Scam or for real: Natural Medicine

Home Health Columnist / Guide · Jul 18, 2002

Anyone experienced in these " treatments"???

Nurse Ratched, RN · Jul 19, 2002

Chelation I've heard of. I believe it's supposed to be some sort of "detoxification" tx. Some quack in a neighboring state was promoting it as a cure for one of my patient's Alzheimers disease. All it did was scare the p*ss out of her to the point that when I went to administer her (previously uneventful) PPD test, she whacked out having a needle anywhere near her. I figure they had to tie her down to administer it (something IV) because she would have wrist bruises after "treatment" day. Adult child caregiver was nuts and her mom was still demented...

Called APS, but that's another story...

WashYaHands · Jul 19, 2002

I thought Chelation therapy was for Lead poisoning. I do know that many people use natural hormones like progesterone, which is from the wild Mexican yam for pre-menopause. Never heard of the other stuff, neurocranial restructuring? hmmmm.

Linda

sunnygirl272 · Jul 19, 2002

chelation in a legitimate Tx for lead poisoning..but not so legit for other things

hoolahan, ASN, RN · Jul 19, 2002

Photoluminescence is the ultraviolet irradiation of the blood. While this may sound intimidating, the therapy is only mildly uncomfortable and in no way causes detrimental side effects. The entire process lasts approximately one hour, and involves running an IV from the patient's arm to remove a small amount of blood. The blood is run over ultraviolet light, which removes all impurities, and is then replaced into the patient.

From... http://health3000.net/photo.html

NeuroCranial Restructuring™ is the newest and most powerful therapy in physical medicine. NCR is a cumulative treatment process involving controlled release of the connective tissue tension to unwind the body and return it toward its original design. NCR utilizes careful analysis of the body's proprioception (patterns of balance) to determine the precise areas of the skull needing to be unlocked during each day's treatment.

This sounds very complex, but in practice it is relatively simple:

After receiving a form of deep muscle massage and external cranial manipulation, the patient is analyzed to determine the cranial treatment pattern for the day. Then the patient is positioned on a treatment table with one or two therapists helping to hold him/her in a very specific position. The skull is finally released by the action of small, inflatable endonasal balloons that are inserted through the nostril and inflated briefly into the throat. The inflation feels like getting water up the nose and rarely requires five seconds to complete.

Endonasal balloons in treatment are not new. They have been used during cranial therapy for over seventy years. Frequently these treatments, such as Bilateral Nasal Specific therapy, gave relief of symptoms and some long-term results while using a generalized pattern of treatment. Many of the results, however, were temporary and the treatment was frequently painful.

NCR is different from these therapies. With the specific treatment pattern found with NCR's careful analysis and the new addition of specific body positioning, the entire skeletal structure can be permanently changed with NCR. This unlocking of the connective tissues' residual tensions combines with precise movements of the cranial bones to allow the structural systems of the body to move incrementally and cumulatively towards the body's original design.

NCR creates a permanent structural release for the changes triggered by traumatic events of a body's life. Birth trauma, accidents and falls, sports injuries, medical procedures, severe emotional and biochemical traumas are just some of the causes of musculoskeletal damage that are released with NCR. Conditions like:

- Alzheimer's

- Anxiety and nervousness

- Arthritis, bursitis, rheumatism

- Attention Deficit Disorder, dyslexia, hyperactivity and other learning disabilities

- Autism

- Cerebral palsy

- Concussion and other head injuries

- Depression, obsessive-compulsive disorder

- Down's Syndrome

- Dystonia

- Ear infection and deafness

- Glaucoma, double vision and other vision problems

- Headaches, head pressure, migraines

- Insomnia

- Low energy, fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue

- Muscle spasms, neck and shoulder pain

- Organ functioning

- Orthodontic stress and bruxism

- Osteoporosis

- Parkinson's disease and tremors

- Phobias

- Poor concentration and focus

- Relationship difficulties

- Sciatica, kyphosis (hunchback), lordosis (swayback), scoliosis (spiral spine), military spine & other back problems

