The Limitations of Science

You can learn a lot from a 7th grade science textbook 

This year Heidi is taking a general science class, and since it's the beginning of the year, the beginning of the science book talks about general sciencey-stuff.

 The history of science, the scientific method, and the limitations of science. 

That's one thing I don't remember ever learning...the limitations of science.  Do you know what they are??

Well, it depends on who you ask, really. 

According the College of Dupage the 3 limitations of science are

1) Science can't answer questions about value,

2) Science can't answer questions about morality.

3) Science can't answer questions about the supernatural.

All that is very true of course. 

However, according to Heidi's science textbook the 3 limitations of science are

1) Science can't prove anything. 

2) Science is not 100% reliable

3) The constraints of the scientific method.  

University of California Davis seems to agree. 

Why do I bring this up?  Most of my readers are probably moms or other women who have no desire to go back to science class.  

I bring it up because I am a scientist. I've conducted scientific trials.  I'm very familiar with the scientific method and how to read a scientific article and how to conduct a scientific trial. That is what my education is in.  I have a Bachelor's of Science in Animal Science and a Master's of Science in Reproductive Physiology of Dairy Cows.

I'll let you stop laughing now...yes...you actually CAN get a degree in that.  A mostly useless degree (unless you are a dairy farmer) but a degree nonetheless...one you can frame and hang on your wall and everything. 

The reason I bring this up is because there seems to be some controversy about faith and science and reason lately. 

As some of you know, we use a lot of natural remedies. That's doesn't mean we are anti-Western medicine by any means.  Not at all.  We do see traditional doctors should the need arise.  But it also means that I'm likely to try to alternative means of healing an ear infection before using antibiotics and I'm likely to use vitamins and herbs to treat the common cold (with great success, I might add).  

Some people seem to find this confusing.

 They don't understand how someone with a scientific background or degree could use "unproven remedies". 

But, let's go back to the limitations of science. 

Science can't prove anything.  Science is not 100% reliable. 

The constraints of the scientific method. 

Science can't prove anything.  That means that anyone who says "X is proven safe" is wrong. This also means that anyone who says "X is proven unsafe" is wrong. Anyone who says that "It is proven that X causes Y" is wrong. Likewise, anyone who says "It is proven that X does NOT cause Y" is wrong.

All we can say is "Currently studies shows that....blah, blah, blah"

This DOESN'T mean science is worthless. Science is a wonderful thing. It just means that it's not 100%.

Some people seem to treat science like an infallible god...they seem to forgot all the numerous ways scientific thought has changed over the years.  A good scientist questions everything and takes NOTHING for granted.  All scientific thought is open to refute.   History is full of examples of scientific facts changing. Just think of poor Pluto, the former planet.   

Furthermore, science is constrained by the scientific method.  I believe that constraint is especially important in the area of health and medicine.  Why? Because you can never design a perfect scientific trial using people (or animals).  Everyone's body is different.  People have different genetics and different health histories and different diets and different strengths or weaknesses in their bodies.  

We all know this.  

Sally, Suzy, Sam and Stefan all have depression. With the help of a pharmaceutical Sally is able to lead a normal happy life.  With the help of dietary changes and nutritional supplements, Suzy is able to lead a normal happy life.  Sam is helped by a different pharmaceutical than that which helps Sally and Stefan is helped by different dietary changes or supplements than those that help Suzy. 

We all know that the same treatment doesn't always affect everyone the same way. 

We all know that the same foods don't affect everyone the same way. 

Little Timmy can drink milk every day of his life and be totally happy.  While if little Tommy drinks milk he gets stomachaches. And, little Tiffany can drink milk as long she doesn't have too much, but if she does, her little digestive system protests.

Three different kids...three different outcomes. 

This is why scientific trials involving and health and medicine and treatments are so tricky.  There is so much room for error because no two people are the same. That's not to say that they are worthless.  They are the best we have, and they are pretty darn good at that, but it does mean that nothing is proven and nothing is 100% reliable. 

So what's my point? 

We should all extend a little more grace to each other if other people choose different health paths than we do.  

I've tried chiropractic care. It didn't do anything for me. Mainstream science doesn't really support it.  But that doesn't mean I'm going to pooh-pooh it and say it's worthless.  

If YOU find benefits from chiropractic care, that's great.  And, if you find benefits from pharmaceutical medicine, that's great.  And, if I find benefits from certain herbs and eating gluten-free, that's great for me.  We should all respect each other's health choices, because we are all different, and we all respond a bit differently to different things.

