FDA Doesn't Want You To Know About the Power of...CHERRIES!

[revree]

More proof that the FDA is nothing more than a tool of Big Pharma. Now they are trying to ban information about the disease fighting potential of cherries...

http://www.lef.org/magazine/mag2006/mar2006_awsi_01.htm

[aquart]

1. But they make me break out!

This is so unfair.

[HysteryDiagnosis]

2. You need to find out if it's the stuff that is beneficial in the cherries

that makes you break out.... the extracts of certain fruits such as blueberries and tomatoes just may be ok for people who are affected in a bad way by the whole enchilada.

[ChairmanAgnostic]

3. enchiladas? what, no tacos?

[HysteryDiagnosis]

4. No tacos for you!!!! Here is what I mean.....

http://www.oradix.com/health-library/idx/0/002/article/Healthy_foods_with_preventive_powers_comments_on_PEANUT_ALLERGY_.html

Peanut has soft and porous skin and the skin is in contact with the ground. The wet environment encourages fungal grows and the fungus invades the skin of the nut and even penetrates the nut.

It's not the peanut oil itself that causes the peanut allergy. Whilst the fungus is probably not dangerous in itself (well, we just don't know... some health professionals claim that there is fungus in each and every cancer...), it releases a poison - Aflatoxin, which is extremely dangerous.

Veterinarians know that aflatoxin could kill rapidly a bird that ingests an infected peanut. The severity of the peanut allergy may be linked to the presence of aflatoxins besides the major peanut allergen proteins 'Ara h 1' and 'Ara h 2'. The allergenic properties of peanuts are not fully understood at the present time.

Doctors often label something "psychosomatic" when they don't have a clue about the cause of the problem. In the J Allergy and Clin Immun, March 2003 issue, Kelso et al. report on a case of Psychosomatic peanut allergy. A 27-year old woman with a history of rhinitis and asthma, 20 min. after eating a peanut butter and jelly sandwich, developed itching and hives all over, shortness of breath and wheezing, treated in ER. The next day she had a similar reaction after eating a peanut butter candy. She was evaluated in the allergy clinic and both skin tests to peanut (also done with fresh peanut) and peanut-specific IgE were negative. She had an open challenge with a teaspoon of peanut butter and in fifteen minutes she complained of itching and feeling warm, developed hives, but no signs of asthma; she was treated with epinephrine and fexofenadine. Further tests failed to show any IgE binding. She underwent a double-blind, placebo-controlled challenge which was negative. She was informed of the results and subsequently had an open challenge which was also negative. (Click here for reference).

[simonm]

5. A few natural cures and remedies for common problems

Big Pharma would love to control the food market.


Apple cider vinegar does wonders for many ailments and it's cheap too!
Cleaver's tea can break down kidney stones.
Garlic is good for headaches.
Cabbage helps ulcers heal.
Baking soda is good for acid indigestion.

Anyone know any good "natural cures" web sites out there?

[Raine]

8. Here's one site

http://www.peoplespharmacy.org/index.asp

I can't guarantee how good it is cause someone on another board just put it up. I haven't had time to really check it out but it looks like it might have some useful stuff on it.

[Desertrose]

10. Hiya simonm...welcome to DU!

Have you ever checked out Dr. Mercola's website?
He has a ton of info on his website.

Also we have the health forum here on DU as well as the Astrology, Spirituality & Alternative Healing group- but I think you need a star to actually post in that one.


welcome to DU:)
DR

(Liked your posts on a thread over in the R&T forum...when you have more posts you can get pm's -private messages)

[REP]

12. Actually, Nothing Can Dissolve Calcium Kidney Stones In the Body

There are some agents that can dissolve uric acid stones, but nothing can dissolve calcium oxalate, apatite, brushite or struvite stones while they are in the body. Nothing. Drink the tea if you like it - tea is a mild diuretic that will help *pass* a stone, just as beer, coffee, regular tea or water will - but it won't dissolve stones.

Baking soda, however, when taken daily can help prevent the formation of certain types of stones in consecutive stone formers. Won't break them up if they form, but may raise pH enough to discourage formation.

[magellan]

16. Struvite stones can be dissolved

Our dog had struvite stones in her bladder two years ago. We were given a choice between surgery or dissolution of the stones and went with the latter. We put her on a strict diet to balance her urine Ph and the vet also gave her a strong antibiotic -- without an alkaline Ph and an infection present, struvite crystals (which are normally present) can't clump together into stones. This is true for humans as well. Within a few months the stones were completely dissolved and she's had no problem since.

We now mix cranberry powder into her meal once a day. The acid in cranberries allegedly helps keep the urine Ph from turning alkaline. Promptly treating any bladder infection is probably the most important thing to avoid struvite stones.

[REP]

17. Humans Form Different Types of Struvites Than Dogs Do

Struvites form what are called "staghorns" which rapidly fill the calyxes of the kidney, bringing on severe hydronephrosis and many times, death. They are almost always the result of an infection (as are some apatite stones, which can also become staghorns) within the kidney.

Cranberries can lower pH (not so good for CaOx formers; CaOx stones form in pHs under 7) and they also help prevent bacteria from "sticking" to the bladder walls, but cannot prevent kidney infections that start in the kidney (some people have bladder infections that spread to the kidneys, but others just have pyelonephritis/nephritis with cystitis).

