Old and new

With reference to Alternatives? ally (March 7) modern treatment modalities propagated worldwide by pharmaceutical houses is packaged as evidence-based medicine (EBM) which makes judicious use of clinical evidence in making decisions about the care of individual patients. This practice relies less on tradition or the instinct of a physician. However, time-tested therapeutic measures of different types are in vogue in various human societies since the dawn of human civilisation. Both the older and newer treatments have pros and cons of their own. They are not mutually exclusive. So, the traditional wisdom and latest ideas can be made complementary to each other to serve ailing humans more effectively.

Arun Kumar Laha Howrah-4

Holistic clue

Alternatives? ally argued the case well. The methodology of healing depends simply on the make-up and constitution of a person. Plain living and high thinking is the basic recipe for our well-being. There are no parameters to judge any disorder or ailment except in the totality of a personality. So holistic approach is the only way to deal with an anomaly in the body. These basic principles should be kept in mind while evaluating alternative medicines. Great philosophers like Guyton and Hahnemann can be reassessed as a guiding force. Toby Murcott has should be thanked for his scientific temperament in focussing on the conflicts inherent in neuropsychopharmacology.

Samir Lodh Cossipore

Wrong signals

This refers to Kids? burden much heavier (February 7), in which it was rightly pointed out that passive smoking affects children?s lungs. The nasty habit also sends wrong signals to the vulnerable minds and the children pick up the habit in very easily.

Ahtesham Ahmad Burdwan