You've asked a doctor about a supplement, an herb, or a therapy like hyperbaric oxygen or ozone, and gotten a flat "that doesn't work" in return, with no real explanation and no room for follow up questions.
Why this episode matters:
Dr. Su has watched this happen to his own patients for years. In this episode he names exactly what's going on and gives it a term, ontological humility, the simple idea that we don't know what we don't know. He applies it to both sides of the exam room, and by the end you'll understand not just why doctors dismiss what they don't know, but why patients need to ask the same honest questions about the herbs and supplements they trust.
What you will learn:
Why conventional doctors often say "it doesn't work" when the honest answer is "I don't know enough to say"
Why "natural" doesn't automatically mean "safe," and what's actually missing from the research on herbs and supplements
How to think about the real risk of what you're taking, instead of assuming risk is zero because it came from a health food store
Key themes:
Ontological humility as a framework for honest practice
The time crunch behind conventional medicine's dismissiveness
The unregulated gray zone of supplement and herbal research
Dr. Su doesn't let either side off the hook here. He's direct that dismissing a therapy just because you're unfamiliar with it is unfair and unjust, and he's equally direct that assuming a supplement is safe just because it's not a pharmaceutical is its own kind of unearned confidence. His answer isn't to pick a side, it's to be honest about what's actually known and unknown, and to weigh real risk before making a decision.
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Disclaimer: This podcast is for educational purposes only. Information discussed is not intended for diagnosis, curing, or prevention of any disease and is not intended to replace advice given by a licensed healthcare practitioner. This podcast and its guests may have direct or indirect financial interests associated with products mentioned.
