Here I am, wilting in the heat, in front of a pile of rocks which are the ruins at Asclepieion on the island of Kos – where Hippocrates set up the world’s first hospital.
How did we come so far and somehow – not far at all – with the whole Tylenol-and-autism thing??
Hippocrates is remembered – long after this physical structure has fallen – because he brought reasoning and logic to the medicine and patient care.
While he didn’t get it all correct — we certainly know that we don’t need to balance our four humours anymore! — the scientific structure he brought was a giant leap forward for humanity and healthcare.
When I’m back, we will be talking about the science of autism. It is really important we talk about the science. Some of the discussions not only contain misinformation, they promote ideas that are harmful to women and children. They go back to the dark ages of blaming women for their children’s autism or withholding pain relief from women and pregnant women. The dark ages of single “cures” for complex diseases that need individual care.
More should have been left in the Dark Ages: Not everything here in Askeplion was great. Patients were given hallucinogenics and manipulated with religion into placebo effects of well-being. Sadly, we in 2400 years, we have never progressed beyond for-profit predatory “clinics” selling treatments that do not work to those who are desperate. They may be using fewer snakes – but it’s only a small jump to snake-oil, no matter what label they put on those supplements.
If people more than 2400 years ago – without the internet – could approach their health with science and reasoning, so can we.
So, let’s talk about the current evidence for autism, what the latest research shows (what is the actual thing they are talking about vitamins?) and find resources you can trust – which isn’t a politician looking for attention.
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