- Seizures

- Sinusitis, sleep apnea, snoring, other breathing and sinus disorders

- Strokes

- Tinnitus

- TMD, TMJ (mouth, head and jaw pains)

- Vertigo and other balance problems

- Whiplash Syndrome

- Wrinkles (NCR replaces a face lift)

From... http://www.ndnd.com/

Infrared Coagulation

We suggest infrared coagulation for the person who needs immediate treatment of hemorrhoids. This technique involves the application of infrared light to the base of the hemorrhoid, which clots the hemorrhoid. There are usually three different areas inside the rectum where hemorrhoids occur, referred to as complexes. One area, or complex, is treated at each office visit. Although the patient may occasionally feel a little warmth in the treated area, generally minimal pain or discomfort is experienced using infrared coagulation to treat hemorrhoids. The patient may return to work the same day or the next day. A little bleeding may occasionally occur between the fourth day and the tenth day after treatment. The patient returns in approximately one month for follow-up treatment. This is a very safe, quick, and painless method of treating a very annoying condition. Changes in diet and other natural remedies should also be added in order to prevent recurrence.

This photo was taken on 11/17/00

Treatment of Skin Conditions

Infrared Coagulation may also be used for various dermatological conditions. It has been used successfully for the treatment of common warts of the hands and feet, as well as for a variety of other common dermatologic conditions, such as tattoos, digital mucous cysts, and small hemangiomas. The treatment for these conditions is generally well-tolerated, resulting in cosmetically-acceptable scarring. In most instances, only a single treatment is necessary. Infrared Coagulation can also be used for genital warts from condyloma accuminata.

This is a photo of the same patient taken on 12/22/00, just one month after the procedure.

For those desiring to research this treatment modality further, consider the following references:

1. Colver, G. The infrared coagulator in dermatology. Dermatology Clinics. 1989; 7: 155-167.

2. Bekassy, Z. Infrared coagulation in the treatment of condyloma accuminata in the female genital tract. Sexually Transmitted Diseases. 1987; October-December: 209-212.

3. Pfenninger, J. Nonsurgical treatment options for internal hemorrhoids. American Family Physician. 1995; 52: 821-838.

4. Halasz, C. Treatment of common warts using the infrared coagulator. J Dermatol Surg Oncol. 1994; 20: 252-256.

From... http://www.caringmedical.com/faqtopics/ircoagulation.asp

OK, I picked three weird ones, next...

This was what I found on google search, but to answer your questions, no I have never heard of most of these. Chelation, yes, as a legitimate Rx for lead poisoning, but not for other uses. Herbal/nutritional regimes probably refers to stuff like macrobiotic diets. I knew someone once who felt that macrobiotics kept his MS at bay. He has remained healthy, so maybe he's got a point there!

Sami*RN · Jul 19, 2002

Okay, I don't have the time to find out about all this stuff, but I'm interested, so I'm going to spend some more time on it. First, chelation therapy is a legitimate treatment for heavy metal poisoning, i.e. lead and iron. EDTA is administered IV to bind with the metals and remove them from the body. This I've actually done this in children.

Photoluminescence is otherwise termed photopheresis or UVBI (ultraviolet blood irradiation). A simplified description of the therapy is as follows. Pts. ingest the drug psoralen or UVADEX (FDA approved) which renders lymphocytes light sensitive. I found websites that state this step is optional. THen, Heparin is used to prevent the blood from clotting. Lymphocytes are then collected by pheresis and exposed to UV-A light, then reinfused into the patient. (Only 240-300cc of blood is done per treatment.) It is considered an INVESTIGATIONAL technique for pts. with autoimmune diseases, certain other cancers and HIV/AIDS also graft vs. host reactions. It is ONLY FDA approved to treat cutaneous t-cell lymphoma.

I do have a problem with a lot of the "alternative therapy" websites and the one hoolahan listed that say, "the therapy is only mildly uncomfortable and in no way causes detrimental side effects" We all know that an IV in itself has side effects and potential complications, infiltration, infection, etc..., A website I found listed side effects as nausea, fever, drop in BP during treatment (loss of volume). The drug also causes light sensitivity, pts should avoid sunlight for approx. 24-48 hrs after treatment. And, we all know heparin has side effects. I found one holistic medicine site that states, "In summary UBI is: An FDA approved therapeutic piece of equipment -Safe -Effective -Relatively inexpensive -Covered by some insurance companies -Easy to do."

