[Discussion] Medical Quackery

This is a follow up to the thread "Medical quackery in the US upsets me very, very much". The aim of this current thread is to take up the discussion on medical quackery (widening the scope since the US isn't the only country concerned), discuss news item pertaining to it and the potential responses to address it.
The definition of medical quackery is not up for debate and includes, among others, homeopathy, vaccine skepticism, naturopathy, crystal healing, psychic healing.

So do I have to set my mouth on fire or is this more of a slow sous vide type thing?

Brilliant episode of Sawbones about "Raw Water." The contempt from Justin is great.

http://www.maximumfun.org/sawbones/s...

So something I thought was quack buy turns out there is something to it is duct tape as a cure for some warts. I'd heard it going around and had gotten one on my foot. As I researched best home treatment I came across the recommendation that although the science is unknown so fat aka not studied enough yet duct tape has been found to be incredibly effective against warts.

I gave it a try as I had some sitting around and it was immediately effective. It is dissolving the wart at a fast pace a ND the adhesive removes the dead parts it kills. So, give it a try next time!

Hulu got streaming rights to this incredible documentary about GMOs narrated by Neil Degrasse Tyson.

https://www.foodevolutionmovie.com/

That will just entrench my anti-GMO, anti-Vax FB friends even more, I fear...

The ‘good’ thing about the anti-gmo position is that it is a true conspiracy theory belief system: Contrary evidence is turned to support the belief just as strongly as confirming evidence.

Robear wrote:

That will just entrench my anti-GMO, anti-Vax FB friends even more, I fear...

Man, it would be hard to consider people who want to starve the world, accelerate climate change and reduce herd immunity for my soon-to-be-born child as "friends."

Some people you have to stay in touch with in spite of their beliefs and no matter how offensive they can be. Social media is an easy, light-touch way to do that.

Every time I hear the term 'light-touch' now, in conjures the spirit of Ajit Pai and I puke a little in my mouth.

Also IMO cutting off people who disagree with you, even on something as wildly foolish as being anti-vax and anti-gmo, is a dangerous practice that leads to an echo chamber.

Hobear wrote:

So something I thought was quack buy turns out there is something to it is duct tape as a cure for some warts.

It's been a while, IIRC SawBones did an episode about warts and basically said *anything* that hides the wart from air is likely to kill it in about the same fashion. Freezing is the same thing. It's all about making sure the cells die and then making it easy to remove them after they die.

thrawn82 wrote:

Every time I hear the term 'light-touch' now, in conjures the spirit of Ajit Pai and I puke a little in my mouth.

Also IMO cutting off people who disagree with you, even on something as wildly foolish as being anti-vax and anti-gmo, is a dangerous practice that leads to an echo chamber.

But could be good for your blood pressure.

This could probably go in a couple of different threads but it seemed to make most sense to post it here...

pyxistyx wrote:

This could probably go in a couple of different threads but it seemed to make most sense to post it here...

TIL grass can seriously mess up your teeth.

Another take on that: if phytoestrogens worked that way you could bet that every transfemme person on the planet would be eating all the soy they could get their hands on. Yet somehow...*

* actually some do end up buying into this, which is fine, soy won't hurt anything.

Hypatian wrote:

Another take on that: if phytoestrogens worked that way you could bet that every transfemme person on the planet would be eating all the soy they could get their hands on. Yet somehow...*

* actually some do end up buying into this, which is fine, soy won't hurt anything.

*Unless you also have thyroid problems and take synthroid - it inhibits its effects

That is good to know. Thank you! I hope folks taking synthroid would know that, but food interactions aren't always mentioned prominently enough.

Tanglebones wrote:
Hypatian wrote:

Another take on that: if phytoestrogens worked that way you could bet that every transfemme person on the planet would be eating all the soy they could get their hands on. Yet somehow...*

* actually some do end up buying into this, which is fine, soy won't hurt anything.

*Unless you also have thyroid problems and take synthroid - it inhibits its effects

Huh. Just synthroid or all thyroid meds? I take armour thyroid and wasn't aware of potential issues with soy.

I'm not sure, but I'd ask your doctor their thoughts.

Here's what the Mayo clinic says:
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-...

Seems like as long as it isn't taken at the same time. I already can't take it with my antacids or multivitamins or food.

So is that soy Boi post above the same as folks who are anti soy in their protein shakes and whatnot saying it's inferior to other protein or causing issues that mess with your body? My wife has told me tales of this and of course it's all though Facebook and of what everyone is currently going on about. I never gave it any thought before but seems to line up with what I heard from her. Thankfully she didn't buy into it.

