Shurt, we know homeopathy is available on the NHS and we know that's total bollocks.
No one mentioned homeopathy. Apart from you.
Lund, I am over 35.
My issue is that medicine is sold to punters as some thing that will categorically fix you a lot of the time by doctors, surgeons and consultants. It's not real. I've learnt to look after and manage my injuries, of which I've a fair few, but that help hasn't come from a doctor. They gave me pills and injections which didn't help.
I'd personally look at other options available before getting steroids injected into your joints. Maybe that's just me.
I agree that reading a lot is good, theres no end of info on the web.
Sloper, on the subject of Medicine being an alloy of art and science etc. I think that the evidence base is often suspect and paid for by drugs companies so its not that cut and dried. If you've spent a lot of money developing a drug you'd be pretty interested in it passing the necessary tests so you can start recouping your investment. The placebo effect is really interesting too, theres been a lot of stuff around about it lately.
One example of something related:
http://www.nhs.uk/news/2007/January08/Pages/Antidepressantsdontwork.aspxI don't see what the problem is with taking what you can from as many different approaches as possible rather than following one in an almost religious way.