CFI Forums

Ideas for Changing the State of Alternative Medicine

2013-05-18T10:56:28Z

Last night, I attended Harriet Hall’s “I Don’t Need No Stinkin’ Science” at PSU. This got me thinking about ways that we might change society to eliminate the propagation of expensive placebos touted as effective treatment.

Proposal #1: “Alternative Medicine” to “Experimental Medicine”

I think that lobbying to change the umbrella term “Alternative Medicine” to “Experimental Medicine” would have several positive effects:

1. Some Alternative Medicine practices have been under researched. Labeling them Experimental clearly defines their state.
2. Some Alternative Medicine practices have already been researched and proven ineffective. Labeling them Experimental gives immediate reason to end the practice, and will prevent future ineffective treatments from gaining ground.
3. The word “Experimental” carries a connotation of risk with the general public. People will ask more questions about procedures, effects and side effects, and weigh the risks for themselves. The public will be more skeptical of practitioners.
4. “Experimental” may encourage research.

Proposal #2: An exit strategy for Alternative practitioners

Practitioners of Alternative Medicine have made a living for themselves and have incentive to promote and continue their practice. Once their practice is proven ineffective, currently their only alternative is to abandon their business and start over at great expense. They need a way to transition to a new lifestyle, else they will fight us tooth and nail at every turn. Let’s give them a “bailout” option by subsidizing proper education in established, well researched and effective practices for some ailment. Clearly, it is completely infeasible to send someone to medical school to learn how to cure cancer, which is why I say “some ailment”. We can give them a list of reasonable options to choose from.

What ideas do you have?
How can we begin implementing something?

Gluten-free diets

2013-04-30T07:57:17Z

I think that this would fit in Alternative Medicine.

Gluten-free diets, from what I can tell, became a diet fad several years ago, and seems to be one which is not going away.

I know that there is a small population of people who are gluten-intolerant as a genetic condition called Celiac Disease. I know a guy who has it. But I also know some exceedingly intelligent people who are otherwise good critical thinkers who seem to be trying it out.

What gives?

I’m pretty sure that it is bunk, so I’ll begin by asking what are some good, trustworthy sources that I can show friends who buy into it? Much of the misinformation seems to revolve around gluten causing inflammation in the intestines, which it would in people with Celiac Disease, but not, as far as I know, in most people.

Scientific American - Good article on Antioxidants

2013-02-12T11:07:04Z

I’m not sure how many of you subscribe to or have access to Scientific American but the Jan 2013 edition has a great article on antioxidants tracing the history of the antioxidant theory as well as the current state of the evidence. The accumulated data shows a net harm from the use of antioxidants but one would never know that if your only source is the lay media or the Wizard of Oz. Unfortunately its not available online without a subscription but its well worth reading if you can get your hands on a copy. They do a good job of showing how a reasonable theory can get a life of its own even after solid scientific evidence shows it to be full of holes.

I’ve been trying to educate patients on this issue for a while and its interesting how much push back I get. The benefits of antioxidants are assumed to be medical canon by a large portion of the public and patients often consider my comments to be heresy at first. Its amazing how much time and effort it takes to deprogram them. If only there were a TV channel devoted to dispelling all the pseudoscience put out by the rest of the media. I could lock the channel on in the waiting room and it would save me a lot of time.

Good and Bad Foods

2011-10-24T17:11:56Z

One thing is clear, there are plants (foods) which are bad for you. My question is if there are foods that are bad for you, are there foods which are particularly good for you, better than just healthy foods?

Supplement maker, GNC sued in PT death

2013-02-27T17:09:27Z

See http://www.sacbee.com/2013/02/15/5193294/parents-of-dead-soldier-sue-diet.html for the brief story.

I wish them luck. More then anything else, medical fraud is one of my all time top pet peeves. People get dead this way.

Melanie’s Marvelous Measles - Killing Kids for Fun and to Stick It To The Man

2013-02-24T20:16:16Z

http://www.avaaz.org/en/petition/Stop_killing_children_by_selling_Melanies_Marvelous_Measles/?kHVyIbb

I’ve started an online petition at the above url asking Amazon to stop selling the above mentioned book whose title I’ve modifed to make it a tad more accurate. I’ve also used the online form on Amazon.com to suggest the title be changed to the above.

