medicine

by **lohita** on Wed May 04, 2005 1:43 am

For example if we take a tablet for headache, we get relief. But how does the tablet know to cure head and not effecting other body organs? how does it work?

by **mith** on Wed May 04, 2005 2:42 am

you mean an asprin?

by **Chris4** on Wed May 04, 2005 8:32 am

Im fairly sure you'll find that the drug has an effect all over the body. Drugs like aspirin are so good because they have lots of targets.
Drugs have a target, usually a cell surface receptor and if more of these receptors are found in the brain or head then thats where they will bind. Same with heart drugs.
Can you get drugs specifically for a headache? I'd take paracetamol but that relieves pain all over the body. which is why it cures a headache

by **MrMistery** on Wed May 04, 2005 6:02 pm

It really depends on the drug. Every drug acts in a different way

by **Poison** on Wed May 04, 2005 6:33 pm

The difference between a poison and a drug is usually the amount you take.

by **MrMistery** on Wed May 04, 2005 6:56 pm

Homeopatic drugs... They are actually very dilluated poisons. It is not know how they act to stop the desease, therefore they are included in the "alternative medicine" category

by **mith** on Wed May 04, 2005 8:14 pm

I think homeopathic medicines are fake....usually there isn't any poison at the concentrations listed.

by **Beetle** on Thu May 05, 2005 12:28 am

That aspirine for the headache has also effect on blood. It reduces coagulation so if you take high doses of it your wound will bleed more. That`s why you must not take it before any surgery or before donating blood. It also speeds up circulation and perspiration so you will feel hotter and sweat more and as a result of that your body temperature, if it`s elevated like when you`re sick, should drop down.

by **MrMistery** on Thu May 05, 2005 6:15 pm

@mithrill
I know what you mean. In some of those drugs, there is one molecule of active substance per each 100000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000 00000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000 000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000 molecules of water. So how do they work? Because they do work. Just a few weeks ago, i was ill and took a homeopatic remedy which helped me a lot. It was called oscillococcinum but the name in not important...

by **mith** on Thu May 05, 2005 8:18 pm

Let's say they do the diluting in a big vat. The portion given to you would be a small fraction of the contents of the vat. At such concentrations, how do you know if the portion you are given even has the poison?

Granted, I have read research that seems to suggest low levels of impurities in water may boost immune system, but I believe the effect you experienced is more placebo than actual....