[magellan]

19. Thank you for the info

I usually don't like to assume, but thought in this case it was a safe assumption...That'll teach me! I appreciate the correction. :)

[Baconfoot]

13. I have tried every alternative asthma remedy in the book

Here are my observations regarding myself:
COFFEE (as per the website):
All stimulants have some slight positive effect on asthma, as any doctor will tell you.
They compare quite negatively to the effect of the standard emergency inhalers, however. They also compare quite negatively to either of the popular long acting bronchodialators by which I mean that having any number of cups of coffee or tea (I went up to 8 cups) will not keep you anywhere near in a single day as clear as one puff of either of the long acting medications.
OTC stimulants like coffee certainly won't help you if you're having an attack. But they might provide some minor temporary partial relief if you are a bit tight. However, you don't want to panic which having an attack plus taking stimulants (read drinking coffee) might make more likely.

LICORICE:
No effect

LICORICE ROOT:
No effect

MEGADOSES OF VITAMIN C:
No effect

QUERCITIN SUPPLEMENTS:
No effect

SITTING IN A ROOM WHERE A HOT SHOWER IS RUNNING:
Undecided on this one. It seems to calm me down a bit.

DRINKING LOTS OF WATER DAILY:
No effect

CHIROPRACTOR (yes you may be surprised if you have ever read my posts. I actually did try a chiro):
No effect

VARIOUS EXERCISE REGIMES:
Varied from either no effect to triggers attacks

GLUTEN FREE DIET:
No effect

YOGIC BREATHING TECHNIQUES:
No effect

Man... It's been a while since I ran through all these in my head.

[REP]

15. Black Coffee in a Pinch but You Can't Beat Albuterol!

Sitting in a hot, steamy room is recommended (by everyone) for people with upper respiratory tract and/or sinus congestion, which may or may not be present with an acute asthma attack. It won't stop an attack or end wheezing, but it does help loosen phelgm so it can be expectorated. It can't hurt, but for an acute attack, the inhaler should be the first thing tried (per doctor's prescribing orders, of course).

[Frank Cannon]

21. Asthma is not something that should be treated "alternatively"

I've seen some asthmatics try it, and I've seen them end up in the emergency room. Maybe there are a few people with very mild asthma that can control it through breathing exercises, coffee, etc., but in my opinion, it's just not worth the chance of a quick death. And asthma can kill very quickly.

I'm a lifelong asthmatic, and I agree that nothing beats inhaled corticosteroids and/or long-acting bronchodilators. I rarely experience symptoms anymore.

[newyawker99]

25. Hi simonm!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

[mom cat]

6. Washington chops down cherry tree!

[combat rock]

7. And 'plan b' is safe...

... for over the counter sale, but the FDA wants to 'evaluate comments' on the matter. This means they also take into consideration anti-choice regimes hellbent on making our nation a theocracy. I say preventative measures of conception, coupled with supplemental sources of early termination, are a GOOD thing for America.

Granted, there may be legitimate arguments about making plan b OTC leading to an increase in unprotected sex thus disease, but thats where EDUCATION of our children (among others) about the disease preventive measures they must take come into play. Preaching 'abstinence only' is fine, but facts show that this itself is ineffective at teaching what to do when you decide abstinence is not natural (especially with all those hormones raging!) Abstinence should be taught as the safest method for STD and pregnancy prevention, but also teach that condoms, diaphragms, birth control and morning after pills have a proven track record in being safe and effective as well.

All I'm saying here is it is obvious that right-wing and corporate interests are being served by the FDA. Most of the people in charge won't tell you that anti-depressants are only marginally more effective than sugar-pills! And the reason they don't tell you? It's not in their interest to hurt the sales of pharmaceuticals because it in turn hurts medical insurance providers, companies that make the drug, doctors prescribing the drug (who get paid by the pharmaceutical company to push their newest name brand patented drug.) Especially not when there is money coming into the FDA and the current administration from the pharmaceutical companies.

It's all one big lie. Corporatism has murdered democracy and betrayed the people.

[Maru Kitteh]

24. Welcome Combat Rock! . . . WOW!

looks like you have an excellent handle on things. You should enjoy it here. Nice to have you :)

[Telly Savalas]

9. What a strange case

There's a multitude of other food providers, not to mention alternative medicine businesses and herbalists, who make similar claims about their products who haven't received such treatment from the FDA. Why are they cherry picking? (pun intended)

It is a reasonable proposition that somebody selling a pharmaceutical product should have to jump through a bunch of hoops to give assurance of efficacy and safety. Furthermore, there is a good deal of grey area as to what consitutes a pharmaceutical product. But, damn. I think cherries steer pretty clear of that grey area.

[applegrove]

11. The darker the flesh of the fruit or vegetable - the more of it you should

eat.

[Baconfoot]

14. But notice the cherry claims are NOT backed up with scientific evidence

At least some are not as we can tell from the fact that at least one cherry person says that the health claims originate with the anecdotal reports of customers.
This is what we had BEFORE science.

http://www.record-eagle.com/2005/oct/27cherry.htm
"We're stating what our customers are telling us," LaCross said. "It's hard not to want to tell the rest of the world."
Roster removed the language the FDA cited from The Cherry Stop's Web site and said the business is fortunate because most of its product packaging doesn't contain the questioned claims.
"We can still talk about it and we hear from people that it works," he said. "Word of mouth is more important than any Web site."

"We hear from people that it works" is not scientific.

[Tsiyu]

18. Funny, we were discussing the health benefits of cherries today

I was caught perusing a Miller's catalog, checking out which dwarf cherry tree to buy, by a local friend. He eats cherries every day because he heard it helps gout. He has done so for two years and has been free of gout for that long.

Maybe that's not science to somebody, but it works for him.

[cantstandbush]

20. It helped my gout. I can't find tart cherries easily. Any leads? n/t

[Buck Turgidson]

22. Dried tart cherries at Whole Foods

http://wholefoods.com/

[leftchick]

23. I just bought tart cherry juice concentrate

at my local earth fare market. I imaging whole foods or another natural food store would have it.