Useless Baubles, Fancy Trinkets

[October]

It would be fun to learn the history between those two. Bickering like brother and sister, or a pent-up attraction? Her mind works over the possibilities as she sips her drink.

Nodding in agreement, “Diversity is always good. Helps keep things fresh and exciting.” In a way.

She had to chuckle, “It’s rare when I’m not.” It might sound like a joke, but it wasn’t. “As for hobbies?” the Enchantress looks thoughtful, “Nothing too exciting. I enjoy hiking, and quite evenings when I can turn my pager off. Oh! I do enjoy live music. Nothing like a great band and a good drink.” A shrug, “I spend a lot of time writing articles for medical journals, not sure if that counts though. But I’ve yet to really find something that captures my attention and I can spend hours doing. So I’m open to suggestions.” She needed to take more time to just not be a doctor.

“Oh wow. Immigrated after the second world war? I would have loved to have talked with him to hear his stories. Always fascinating.” From her face, she was very interested in what she was saying. “I had to take courses in college learning about patience. It can be a very difficult thing to practice some days. Did you find the calligraphy helped you with patience? Because I have to be honest, I think I would have enjoyed that as a class over classroom study.” The smile returned, “That’d be great!” connecting with other Awakened. Always a good thing.

“I have. They’re not something I deal in a whole lot in my line of work though. But I get and respect the ideas behind them.” The patients she saw needed life saving treatment, like bleeding stopped and nerves reattached.

“An archer club? Great name for one!” she could play along. She wasn’t surprised to hear that a family being sick pushed him to want to learn medicine. Or it pushed them completely the other way. “Well, I can help with teaching you. I spend a majority of my time at the hospital on call, so stop by sometime.” It was the easiest way to find her.

[Phoenyx]

Phoenyx cocks her head at Kaze "I didn't think holistic medicene worked? Isn't that all about tiny amounts of things dissolved in water? Crystals, and that kind of garbage?"

She gives October a small smile. "You might be able to, but you would have to go to him. He doesn't really travel any more." A nod. "Once I was allowed to write my own scripts I found it a lot more interesting. I think it did work, because I am much better at waiting than I was as a teenager."

She looks at Shodan, a little confused. "Because you are supposed to use black? He was very traditional. Were none of your mentors every strict? It was only after I finished my basic training I realised quite how much both he and my parents had kept away, and I was able to experiment a little more. It does mean I find some... social or more modern things strange." She admitted. "But if you all want to try, perhaps we could arrange it."

The Arrow looks thoughtful. "Yes and no. The butterfly effect is that a tornado in one country is caused by a butterfly flapping wings in another, yes? Holistic approaches are considering multiple affects on a given individual. Like... an autopsy. Health, diet, environmental factors are all considered because they all have an effect. So while the butterfly effect measures the scale of consequence from a single action, holistic approaches consider all the factors influencing a single point." The Arrow explains carefully; she could be very scientific. "Lessons? Oh... I just thought with so many potential risks in city life people might like to learn some defensive methods. A single action with far-reaching effects. And... and it was to help me work on my social skills." She withdraws a little, looking defensive.

As far as holistic medicene went, it was amusing to see Shodan react so much. As if he were some champion on scientific method. But at least they were on the same page this time.

[Kaze]

“Wow, thank you. I will definitely take you up on that!” Kaze says enthusiastically to October’s offer to visit her hospital!

The young oriental mage smiles and nods at the objections of his peers to his stated interest in holistic medicine. “Yes, the general Western mindset is to discount anything that can’t be controlled and forced to produce predictable, reliable results as fake.” he agrees.

”Holistic medicine isn’t actually in opposition to the Western approach; it’s complementary. Basically, Western medicine is about believing you understand the specific, mechanism causing a problem in the physical body and directly interfering with natural processes to ‘fix’ it with drugs or surgery. That’s good when you really do understand what you’re doing, and even when you don’t, you can get lucky. Like ‘fixing’ a deterioration of a joint by surgically replacing it with a mechanical replacement, or fighting cancer by surgically removing the flesh and organs that have cancer cells in them and pumping radiation and toxins into the area to try to kill any cancer cells you missed.”

Kaze pauses and says, “Holistic medicine is more of a philosophy of believing that the body’s ability to heal itself can be freed up and encouraged by changing the environment in and around the body in ways that don’t directly ‘fix’ anything. The thing is, it’s actually more scientifically proven in Western medicine than anything else, but it’s unpredictable and uncontrollable. What I mean is, every single time a new medicine or surgery, any treatment really, comes along, the Western medical scientific process requires a ‘blind study ‘, to validate it. And every blind study requires a control group that doesn’t get the treatment, but they think they are getting it.”

Kaze nods to Shodan, “Sugar pills.” he says.

”And the reason they use that method is to allow for the placebo effect. You know what that is right? Everyone knows what it is but tends not to think about it. See in every one of these tests, some of the people in the control group show positive results even though they aren’t really getting treatment at all. Their body heals itself because they believe they are getting a treatment that will help them, and the test is necessary to show that the real treatment produces better results than the placebo effects in the control group!”

”So it is totally scientifically proven a hundred times a year that the body can heal itself given encouragement whenever they screen out for it to test a Western style treatments effectiveness. But it is random. It’s no surprise that someone in the control group is going to show positive results even though there’s no specific way to predict who or make it happen.”

