CureOrBust wrote:I haven't cross checked their claims, but "patentstorm" is not a repository of peer reviewed articles.
Patent Storm is a portal into the patent system. Are there peer-reviewed patents?
This might be an interesting indication that perhaps NAG has some serious potential benefit... why else would someone try to patent the USE OF A NUTRIENT? If they patent it, they can control it's use for that purpose and claim licensing fees.
If the patent thing goes through, then *I'm* going to patent something... like maybe "the use of common elemental gas mixtures to prevent hypoxia" or "the use of hydrogen hydroxide in the prevention of dehydration". Then, I'll sue anybody who breathes or drinks water without paying my exhorbitent licensing fees. Mwa-ha-ha-ha!
And, just for safety's sake, I'll only let people read my patent brief twice, through louvered blinds... I can then get a double blinds peer review. You may insert a joke about reading on a jetty with royalty here, if you like.
OK, back on topic... nope, I lied.
So, which trials are more likely to get serious review and promotion:
Trials of a controlled drug that cost the developer $50 millions of dollars, and will sell for $500 per dose for $25000 for a year's treatment, or
Trials of an inexpensive, easy to obtain amino acid, vitamin, oil, etc., that can be purchased by anyone?
Now, the first medication may help about 30% of the people who stay on a long regimin, but you can't really tell until the autopsy. Blood tests have to be done periodically to ensure that the patient isn't rejecting the medication or building up a tolerance to it.
The second seems to help maybe 3 out of 10 people -- of those three (of ten) it benefits some more and some less. It's not toxic. The "normal" person does not have a deficit and does not have a problem metabolizing the components -- so it's highly unlikely that a "patient" would, either.
The first requires several doctors' reviews, and a prescription, lab work, follow-up lab work, and the doctor controls what goes on.
The second is in the control of the patient who does his/her own "peer" review, and decides wx to try or not, based on anecdotal evidence (because, face it, REAL science wouldn't touch that foo-foo, childish, wishful-thinking, voodoo, black-magic crap with a 3.3 meter pole). The patient is in charge of what to try and when and where -- but any results are not valid, because therapeutic benefits may just be the result of the sense of well-being or empowerment from being in control.
Some people will have to quit the first treatment because of bad reactions, painful or unpleasant side effects, fear, etc. These negative emotional reactions may be masking any REAL therapeutic results, and the patient is doing their health a dis-service by not tuffing it out and listening to what the doctor says -- after all, s/he knows best, and any minor pain or discomfort is a small price to pay for the chance that it may help out somewhere down the line. Little baby!
Some people will quit the second protocol because -- well, you know it can't REALLY be doing any good, because not 100% of the people who tried it were immediately cured (improvement is not enough -- CURE people! Anything less means it's a sham!) Others will continue on the protocol because even tho' Science says that there's an infintessimal chance that it's doing anything it still makes them feel better... even if a reduction in numbness, tingling, L'ermets, hermits, dwarves, bad breath, etc. is totally imaginary. OK, the reduction in dwarves (magical creatures) was imaginary. The rest is real, because I haven't seen any hermits in a long, long time. Some people will quit because they will read about a doctor who says that it's not really the XYZ that is helping, but it's probably just that the person is taking better care of themselves, getting more rest, eating right and stuff -- which makes them THINK they feel better. You know, that MS stuff is all mental.
Sadly, the mortality of the second group is 100%, given enough time. The last known soldier from WWI just passed away, and he was 110 years old. I'll be reasonably safe in saying that even if you think that something may be helping, you're going to die (and within 100 years).
On the other hand, the mortality of the first group is improved somewhat -- remember, the goal of the medicine is NOT to stop or reverse MS... the best we can do it so slow it down or make it appear that it is arrested. You'll still have exacerbations and episodes, and if you try any of that wacky weed for pain, then YOU'LL be arrested, too.
OK, fun time is over. I don't advocate going it alone, totally ignoring either a doctor's advice or the disease itself. I don't disavow the possible benefits of weekly, multi-day, or daily shots, monthly infusions, PIC lines, intravenous steroids, or anything else that helps people. I DO advocate having a spiritual base -- it can't hurt, it might not "help", but it makes ME feel better. I do advocate watching diet and nutrition, because those have helped a lot of people. I do advocate keeping an open mind but a tight grip on your wallet and a cautious outlook -- I've never seen a miracle cure that came in a bottle for $7.99 (except maybe Clairol Sahara (Light Blonde #2 -- because if you feel better about yourself, you ARE going to have more fun. Blonde or not). I've never seen anything happen instantaneously (except combustion) and I don't think I've seen anything happen over night. You don't get artereosclerosis after one cheese burger, and you won't get rid of it after a good night's rest... it takes a while to grow watermelon from seed, and that's the same way my body heals (er, reference to care over time, not compost, soil, water, and sunshine). If you think that Vitamin D3 (or E or Omegas 3 & 6) may help, then research a bit... give it a try, but don't figure you'll be figure-skating the next day. If you think that NAG or NAC or ALA or ALC et al will help you remember the alphabet song, then I don't think it can hurt to learn more and give it a try if it's not contraindicated. If you think that C + B6 + B12 + the slope of the hypotenuse is not just good algebra but good self care, I can't disagree.
Me? I'm not giving up on miracles... I'm just not waiting on them -- in case they get here after I'm gone. I encourage all my loved ones to do the same.
There are so many things out there... so many different things which work for so many different people. If the first girl you go out with winds up liking somebody else, you don't turn off relationships forever--- you would just wind up spending your money on tech toys and still be lonely.
I've gone on long enough... I hear calling in the distance so the keepers may have found me. Don't give up, fight the good fight, and cheer when anybody wins.
M out.
Damn, I do go on. Pardon any spelling or grammar errors. I'll try to do the same for you.
