Which leads me to this book:
It began way in the 1950s when human growth hormone (hGH) was discovered to increase height in people (whereas bovine and other animal growth hormone did not), so it was used to treat people with severe dwarfism, people who lacked sufficient hGH, and people whose bodies didn't respond to the levels of hGH they were naturally making. Yet parents pushed for the hGH to be available to their shorter-than-average kids, who usually were quite healthy physically and mentally, though ones who were teased and bullied because of their short stature did exist. The whole book details the problems that resulted in purifying the pituitary gland's hard work, diseases that sprouted among the injected, and government and private companies. The whole "my kid is short so he/she should be made taller because you can do so" is like the "I have a bruise, so I need medication for it" situation in a way. Sometimes, people simplify resolving issues too much, and it gets dangerous. Injecting healthy people with hGH with the justification that their psychosocial problems would be solved allowed more and more parents to use that justification to push their children to obtain hGH to supposedly reach their "potential height." Children as young as 7 started and were monitored. Conclusion: "Normal" changes. It may be difficult to accept what is there, but wouldn't accepting that make whatever results all the more valuable? For instance, the book had a story of two brothers, in which the younger one was extremely short for his age. The psychiatrist documented was against the use of hGH in healthy children because he believed that treating the psychological problem started with self-image. One quote that stood out was when the younger brother said "I may look ten, but I act twelve." One seems to always be overcoming something.
It's ridiculous what people would do to others (or even individuals to themselves) to meet their expectations. But I guess being ridiculous is also just a part of life.
hmm, the only thing I know about healing bruises is to ice it... before or right after it starts to form so the blood vessels constrict and it doesn't spread as much. I'm sure that there are lots of natural remedies to aid bruise healing. Like I read somewhere that Arnica Gel is supposed to help. Or even parsley.
ReplyDeleteI think it was reasonable for that guy to ask about a medicine for bruises; it's not too farfetched. Bruises are uncomfortable, so the faster they go away the more pain-free his life is. Americans like instant gratification, haha. I mean take a paper cut for example. Your body can heal cuts without applying an ointment like Neosporin, but by using it, your cuts heal faster and cleaner.
But I do agree about the HGH. People need to stop trying to make themselves or people around them fit into a cookie cutter mold. It's like plastic surgery and designer babies, both of which I'm totally against (well, plastic surgery is okay for burn/accident victims and such, not for purely vain reasons). And for kids who haven't even hit puberty yet, it's tough to tell. Those parents should instead make sure that their children sleep enough, take in enough calcium, and exercise.
But I wonder, if we keep using neosporin or ointments to quicken healing of our injuries, would our bodies get that message and then when we're older, would our bodies have less ability to heal itself on its own? I feel like using medication when it isn't really needed is unnecessary. Sure, injuries are uncomfortable, but if it's not to the extent that you can't eat, sleep, walk, or do other normal daily tasks, then why use medication? Maybe I have the wrong idea that the medications that help the body heal may actually take over that ability the body naturally has. And I feel like there is a psychological aspect to healing and recovery. hahaha. Think happier thoughts and keep your mind off of the injury and pain, faster it heals! Maybe it works more like the whole "time passes faster when you're having fun" thing.
ReplyDeleteI feel like there's so much information that the public non-medical-oriented people need to be more aware of, and it really sucks to know that some people working in the medicine-oriented job present so many one-sided facts. But maybe they only know that one side... who knows how much other people know.