What a load of crap!!! You're a sucker if you believe those statements.

If you want to access this information it is from the emedicine journal at http://www.emedicine.com This site explains it rather well. So, that's what I know so far. God I'm tired now...,:imbar

Nurse Ratched, RN · Jul 19, 2002

Thanks for the info on real uses for chelation, folks. Sounds like it is typically a peds tx, hence my ignorance on it. :) I was only familiar with one of its "less than legit" uses, as sunnygirl put it. The memory still makes me cringe!

DS MOM :) · Dec 15, 2005

Prolotherapy is very interesting. It is becoming more and more "mainstream". If you go to www.pubmed.com and put in Prolotherapy you will find some interesting studies. :) My dad had it done on his knees and it worked beautifully.

Katnip, RN · Dec 15, 2005

Natural hormone replacement includes soy and black kohosh to treat symptoms of menopause. I know several people who swear by it. They said it was very effective in controlling severe hot flashes and they didn't have to take the more traditional HRT.

Before anyone starts calling integrative medicines quackery, they need to do more research on them. NIH has a division just to study the effectiveness of some of these therapies and are finding some are quite good with fewer side effects than traditional medicine.

Also, large university hospitals like Hopkins, Duke, and the Mayo Clinic have complimentary or alternative medicine centers that are quite successful.

Sure, in the wrong hands some of these methods can be ineffective or even dangerous, but the same can be said of traditonal medicine as well.

Remember, not too long ago acupunture was scoffed at for pain control. But it's become mainstream.

~Kat

babynurselsa, RN · Dec 15, 2005

I had an ER pat a couple of years ago that was getting hydrogen peroxide IV for some sort of chelation therapy. I don't remember what it was they were trying to cure. It didn't work to say the least. Kinda freaked me out. I just kept asking of the peroxide doesn't bubble when it hits the blood....nobody could answer that one for me.

I think alot of these things are just high tech snake oil salesmen of today. Just my opinion.

1Tulip · Dec 15, 2005

OK... I'd like to be the dissenter here.

Let's start with the idea of unintended consequences. IF any drug, hormone, or treatment has a real biological effect, it will also ALWAYS have side-effects. Let me use an example: Women don't want to use Prem-Pro because we all know (after the Women's Health Initiative study) that it produces side effects (slight increases in various cancers). So, menopausal women buy plant estrogens. These are "natural" and "safe". (also unregulated by the FDA... but that's another story.) Now... stay with me here. If these plant hormones do anything for the woman taking them, it is because they bind to the estrogen receptor inside cells. Exactly the same receptors as PremPro! However, they are "safer" than Prem-pro because, the molecules are from plants, are "shaped" differently from hormones from mammals (horses in the case of premarin) and have a very poor binding affinity for the receptor. So... they are only "safer" because they are mostly biologically inert.

BUT these products have a very positive effect on approximately 30% of the women taking them. It's called the placebo effect. Why not just take the money they spend on these products and stuff it down their garbage disposals?

I am somewhat familiar with some of the treatments listed above. I had a room-mate who had balloons shoved up her nose and inflated, after which she bled like a stuck pig, she was given no analgesic before or after the treatment (these are drugs, of course, and therefore neither "natural" or "safe") and she suffered a lot.

Heavy metals can be chelated. But most of the chelation therapy you hear about is used for everything from colds to cancer and there is not one shred of evidence that it does ANYTHING in these disorders. But it is very expensive and not covered by insurance so these people are taking money they could use for other... often necessary... items for themselves and their families and, well, given the side effects of chelation and IV's, they'd be better off stuffing the money in their garbage disposals.

If there are double-blind clinical trials proving the efficacy of any of the agents or treatments mentioned in the original post, I'd appreciate hearing about them. Please give us the reference. I'm serious. If there are matched control groups, double-blinded, multi-center trials showing statistically significant improvement of discrete conditions following use of any of these nostrums, we should hear about them.