31–40 of 62 posts
Earlier quoted context omitted.
I'm mostly referring to symptoms and lesser illnesses such as colds, headaches, sores and such
An open wound was almost certainly a recipe for gangrene prior to antiseptics and antibiotics.
Earlier quoted context omitted.
I feel obligated to say that "alternative medicine" means treatment attempts that are not based on science or evidence.
They are based on evidence, but that evidence has not been scientifically evaluated.
Is it that surprising that inhibiting choline would be a bad idea? Choline's positive effects on memory and the brain are very well known and increases in acetylcholine are one of the main methods of actions of nootropics in the racetam class. Profound effects of combining choline and piracetam on memory enhancement and cholinergic function in aged rats. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/7301036 Effects of citicholi…
Earlier quoted context omitted.
I feel obligated to say that "alternative medicine" means treatment attempts that are not based on science or evidence.
They are based on evidence, but that evidence has not been scientifically evaluated.
I wonder if choline supplementation would counteract this effect. In fact, I wonder if choline supplementation might help stave off dementia in general. As much as 90% of the population may be deficient in choline.[0] [0] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Choline#Groups_at_risk_for_chol...
From the article:
> A study has linked commonly used medicines, including over-the-counter treatments for conditions such as insomnia and hay-fever, to dementia.
> All of the types of medication in question are drugs that have an "anticholinergic" effect.
From Wikipedia: [1]
> Cetirizine /sɛˈtɪrɨziːn/ (trade names Zyrtec, Reactine).
> Unlike many other antihistamines, Cetirizine does not exhibit anticholinergic properties.
Earlier quoted context omitted.
There's quite a lot of anecdotal evidence in support of both. Lemons for colds are more a relief than a cure according to [1]. The way I tend to look at, people have survived/healed themselves for thousands of years prior to the advent of modern medicine. Some methods are not that effective while many others are even if due to a placebo effect. A large part of staying healthy I believe is being preventative. Many 'no…
Prior to the advent of modern medicine people didn't heal themselves. They died at record rates from things that are minor inconveniences now.
The advances of modern medicine shouldn't blind us to the fact that humans and other animals/organisms have always had immune systems that fight off disease naturally, and that practices like good nutrition, sleep and physical fitness, and yes, some folk remedies, all assist the immune system to function optimally - even if by placebo effect.
Sure, modern medicine can take over where the body's natural defenses and traditional health practices are inadequate.
But bacteria and viruses have existed for longer than humans have, and as a species we've survived a pretty long time without modern medicine.
Earlier quoted context omitted.
> I prefer to go with alternative medicines ex. local honey, lemons, etc. These alternatives clearly have the advantage of being side-effect free for most people, but I have always been very skeptical about their effectiveness. Are there actually any reliable studies on the efficacy of local honey in treating allergies? And I thought that the role of vitamin C in warding off colds had been pretty well debunked. (I as…
I agree with the parent when it comes to things like the cold. I seriously don't understand people who take paracetamol and tons of other over the counter stuff for that. When it comes to allergies though (hay fever in my case) I can barely function without antihistamines (and with them I'm still a wreck). I haven't found any of the home remedies to be effective for it whereas in the case of the cold plenty of water…
A quote:
> Background: Medications with anticholinergic properties are often associated with adverse events, including falls, cognitive dysfunction, delirium, and loss of independence.
That's from 2009, and it is stated as something already known.
Also, it should be noted that loratadine ("Claritin"), which lots of people take, has anticholinergic effects. See http://doctorslounge.com/chest/drugs/antihistamines/claritin...