put my faith in is the scientific method. In the search for truth, we can build a better world for ourselves. Whether or not the immutable laws of science in our times become the jokes of future scientists or not is out of our hands.
Homeopathy and Naturopathy don't embrace the scientific method as I understand it and for this reason, I will never fully accept it. Even though I acknowledge that most of our drugs today are predicated by the use of herbs and ointments discovered by medicine men and midwives through the ages, I also have to wonder how many people suffered needlessly during those many long centuries of trial and error.
Western medicine is far from perfect but how can I compare it to something that refuses to step out into the light and be measured? I wouldn't build my house with boards handed to me by unknown people on their assurances that the timbers were sound and cut to my specifications - I would "measure twice and cut once" for each and every timber in my house. Ok, I suppose I would actually hire people I trusted to do it properly for me.
I have no doubt that so called "pseudo-sciences" hold the keys to some of our greatest scientific mysteries just as the bark of the willow tree or moldy bread lead to some of the greatest medical discoveries of our relatively short human history.
In short, hypothesize, experiment, document, repeat...when Homeopathy and Naturopathy adopt this simplistic approach to seeking truth, I will become a bigger fan. For this reason, I put Dr. Ebringer into the exact same category. Until he publishes his work and lets others replicate his findings in independent studies, I will look at all the anecdotal claims of wondrous magic with skepticism.
Here endeth my ignorant and opinionated sermon.
Chris