Maybe you feel just wonderful eating a typical American diet.  Maybe the person next to you, loves her vegan diet and feels awesome on that.  And maybe the person on the other side feels awesome eating Paleo.  That's okay.  It's important to respect each other's health and dietary choices, because no matter what anyone says, no one really knows the best way to eat or the best way to treat disease or pain. 

For just about every study you find that says X, you can probably find another study that says Y. I think ESPECIALLY in areas of health and medicine, we need to extend more grace and understanding to each other.  No one way is proven because science can't prove anything and there are an awful lot of conflicting scientific studies (even properly conducted ones) out there.  

7 Ways Dealing with the Flu Made Me a Better Mom

It started last Monday night...10 days ago. First Greta came down with the flu, then Heidi, then John, then Ben, then me and finally Elsa.   Like a row of dominoes, we fell one by one.

Kinda like these guys. 

 I don't think I've ever had the flu before (well, maybe as a kid).  I will admit, I was a bit blasé about the whole thing.  Oh the flu, no big deal.  We can deal with it, We're fine. We don't need the flu shot.  And, I still think that. I don't regret not getting the flu shot. It's been tough being quarantined and dealing with illness but I've learned a lot from the experience and we've all come through it just fine.

And, in some ways, dealing with influenza has made me a better mom.

 (Disclaimer, I realize a lot of families have a much tougher time with illness like this than we do. I'm very thankful that we are all healthy and none of us have any chronic health issues that could make the flu particularly dangerous.  I realize that is not the case for everyone.  What is really nothing more than an inconvenience for us, could be extremely dangerous for others ).

1.

I've had to slow down, way, way down.  Usually I'm rushing from one thing to the next....gotta do this, so I can do that, so I can do the next thing, so we can go there.   It was nice living at a slower pace for awhile, and not being so pressured to get stuff done.  It was even more relaxing not feeling the pressure to go anywhere....and hey.  We saved an entire week's worth of gas!

2. 

It was very relaxing letting go of standards and expectations and everyone going a bit crazy on Netflix.  Almost like a little mini-vacation.  There is something remarkably luxurious about watching movies in the middle of the day.....even if you do have a fever and chills. 

3.

It helped me learn to be content staying home..with just us. I used to have an almost maniac desire to get out of the house and talk to other women.  Not that doing that is bad....it's a wonderful thing, but my desire and push to get it was so strong, sometimes to the detriment of family.  I'd drag my kids places they didn't want to go, just because I needed the social outlet.  And, again, that's not necessarily a bad thing, but being stuck in the house for ten days with barely any outside contact is a great way to learn family togetherness and grow closer to everyone else.   And, I learned that I really could survive that time...maybe even thrive during it. 

4. 

By the time I was really sick, the older kids were basically on the mend,  So, I've had to let them take over some of my regular jobs.....like cooking dinner.  And, that turned out to be a good thing.  My kids all love to cook, but I usually dread letting them do so, because when they cook the whole process takes three times as long and makes five times the mess.   So, it was somewhat painful having to sit on the sidelines and watch...but that is the only way they are going to learn. 

5. 

I can't yell. I just can't.  It hurts my throat...so that's forced me to practice slow, calm, even talking.  Which, I'm hoping to keep up, even when my vocal cords are back in top-notch condition.  Last year I gave up yelling for Lent., but since that time, I'm afraid I've back-slid quite a bit.  I'm really hoping to get back on the no-yelling band wagon. 

6. 

We got to practice caring and compassion.  The well members of the family spent a lot of time caring for the sick members....bringing them drinks, more blankets, pillows, cough drops.  Practice serving others is always a good thing. 

7.

Unpleasant tasks make you stronger. When we are sick, we don't just around and convalesce. Oh no, no no.  I make sure we take ALL THE VITAMINS and DRINK ALL THE WEIRD HEALTH, HERBAL CONCOCTIONS and take ALL THE COD LIVER OIL.  For some odd reason, no one was too crazy about my homemade cough syrup consisting of honey, apple cider vinegar, ginger, onions and garlic.*  I can't imagine why. Sounds delish..no? So everyone got to practice a bit of penance and  a lot of obedience when I forced this down their throat at regular intervals.

*It's really not that bad.  Really it's not. You just boil honey and vinegar with sliced ginger, garlic and onions.  Boil a long time until all the good stuff comes out of the herbs and then strain, let cool and take about 1 tablespoon at at time.  It really does help..and it honestly doesn't taste *that* bad. 

Bonus Benefit Nothing to Do with Motherhood.  Having the flu decreases your appetite which shrinks your stomach, which is a great way to kick-start practicing healthy portion control and all that.  Just sayin'.

(Linking up with Jen for 7 Quick Takes Friday).