"Soy Boy" makes me think of some sort of neo-Pythagoreanist prohibition on beans.

California "conspiracy theory bundle" initiative can collect signatures for ballot. I mean, what is there to say here?

The initiative would eliminate vaccination requirements for schools and daycares, banish genetically modified organisms, and prohibit basic water treatments with fluoride and chlorine. The initiative would ban more than 300 chemicals, including fire {ableist slur}ants, and it would order the removal of smart meters. These, the initiative claims, are “neither smart nor meters but intermittent samplers, not accurate, not accountable, [that] emit and receive unnecessary radiation.”
The initiative, dubbed the “California Clean Environment” initiative, will create an elected, three-person board to oversee the sweeping regulations and approve new chemicals. Violations under the initiative would be considered up to felony crimes punishable by fines and prison sentences.

As justification for extensive regulation, the initiative claims that GMOs and unspecified contaminants in the environment, food, and vaccines are causing cancers, autism, Parkinson's, and a slew of other diseases.

“We are trying to restore people’s ability to fight for themselves and decide what they should do,” the initiative’s author, Cheriel Jensen, told Patch.com. “These companies that make the chemicals have taken our right to refuse those chemicals away.”

The initiative states that “nothing may be introduced into people, commerce, or the environment if it causes or increases the probability of one or more of the following in people, mammals, birds, bees, other beneficial insects, or amphibians.”

This is followed by a long list of conditions and diseases spanning death, cancer, diabetes, and Alzheimer’s. The list also hits allergies, interference with sleep, loss of productivity of the soil, and a die-off of intestinal bacteria.

...wow, I feel dumber for having read that.

Robear wrote:

California "conspiracy theory bundle" initiative can collect signatures for ballot. I mean, what is there to say here?

How about "The system of voter initiatives is wide open to abuse"?

preaching to the choir a bit here but Kurzgesagt released this vid today:

News on research on the Illiterus scientificus:
http://thesciencepost.com/biologists...

(Spoilers: it’s hilarious)

My daughter’s psych has taken her off of concerta and Prozac and put her on methyl folate. Methyl Folate is a supplement that you have to buy at the pharmacy, and we are paying full price, out of pocket, because insurance doesn’t cover that medicine. My wife is behind the idea of giving her the methyl folate 100%. Me, not so much.

I’m ok with this move because I think methyl folate is probably just a very expensive placebo. And I think it is time to evaluate how my daughter does without the Prozac and Concerta.

I’m wondering if anyone here has any knowledge about methyl folate? For instance it’s efficacy and effectiveness, or any negative side effects.

Thanks.

There apparently are a few medical uses for methyl folate in depression, but none that I've ever learned in med school (I'm no psychiatrist, though). The only use that immediately comes to mind with folates is supplementation for pregnant people, in order to prevent neural tube defects.
I'm a bit surprised they're taking her off Concerta and Prozac, I always thought you were supposed to ease people off of them, not suddenly suspend treatment. i'd say see your doctor, but...

Eleima wrote:

There apparently are a few medical uses for methyl folate in depression, but none that I've ever learned in med school (I'm no psychiatrist, though). The only use that immediately comes to mind with folates is supplementation for pregnant people, in order to prevent neural tube defects.
I'm a bit surprised they're taking her off Concerta and Prozac, I always thought you were supposed to ease people off of them, not suddenly suspend treatment. i'd say see your doctor, but...

My wife takes methyl folate, as she's got the MTHFR mutation which affects your ability to absorb folic acid.

Jonman wrote:
Eleima wrote:

There apparently are a few medical uses for methyl folate in depression, but none that I've ever learned in med school (I'm no psychiatrist, though). The only use that immediately comes to mind with folates is supplementation for pregnant people, in order to prevent neural tube defects.
I'm a bit surprised they're taking her off Concerta and Prozac, I always thought you were supposed to ease people off of them, not suddenly suspend treatment. i'd say see your doctor, but...

My wife takes methyl folate, as she's got the MTHFR mutation which affects your ability to absorb folic acid.

I’m with Eleima on this one, not a psychiatrist but have never heard of data supporting using this supplement in place of psych meds. Ironically we just met with my sons psychiatrist on Monday and we are gladly upping his Concerta, it has been a godsend but dose is too low because he’s growing so fast. I’m a hematologist and we actually don’t consider MTHFR mutations clinically significant any longer although certainly won’t hurt to supplement with folate if you are a known carrier.

Also agree that while it’s fine to go cold turkey on Concerta, it is dangerous to go cold turkey on Prozac so assuming you are tapering off.