Woo on the Today show

[Bikewer]

A segment this morning profiled a lady who came down with rapidly-advancing MS shortly after her marriage.
Increasingly debilitated, she continued her medical treatments but also consulted a "healer" (they showed footage of this woman sitting on the floor and chanting while shaking rattles) who gave her a "prescription" to give 21 gifts in 21 days.

As a result of this gift-giving business, the victim was able to shed her cane in a week or so and now feels much better. (although she did admit she was continuing her treatments)

And of course, she's written a book...

As I recall, MS is one of those diseases that can spontaneously remit for varying periods of time....

This was all handled in an entirely uncritical manner by the Today show...No interview with her physician, no questioning of the "healer".

[The Central Scrutinizer]

How much more evidence do you need?

[badnewsBH]

As I recall, MS is one of those diseases that can spontaneously remit for varying periods of time....


That's my understanding as well. My aunt has had MS for many years, and I believe she's had many such flare-ups and recoveries.

Personally, this sort of "story" bothers me. Lending credence to phony treatments for real diseases should be something society discourages.

[Teapots Happen]

As a MS patient myself, shaking a rattle doesn't sound like much good to me - but the sad fact is that mainstream MS treatments today really aren't much better.

Fortunately, a paradigm shift in MS treatment seems to be on the horizon - after years of being considered an auto-immune disease, and expensive drugs based on this notion that fail to stop progression, researchers are looking at a new model - that the problem is with insifficient venous drainage of the brain:

http://www.buffalo.edu/news/10562

[skyhand]

I watched the segment with some interest, because I have MS. At first I thought that it was going to give some good information for people with MS. It was funny when she said that the spiritual adviser who told her to do good deeds has previously told her to do odd things before. That was the only disclaimer given.

The most common form of MS is called Relapsing-remitting. Relapsing-remitting MS is characterized by clearly defined, acute attacks with full or partial recovery and no disease progression between attacks. This makes MS prefect for woo.

The segment could have just said doing good deeds makes you feel better. When you feel good mentally, it's easier to push your physical limits. Reducing stress is a good thing for anyone.

[pakeha]

I went to the site, Teapots Happen


http://www.buffalo.edu/news/10562[/QUOTE]

A fascinating and ambitious project, large scale studies investigating the subject. I think this is good news.
The new study will involve 1,600 adults and 100 children. The cohort will be comprised of 1,100 patients who were diagnosed with possible or definite MS, 300 age-and-sex matched normal controls, and 300 patients with other autoimmune and neurodegenerative diseases. Enrollment in the study has begun and will continue for two years. MS patients from across the U.S. are eligible to participate in the study.

[Teapots Happen]

There is more to it than told in the article - Dr Michale Dake @ Stanford is currently testing MS patients for stenoses of the veins - and when found, as it is in almost all MS patients, he is stenting - not as a treatment for MS, necessarily since that connection is not yet proven - but for "venous insufficiency" from the brain, which DOES justify such treatment, while we are waiting for the MS research to be done ...

It is very hopeful, indeed.

Google "CCSVI" for a ton more info, or PM me. I am going to Stanford for MRV testing and probable stenting in early December.

[pakeha]

All the best!
Keep us updated, please.

[shandyjan]

I watched the segment with some interest, because I have MS. At first I thought that it was going to give some good information for people with MS. It was funny when she said that the spiritual adviser who told her to do good deeds has previously told her to do odd things before. That was the only disclaimer given.

The most common form of MS is called Relapsing-remitting. Relapsing-remitting MS is characterized by clearly defined, acute attacks with full or partial recovery and no disease progression between attacks. This makes MS prefect for woo.

The segment could have just said doing good deeds makes you feel better. When you feel good mentally, it's easier to push your physical limits. Reducing stress is a good thing for anyone.

Good post. I agree, people who suffer continuing pain are more susceptible to quackery, sometimes out of desperation. My sister has rheumatoid arthritus and apalling pain, and hasnt given in to anything woo so far. But just one time..hope and placebo could change that!

[MattusMaximus]

This sort of garbage (and Oprah) is one of the reasons why I no longer watch television.

[Teapots Happen]

Check it out!

http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20091120/W5_liberation_091121/20091121?s_name=W5

How's that strike your woo-dar? Feel like skeptics should err on the side of the dominant paradigm?

Hmmm.

Compare it to this:

http://www.pr-inside.com/examine-the-global-multiple-sclerosis-market-r1213395.htm