This is so frustrating

Nanners and LMills, thanks for hanging in on this. When someone wants to discuss a 'cure,' you know you'd better beware. I agree that research is the way to go, and I have access to a LOT of databases through school; the problem is of course that with MLMs (multi-level marketing scheme), the only research done is by "their" "scientists," and it's interesting how the research statements and conclusions always sound like carefully worded FDA compliant disclaimers.

I had a student write admiringly (gulp!) about an amazing speech given by ex-federal prisoner and MLM kingpin Kevin Trudeau, who loves to tell us about "natural" "cures" for cancer and all other ills that "they don't want you to know about."

It would be nice if more of the medical profession would spend time debunking these scams, but alas there is no money in that kind of research...

A family member of mine began proselytising about StemEnhance, so I looked into it--simply a makeover of the old blue-green algae scam of the 80s. Now we have the same product, but now its purpose is to release large numbers of stem cells from bone marrow, and these cells will supposedly proliferate in a good way, repairing tissues and organs.

With a different formulation of a chemical compound (yes, that is present in the algae, again--but very differently), it has been found in controlled studies that reparative work can be done.
However--
Quack watchers with M.D.s will tell you that releasing large amounts of stem cells into the bloodstream is possibly dangerous, with some studies suggesting that a predisposition to cancer will indeed create a metastasizing you don't want.

Scammers will try to tell you that you are either holding onto your illness out of fear, lack imagination, and/or that you are subject to your own set of "beliefs" propagated by traditional conventional medicine.

But they NEVER ever have the research...if you read carefully, you'll see that it is manipulated rhetoric--and no research at all.

Nanners and everyone else, I didn't say it would cure anyone. I said it might help, and to what degree, who knows. I did say it cured mine and I shouldn't have. It sure feels like it though. From now on, I'll say that I've been in a 5 year remission. Who knows, maybe you are right. Maybe it will come back but I hope not. Also, I've never said that it would help everyone because for some reason it doesn't, but it does help some. It may provide some relief and that is the only reason I've mentioned it.

Post Edited (brianm) : 8/18/2008 11:47:34 PM (GMT-6)

Well, they really don't know what the cause of Crohn's is, even with the gene differences identified. They are still making assumptions like "NOD2 genetic defect in Crohn's is accompanied by a defective NF kappa B activation, therefore the gene is defective in creating that factor." The gut immune system is MUCH more involved than that. It is possible that chronic inflammation - which is known to diminish the immune response - is responsible for the NF kappa B deficiency. What they do know is that the immune response is over active and is reacting to normal gut bacteria. The factor that determines how much inflammation occurs is the degree of gut permeability. When the gut is permeable, the gut bacteria that have triggered an immune response are presented to the immune system and that starts up the inflammation. Bee propolis which is a strong antibiotic, kills off gut bacteria, so possibly the offending bacteria are removed by it, thus avoiding the immune response and inflammation. It is rather like taking cipro or flagyl for a flare. The known factors that cause increased gut permeability are, a gut infection, stress, non-steroidal anti-inflammatories and alcohol. I imagine that there are other drugs that would do the same thing. One of the reasons that probiotics help is that certain of them attach to the gut wall forming a protective layer between the gut and the rest of the gut contents (there are a number of other benefits too). Once the immune system has been sensitized to the gut bacteria, it becomes crucial that the gut's mucous lining not be compromised. The immune response will remain active for many years, so if the gut's permeability is raised, the inflammation will return. There is the possibility that diets like the SCD diet may alter the bacterial population in the gut, possibly eliminating the bacteria that the immune system reacts to. A lot would depend on what those bacteria are. There is, naturally, very little information on diet and bacterial populations and none on the effect of the SCD diet on gut bacteria.