$2.5 billion spent, no alternative cures found Big, government-funded studies show mo

**re_mute** · 11-06-2009 11:50 AM

$2.5 billion spent, no alternative cures found - Alternative medicine- msnbc.com

"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 ...

**Legis** · 11-06-2009 05:45 PM

Ginko may not have any noticeable benefits concerning memory (which I also doubt a little in certain cases) but it has shown to have many other benefits.

From pubmed: (I cannot link yet)

Positive result with ADD: "Ginkgo biloba treating patients with attention-deficit disorder."

Enhancement of dopaminergic neurotransmission: "Ginko biloba influences monoaminergic neurotransmission via inhibition of NE uptake, but not MAO activity after chronic treatment."

Antioxidant effect: "Effects of Gingko Extract (EGb761) on oxidative damage under different conditions of serum supply."

Ginko's benefit for cognitive impairment and dementia is inconsistent and unreliable though.

If anything, ginko acts as a vasolidator, and what effects all vasolidators share, is the raised alertness and attention. Oxygen and glucose utilisation in the brain is enhanced and thus it makes one feel more alert. Also ginko acts as antioxidant, and it may have some cell/neuro protective attributes.

**Skullcrusher** · 11-06-2009 09:22 PM

Hmmm... I can't help but feel cynical over a government study on alternative medicine

Although this might well be true, there are so many variables to it, and you can't just say "echinacea doesn't stop colds". Echinacea is used to stregthen the immune system, and may well stop you from getting a cold, but once you have one, nothing is going to make it go away. Lemsip capsules etc don't get rid of colds, they may help to speed the process along but that's about it.

I just feel that the Governent will never admit that alternative medicine works, because they would be shooting them selves in the foot!.

Maybe I'm just too cynical though lol.

**re_mute** · 11-06-2009 11:03 PM

Quote

Originally Posted by Skullcrusher

Hmmm... I can't help but feel cynical over a government study on alternative medicine

Although this might well be true, there are so many variables to it, and you can't just say "echinacea doesn't stop colds". Echinacea is used to stregthen the immune system, and may well stop you from getting a cold, but once you have one, nothing is going to make it go away. Lemsip capsules etc don't get rid of colds, they may help to speed the process along but that's about it.

I just feel that the Governent will never admit that alternative medicine works, because they would be shooting them selves in the foot!.

Maybe I'm just too cynical though lol.

But that's why the article is so interesting - if you actually read it it goes into just how much criticism the research center has received for being *too* biased towards alternative medicine.

"Critics also say the federal center's research agenda is shaped by an advisory board loaded with alternative medicine practitioners. "

**Skullcrusher** · 12-06-2009 12:44 PM

I have read it, and it is very interesting, but it is still Government research, and there is only speculation that there are alternative medicine practicioners on the board anyway.

Like I said, maybe there is some truth to it, but I'm not going to stop using certain supps just because of what a Government rersearch study says.