Friday, June 24, 2005

Nice usage of research grants!

Read this

Ah yes! The age old remedy! It actually cures everything, from headaches to cancer. You want to know what it is? Well, it's right there in the article (not the botox, the principle) and it's perhaps best phrased in a greek folk proverb: "Head hurt, cut head". Yep! You have a headache? Transform your head into an immobile facade and you may have a 35% reduction in headache frequency!

I am not against research, even trivial-looking, seemingly unnecessary research. And we should do whatever we can to battle headaches. But somehow I don't think this is it. We know that muscle spasms (from prolonged facial expressions, like wincing to look at a computer screen for example, or cringing in stress, anything like that) can cause headaches, even spark migraines. Is "taking out" the muscles with a toxin the solution though? Why not cut off the whole head? No more headaches!

And consider this: If this "treatment" were approved, how many people would feign headaches (it is really easy, there are very few ways to disprove a headache) and get botox cosmetic procedures courtesy of their insurance - and in the end to the detriment of all?

Money wasted, if you ask me, that research grant. But then you don't ask me =p

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