One encouraging thing about this fiasco is that the “positive” reviews of the book on Amazon are almost all ironic including the “most helpful” positive review. Another encouraging development is that one Australian book seller has stopped selling this book in response to an Australian online petition.

I’ve posted another review of the book on Amazon suggesting that all ironic positive reviewers adjust their rating of this screed to 1 star except for the “most helpful” positive review, so the casual searcher will see the book has a low rating and, if they examine the reviews, will also still see that the most helpful positive review agrees with the most helpful negative review.

good prospective study of the Mediterranean diet

2013-02-25T20:30:19Z

For anyone who wants to reduce their risk of heart disease there is some solid support now for the Mediterranean diet. Perviously we only had population studies but this is a well designed PCT that seems to show that this diet may reduce the relative risk of cardiovascular disease by as much as 30%.

Details here: http://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa1200303?query=featured_home&#t=articleDiscussion

How to Treat Appendicitis With Natural Medicine?

2011-10-31T02:46:53Z

While surgery is almost always prescribed to treat appendicitis, there are always risks involved. But, luckily, when inflammation of the appendicitis is caught in its earliest stages, and before a rupture occurs, surgery may be avoided through the use of several effective home remedies. Read on to learn how to treat appendicitis with natural medicine.

1. Consult a naturopath at the first signs of appendicitis symptoms. Many naturopaths have successfully treated appendicitis through proper application of a natural medicinal fast, so their expertise and advice is necessary to administer this treatment properly. A naturopath can also offer other herbal and homeopathic treatments to help relieve the pain.

2. Begin fasting as soon as your symptoms appear. Because the appendix works to help clear toxins from the bowels, it is important that you don’t give it any work to do while it recuperates. You may drink water, but only in very small amounts, taking sips every half an hour or so.

3. Take bed rest, trying to remain quiet and calm. Do not get out of bed except to go to the bathroom and sit up only to eat. You may rest in any position that is comfortable, but try not to move too much.

4. Soak a clean towel in hot water and apply a hot compress to the painful area several times a day to relieve cramping and inflammation. Massage almond oil over the painful area after removing the compress. Almond oil is used by massage therapist to relieve pain and by aromatherapists to help calm the body.

5. Use an enema daily to help cleanse the lower bowels, but only if it can be done comfortably, without causing excess stress on your body and abdominal region. For the first two days only use a partial enema containing about 1 pt. of warm water.

6. Administer a full enema, using about 3 pt. of warm beginning around the third day when symptoms should have noticeably improved. Continue daily full enema treatments until the symptoms of appendicitis have subsided completely.

7. Drink fresh, natural fruit and vegetable juices on the third day, but continue to avoid solid foods until the symptoms have disappeared completely. Increase your food intake gradually to prevent shock to your delicate and recuperating system. Begin first with soups, yogurt and other easily digested foods, avoiding meat, grains and processed cheeses for at least two weeks.

American Health Care System.

2013-02-01T18:58:24Z

http://sciencefriday.com/segment/12/07/2012/-escape-fire-exposes-flaws-of-american-healthcare.html

Science Friday reviewed a new movie named Escape Fire from director Matthew Heineman. There were interesting aspects about this story and movie which raise good questions. In the movie they talk about a military sergeant who was suffering with pain/depression (I can’t remember very well) and the traditional medicines were not working, then he turned to alternative medicines…

I think the movie is supporting the adoption of some alternative medicines into the general health care system. I would be interested in watching and weighing the claims of the movie if my current schedule weren’t already so packed. Has anyone seen this movie? If so, what did you think?

Also, Any research articles, pro or against,

1. Acupuncture
2. Meditation
3. Yoga exercises
4. Counselling
5. Effective placebo use

Herbal Supplements: Unregulated, Ineffective, And Potentially Deadly

2012-11-28T08:20:46Z

If it’s natural, it’s good for you. Like strychnine and fluorine!

Link

This is a great article for those of us who know an annoying, chemistry-fearing, all-natural hippie type. I make no assumptions that any of here don’t already know all this, it’s just nice to see it stuffed in one, easy to link to article.

I should send this to my aunt. She works in pharmeceuticals and loves making fun of the natural=healthy goobers.