Prairie Doc Perspective: Unraveling some medical myths

Myths are just stories we tell ourselves and others to make sense of the world around us.  Myths convey beliefs or values and attempt to tell truths.  In their effort to tell the truth, myths may exaggerate or misrepresent things.  Sometimes this misrepresentation is innocent, while other times it is used as a tool to regulate or manipulate people.  Myths can be used to give a sense of power and control over an overwhelming situation.
Of the many types of myths, ones that deal with medicine are particularly common.  A person’s life can feel out of control during times of sickness or injury.  It is easy to feel powerless when one’s body is not feeling or acting normally.  A story that helps explain why this is happening can be comforting.  A story can assign blame to whom or what caused this. It can also serve as a lesson or a warning to others.  In every myth there is usually some small bit of truth that makes it believable.