addink on 26/4/2010 at 15:53
Nice little story in that reference. If I'd known he'd answer himself I'd probably would have called that number myself back in the day, not that I can think of any specific topics to address, but still it would have been nice to talk to him in person.
Wouldn't have expected Zappa to go for the herbal treatments (excluding tobacco, of course) . Then again, if all the doctors have to offer you is being nauseous and in pain for the remaining months of your life, then seeking alternatives isn't that weird.
Martin Karne on 27/4/2010 at 09:47
"A cure? A cure? All I have to do is to use a large prime number..."
Some guy named Bob P.
DDL on 27/4/2010 at 10:10
Quote Posted by demagogue
Eating humic-rich dirt inhibits HIV.
My dad sells humates for fertilizer, but likes to talk about its other marvelous properties ... one of which is that it supposedly inhibits HIV better than, e.g., AZT (that is, the amount of AZT to get the same level of inhibition would be toxic). But probably more importantly is humantes are outrageously cheaper. I think a typical cocktail was like $20,000/year to fund on the cheap end, whereas humates at a better level of inhibition could sell at easily under $100/year. Good luck getting the pharmaceutical industry funding its development, though!
Anyway, there is a group in the Village of holistic medicine Aids patients who wouldn't use commercial drugs on principle, and they swear by the stuff. Since there's not much incentive to fund research on it, most of the results are anecdotal.
There's been some interesting studies though:
(
http://www.aegis.com/conferences/iac/1993/WSA172.html)
Also reported effects on must viruses, flu, west nile ... detoxifies, helps immunity, cleans the kitchen...
Not sure that's an entirely fair comparison (though it's certainly interesting): AZT has an entirely different mode of action to the proposed activity of humic acid (it's a chain-terminating DNA base analogue, so nobbles viral replication, humic acid appears to prevent fusion, so nobbles entry of viral particles into cells), plus AZT has relatively good, measured bioavailability (i.e. you know if you take it, it gets in, and in the right dose) and non-zero but low and known toxicity, whereas even the MSDS for humate could be largely summarised as a big (
http://www.chemicalbook.com/ProductMSDSDetailCB2368636_EN.htm) shrug.
Just saying "eat dirt! It's cheap! The drug companies just don't want you to know!!" is a bit tinfoil hat: to do a full spectrum analysis of humate toxicity and bioavailability and efficacy would cost a ton, so even if a drug company did do all that, they'd probably still dispense the final product at a substantial markup. Most HIV cocktails are
also incredibly cheap to produce, after all. You're not paying for the drug as much as you're paying for the research needed to develop that drug.
demagogue on 27/4/2010 at 15:13
Quote Posted by DDL
Just saying "eat dirt! It's cheap! The drug companies just don't want you to know!!" is a bit tinfoil hat: to do a full spectrum analysis of humate toxicity and bioavailability and efficacy would cost a ton, so even if a drug company did do all that, they'd probably still dispense the final product at a substantial markup. Most HIV cocktails are
also incredibly cheap to produce, after all. You're not paying for the drug as much as you're paying for the research needed to develop that drug.
Yeah I get all that.
I'd only add that it's not a *bit* tinfoil hat, it's certifiably tinfoil hat. But remember the whole point of this thread is "tell us your batshit loon cures".
But for the record, going to that tinfoil hat "holstic AIDS remedies" group in the Village (at the gay community center; didn't predict I'd become a semi-regular there when I went to NYC)... I mean it's all anecdotal but their stories are always emotional and get to me.
I usually don't tell them I studied FDA regulation in law school and that their stories have zero scientific merit and wouldn't persuade anybody official to do anything. But like someone said above, they are so jaded by the gov't and pharma companies, and they're the ones dying ... who are we to stop them trying to live their final days in whatever way gives them well-being and a feeling of dignity?
DDL on 27/4/2010 at 15:42
Quote Posted by demagogue
Yeah I get all that.
I'd only add that it's not a *bit* tinfoil hat, it's certifiably tinfoil hat. But remember the whole point of this thread is "tell us your batshit loon cures".
Ah yes. Point taken. :sweat:
Still, interesting study.
