It was our first time volunteering at Garden of Palms, a secluded little place located between two buildings in West Hollywood. When I arrived, I was struck by the peacefulness of the small courtyard, with its palm trees and garden in the middle of the elderly home.
We presented our lecture on the history of unusual medications, which we had done before and received positive feedback. But this time, the audience was more interested in the facts and wanted to know more about the side effects of the false medications we discussed, as well as other drugs like penicillin and amoxicillin. The feedback we received was vastly different from last time.
Our conclusion was also different. Instead of focusing on the deceptiveness of "snake oil sellers," we ended on a note of reconciliation. We realized that science is never absolute, and it might be condescending to use our current understanding to judge science from the past. In such uncertainties, it might be best to take things in moderation. Overall, it was an enlightening and thought-provoking experience.
Christina Deng, Crystal Yu, Kelsey Jian, Leou Ying, Melanie Rizkalla, John Ha at 9/25/2022
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