Wisconsin parents go on trial in daughter's death

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$2.5 billion spent, no alternative cures found

Big, government-funded studies show most work no better than placebos

BETHESDA, Md. - Ten years ago the government set out to test herbal and other alternative health remedies to find the ones that work. After spending $2.5 billion, the disappointing answer seems to be that almost none of them do.

Echinacea for colds. Ginkgo biloba for memory. Glucosamine and chondroitin for arthritis. Black cohosh for menopausal hot flashes. Saw palmetto for prostate problems. Shark cartilage for cancer. All proved no better than dummy pills in big studies funded by the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine. The lone exception: ginger capsules may help chemotherapy nausea.

Heretic wrote:

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$2.5 billion spent, no alternative cures found

Big, government-funded studies show most work no better than placebos

BETHESDA, Md. - Ten years ago the government set out to test herbal and other alternative health remedies to find the ones that work. After spending $2.5 billion, the disappointing answer seems to be that almost none of them do.

Echinacea for colds. Ginkgo biloba for memory. Glucosamine and chondroitin for arthritis. Black cohosh for menopausal hot flashes. Saw palmetto for prostate problems. Shark cartilage for cancer. All proved no better than dummy pills in big studies funded by the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine. The lone exception: ginger capsules may help chemotherapy nausea.

Yeah. Well IMHO, the best approach is to do your homework before you take anything, either as a "remedy" or for "prevention." That includes pharmaceuticals. There is plenty of information readily available on both natural remedies and pharmaceuticals.

As was pointed out earlier, many of today's drugs started out in the realm of alternative remedies. I wouldn't dismiss the efficacy of all herbs and supplements based on one study. There are many products out there that are probably quite good. There are also products that are undoubtedly worthless.

From the website referenced above... (BTW- Thanks for the link!)

http://nccam.nih.gov/health/supplements/wiseuse.htm

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Research has shown that some uses of dietary supplements are effective in preventing or treating diseases. For example, scientists have found that folic acid (a vitamin) prevents certain birth defects, and a regimen of vitamins and zinc can slow the progression of the age- related eye disease macular degeneration. Also, calcium and vitamin D supplements can be helpful in preventing and treating bone loss and osteoporosis (thinning of bone tissue).

Research has also produced some promising results suggesting that other dietary supplements may be helpful for other health conditions (e.g., omega-3 fatty acids for coronary disease), but in most cases, additional research is needed before firm conclusions can be drawn.

I certainly am in favor of additional research. But I don't think that it's realistic or wise to expect people to shun "nutraceuticals" until all the research is completed.

That said, I certainly don't think that medical treatment should be withheld from this kid because his parents believe in some wacky unproven cure when a treatment that is effective 90% of the time is readily available. I don't like the idea of forcing medical treatment on anyone. But this kid is a minor, and is apparently basing his reluctance to undergo treatment on the beliefs of his parents.

Well, poor Daniel is thankfully back and getting treatment, and as predicted, his tumor is shrinking. But, true to form, his family is crediting such a miracle to his use of the dietary supplements. They are predictably ignoring the fact that they were completely ineffective before and while he was AWOL, during which time the tumor actually grew. Ah well... At least he's getting the treatment he needs.

And just to clear, I'm distinguishing between treatment in its infancy and the pseudoscientific woo that the alt med crowd is fronting. As Orac states in the link above:

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But if the quacks could produce evidence that their "cancer cures" can do what they claim they can do, they wouldn't be quacks, and their "alternative medicine" would cease to be "alternative" and become just medicine. Oncologists would add it to their armamentarium and treat patients with it.

By all means, more research. These woosters just have a habit of ignoring that research once it demonstrates how ineffective their "cures" really are. Sadly, when this is all over, Daniel will be the new spokesman for this dietary supplement. They'll conveniently forget to mention he also had proven and reliable treatment to cure his illness, just like past woosters.