I promised to report on the news of a breakthrough in the identification of a culprit in the degeneration of motor neurons due to an overload of glutamate. I could go into chemical detail here but would prefer to simply state that while I am hopeful this discovery expedites the process of procuring a cure, the simple fact remains that the new development holds equal significance to the identification of TDP43- years ago. Identifying a defective amino acid is a start, however it is clear that a) developing a chemical cocktail designed to correct the error, b) determining the cocktail is not toxic, c) testing the cocktail on mice, d) affecting improved glutamate production controls, e) testing the cocktail on humans, f) moving to phase 3 in human clinical studies, g) confirming a substantial improvement in ALS patients, substantial enough to warrant an FDA fast track to approval, and h) finding the drug at Walgreen's, is a decade of hard work and bureaucracy. I won't be holding my breath, but I will try to get into a clinical study group and offer to take the pill or shot or IV without reservation or hesitation. If anybody out there has pull in this matter, start tugging. My motor is running.
Here is food for thought. What if herbal tea combinations, adjusted to an individual metabolism, providing a biological balance , coupled with an organic diet and detoxification, had a positive effect on our body's auto-immune system and gave it the strength to halt or turn back the march of ALS? Why do we assume remedies must be chemical in nature? If our bodies are designed to heal naturally, and we cleanse ourselves of artificial product, why can't we correct the anomalies naturally? I have no idea if homeopathic remedies or concepts are sound, and I know why- with billions of dollars spent on cancer research, heart disease, stroke, etc., I can find very little money provided for the research of ANY natural solutions. Doctors will caution us that charlatans run amok in the fringes of health and cure, but they speak from a pulpit of ignorance. They spent no school time on alternative consideration. I propose the ALS Association, the MDA, the Alzheimer's Association, the Parkinson's Association and others promote the funding of research onto varied paths. It seems ridiculous that ALL of these organizations put their eggs into one basket, a basket that hasn't hatched a cure in decades. It is time to lend credence to alternatives. Give the sufferers more choices. Focus on health and cure rather than a pill, a side effect and a statistic.
Tracy, you have already stated why we're given a pill and not a plant. It's a little hard for the drug manufacturers to get a patent on a plant. A HUGE amount of today's drugs originate from a plant/animal or mold of some kind. Poppy, Foxglove, St.John's Wart, molds for penicillin, insulin is extracted from the pancreas of cattle and pigs...etc. The history of pharmacology is based upon the original homeopathic meds. They have been doing it for centries!(without govt. assistance) For some ailments the homeopathic route is always best. It's modern mankind and science that has changed that. The government funds a research project for Joe Blow, millions/billions are spent on the research to develop a drug, Joe Blow patents his "secret drug" and makes you believe that it's the ONLY med that is going to fix your ails, and the public tends to believe it because we now have commercials for them all! (That is stupidity at it's finest) I think there are alot of conditions and illnesses that can easily be curbed or cured homeopathically(sp?). There are some that cannot. We as a world have turned toward that "magic pill" that is going to fix us rather than finding an alternative solution. If people actually did there homework and got educated about their conditions we would see more natural cures. Sad but true. The government SURELY isn't going to fund a research project to find natural solutions, because then Kroger and the natural food stores would be reaping the rewards! Do your homework Tracy and do what works for you. The more proactive you are with your own health, the better you will feel. Go team Go!!!
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