MONDAY, JULY 25, 2022 - MEDICAL RESEARCH

 MONDAY, JULY 25, 2022 - MEDICAL RESEARCH

I’m writing this on Sunday night - and I “need” a blog post tomorrow morning (at 1:30 a.m.).  (Okay, I have missed a few days this summer, but that is a bad excuse).

I started a post that needed some research.  It was on a health-related product.  The research said things like “It could be useful for <item>”, “More research is needed”, “This might work”, and “no scientific evidence”. 

It was a topic from a friend - a good friend.  

Comment - there are many health-related products out there.  Even though I don’t watch much television, I’ve seen ads for products that help you focus better, relieve pain, deliver 100% of your fruits and vegetables in pill format, help you sleep, help you lose weight, relieve stress, and more.  

My guess is the products “can possibly” do what the last paragraph says - help you focus, etc. for certain people.  As a person who wrote a dissertation and needed real research and data, it seems like the research is just lacking on some of these topics.  Having a former governor who ran for president in 2016 endorse a product is nice - he is a nice friendly guy - but he is a politician - and his endorsement is not scientific other than this worked for him (and for his guitar-playing country star friend).

Again, it might work - with more research we might find out that certain products that get touted on television are really good products - BUT - without the research, I’m a little leery. 

Aside - and on a difficult topic for me - many states are allowing “medical marijuana”, or other compounds.  CBD is a derivative of the cannabis plant.  My research says, “CBD oil is made by extracting CBD from the cannabis plant and then diluting it with a carrier oil like coconut oil or hemp seed oil. CBD can be found in a variety of products online and in stores, including dietary supplements, bath soaks, drinks, and food.

It continues to gain momentum in the health and wellness world, with some scientific studies finding that it may ease symptoms of conditions such as chronic pain and anxiety. 

“With some scientific studies finding that it “MAY” ease symptoms … such as chronic pain and anxiety.”

I use the term “weasel words” - like “some scientific studies”.  

To get a drug (even the COVID drugs) to the market and approved by the FDA (Food and Drug Administration), rigorous testing is required - with blind tests (some groups getting the drug and other groups getting a placebo).  The data needs to isolate lots of factors.  Does this drug work effectively on groups - such as those with diabetes, those with heart conditions, and those that are or may become pregnant?  

If you have read the directions on medications, they generally detail the restrictions and comments.  Tylenol is a form of acetaminophen.  The disclosure suggests that long-term and heavy use of acetaminophen can lead to potential health issues.  Does that stop you from taking Tylenol for an occasional headache?  

But, with a health-related product, tests and research needs to be conducted.  It may be that the compound really DOES work.  It might really be the case that CBD does relieve pain.

Years ago, there was a rush to use a product derived from apricot pits (or seed).  The comment is: “Apricot kernel is the seed found inside the apricot pit. It contains a chemical called amygdalin, which the body turns into cyanide. It can be toxic.”  

So, if I take the products made from apricot seeds, it COULD be changed into cyanide by a person’s body and it could be toxic? 

I remember cases from years ago, where people would go to Mexico where they could get the apricot kernel as a cancer treatment.  The research says “Some people believe that the cyanide from eating apricot seeds can kill cancer cells. But there is no scientific evidence that this treatment works. In fact, they might be harmful.:

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Although I love my friend and I love her positive perception of this particular product, I just tend to be a bit of a skeptic with products that are touted as “break-through” medications.   I guess I’ll just have to wait until the scientific research is done, and the FDA approves the product.

*****

Aside, the mind is a wonderful thing.  Even with placebos, if people “believe” they are getting a wonderful new drug they can get well.  If I believed (for example), that eating a certain type of earthworm can stop cancer, and if I had cancer - I guess I might be ordering and eating earthworms!!!  

Some religions accept prayer as miraculous - and instead of taking medications, they can pray and have hands laid on them.  And, I do believe in prayer.  I’ve seen cases where a person does have cancer and through prayer, they become free of cancer.  I can’t understand it - but I know that God does heal and that God does answer prayers.  

So, it might be medications (or supplements) that promise relief from pain or stress - that might cause a person’s brain to latch onto the healing benefits.  

But, for me, I’ll wait a little longer for the research!!

*****

Aside - when the various vaccinations for COVID were being developed, some anti-vaxers refused to take the vaccination as they weren’t sure it had been adequately tested.  That seems to go out the window with herbal treatment for <a particular illness> gets touted.

Oh well!!!  

LOVE WINS!!

Karen

July 25, 2022