38 replies to this topic

[jaydfox]

But if strong evidence like that is lacking, and no scientific basis for a given therapy's action currently exists, then you're asking people to believe based on faith alone. I agree that faith is in short supply in the post-LM era. That's probably a good thing though.

Ah, didn't see you covered this.

[FunkOdyssey]

For example:

Neurosci Lett. 2006 Mar 2.

Acupuncture regulates the aging-related changes in gene profile
expression of the hippocampus in senescence-accelerated mouse (SAMP10).

Ding X, Yu J, Yu T, Fu Y, Han J.

Acupuncture and Moxibustion Research Institute, The First Teaching
Hospital of Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, 314
West Anshan Avenue, Tianjin 300193, China.

To examine molecular events in hippocampus associated with aging and
acupuncture effect, we employed cDNA arrays providing data of 588 genes
to define transcriptional patterns. Male 8-month-old SAMP10 and its
homologous SAMRl were selected and randomly divided into four groups:
R1 control group (Rc), P10 control group (Pc), P10 acupuncture group
(Pa) and P10 non-acupoint group (Pn). The points consisted Shanzhong
(CV17), Zhongwan (CV12), Qihai (CV6), Zusanli (ST36) and Xuehai (SP10).
In Pa, we found that points stimuli could completely or partly reverse
some genes expression profiles in hippocampus with aging.
Simultaneously, some genes not related with brain aging were affected
by acupuncture as well. Meanwhile, non-acupoint had some effect on
aging-unrelated genes expression and little or negative effect on
aging-related genes. We verified array results with RT-PCR and Northern
blotting for three genes which are related to oxidative damage closely,
including Hsp84, Hsp86 and YB-1. In conclusion, acupuncture could be a
potential intervention to retard molecular events with aging in
mammals.

PMID: 16516385 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]

See, that's the kind of evidence that can begin to change minds. You don't need to understand it to prove it, but you better prove it somehow.

[Pablo M]

I've got a book called Alternative Medicine: What Works. The author references a study in which the rate of stillbirths in pigs went down after a homeopathic remedy was administered. The remedy was withdrawn and the stillbirth rate increased again. She also discusses a study finding that the unpronouncable homeopathic flu remedy Oscillococcinum was not especially effective. Apparently the worldwide supply of the remedy is made from the liver of a single duck, making that unlucky animal a true million dollar fowl.

[scottl]

Although almost no one read or commented on it, my thread physicians discover DHA is very relevant to this topic.

[jaydfox]

I had assumed from the title that it was an April Fool's gag and skipped it. Was it a serious topic?

[mitkat]

April Fools! It's alternative medicine!

Is this the one, Dante?

Also this, as the name of this thread is reflected here under the Evidence Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine section, where the book can be found: http://www.tufts.edu...ksJournals.html

[Pablo M]

Could you post the reference Dante.

The reference was to:
Day CEI. Control of stillbirths in pigs using homeopathy. Veterinary Record 1984; 114:216.

And yes Mitkat, that's the book. The author is Adriane Fugh-Berman.