Kaze sighs, “I understand how it would seem unscientific because it isn’t predictable or controllable or reproducible and it seems to require faith to work, but it is definitely a very scientifically proven, real phenomenon, and I am interested in learning how to incorporate it with my learning Western medicine.”

[October]

As Shodan asked his questions, October sipped her drink. Her legs pulled up under her as she listened. “That is true, you do only live once.” A nod, “Might as well have as much fun as you can! Plus, you’d have a great ice breaker with only one eye.”

She shrugs, “Holistic isn’t going to cure cancer or fix a broken bone. But there are people who believe in it enough to forgo modern medicine. I’ve seen them, tried to treat them, and there’s not much you can do. Well, have them sign paperwork letting them know they can’t sue me when they die.” It was a thing, people gladly signed them and walked away to their deaths. “As to sugar pills, or placebos, it’s different. The people that claim they work, or claim they got sick on them, are experiencing the placebo effect. Theories vary on what causes it, but has to do with the relationship of mind and body. If the person is expecting the placebo to have a desired effect, then their own body’s chemistry can cause the effects similar to what they would get with an actual medication. If you give someone a pill and tell them what it is and what could happen, some experience it. Tell them it’s a stimulant, and suddenly they report an increase in heart rate. Which is why blind studies don’t tell the patients what they might experience. It helps prevent the placebo effect.” The human mind was a powerful thing. “I don’t prescribe holistic medicine to my patients; I provide what I know has scientific proof of being beneficial. But I also know there are enough that believe in it.” Let people pick what they want. “Thankfully, I don’t have to deal with it very often. The patients I see are on the verge of death, they don’t usually get a say in treatment.” Mostly because they were unconscious.

“From what I’ve seen, it doesn’t. But the human mind is a powerful thing.” Crystals aren’t going to cure cancer anytime soon.

“If I didn’t just move and start a new job, I’d certainly be up for some traveling.” But that was her retirement plan, travel the world.

There was an impressed look on her face as she listened, “Well stated.” She complimented.

“I can’t say it will be exciting, trauma is hit and miss. But weekends are the best bet if you want to see a trauma bay in full swing.” And full moons.

Nodding as Kaze spoke, “While that’s true, if it was reliable, I would be out of a job.” A shrug, it was only the truth.

[Phoenyx]

Kaze really had done his study. The Arrow was impressed, even though she was trying not to give Kaze too much thought. It was hard. October's insights were similarly complementary to Kaze's own.

Focusing in Shodan was easier."That means we were being taught different lessons by the same method," Phoenyx agrees with a small smile. "Having learned those lessons; patience, precision - I can balance them with creativity again."

"Holistic is simply a word for understanding connected parts through a whole, not specifically medical. It has simply been hijacked that way in common language," Pheonyx objects lightly. "The methodology and approach is sound in many instances. Holistic medicene believes in treating the body in multiple ways, including through the spirit and mind." The ghost of a smile is back. "Perhaps, maybe, there is a hint of truth in overcoming physical ailments through the mind. Some way science does not yet inderstand." After all, both she and Kaze could do it. The idea that spiritual purity could heal the physical form had existed for centuries. Was it so hard to consider this was an ancient interpretation of Life Arcana remaining in Sleeper minds? It sounded almost implausible... and yet possible. That was what made philosophy fun.

[Kaze]

“I agree, it would only make sense for me as a supplementary study, for a non urgent situation like when someone is recovering from surgery, or in hospice.” Kaze says. “I want to be mindful of both the immediate medical need requiring dramatic intervention and the long view with small environmental factors possibly playing a big role. I think it appeals to me to get the chance to get to know the people I’m trying to help as people, you know?”

He smiles wistfully and nods to Phoenyx, “I don’t mean to hijack the conversation though. I guess the principal applies more than medical treatment.”

[October]

An absent nod, “I get that. I feel I had to work extra hard in medical school to prove my abilities, that I belonged there. Was a pain in the ass, but oh so worth it when I made Dean’s List and they didn’t.” a shrug, fuck em.

She had to laugh as she listened to Shodan, “I have to say, you’re quite passionate about this. It’s impressive.” Not many talked with such passion about holistic medicine.

Snorting, “My medical degrees certainly say I’m way ahead of you on that front.” She jokes with a small wink. “The patients that buy into that line of thinking are common. And usually once I pull out the paperwork absolving me of any liability if they die, they come around.” Sometimes, there will always be those that will stick to their beliefs. And good for them. Laughing with him, “Well, it is why I have insurance.” Expensive insurance at that.

Looking thoughtfully to Phoenyx, “There is a lot that modern medicine and science do not understand. And perhaps never will. Have there been instances of holistic care working? Yes. It can’t really be explained, and if it can, good luck finding two scientists or doctors to agree on it. There are simply somethings we cannot understand.” And as mages, they knew that all too well. “I just try and lay out a treatment plan for my patient, and leave the decision in their hands. I might not always agree with it, but I have to respect it. And cover my ass.” That was important. Never forget that.

To Kaze, “I have seen some holistic care help cancer patients after chemo. Rather it be quality of life, or simply providing energy. I can’t explain it, but it brings a smile to their faces, and that’s what's important.”

Laughing, “It’s all good. I’m always game for fun and thought provoking conversations.”

Soo sorry! I'm still getting back used to having a mage. Please throw something heavy at me if I forget.