This is no at all a new term for us. Any chemical or practice given internally or externally for a short or long time in a small or larger dose which may cause signs and symptoms which represent minor or major damages which is unnatural and also harmful to living beings usually seen during a course of medical treatment is called side effect.
Any chemical can cause side effect. Harmful chemical given in small dose or harmless chemicals given in large doses also can produce side effect.
But this term is different from poisoning as it is associated with treatment. We have discussed about philosophy. Health, disease and treatment all three of them are just concepts of majority of people of a society. This concept not be a universal truth. Hence as mentioned in other chapter the wrong philosophy and the recommended treatment would cause more of side effects than effects. A chemical Sulphur can be administered in several doses and several methods according to several systems of medicine. The medical system which uses the least amount of the chemical without side effect may be the best medicinal system and philosophy.
Some systems of medicine has to restrict doctors to use medicines according to the basic rules of the system codes. When majority of them derail from the basic rules there is no wounder public questioning the torch bearers of the respective system. Minimum dose becomes a myth when too much tinctures are used and side effects would be the worst if basic laws of the best medical field is neglected.
Over doses cause side effect and no pseudoscience is exempted. A system which gives best results if given following all basic rules can be the most dangerous if laws are neglected. A good observer can very well make this out.
With great powers comes greater responsibilities.
FOH