Can you more precisely describe a patient for whom you feel an Aconite-based formula is the absolute best option?

Thanks for the feedback! I’m working on many more fascinating posts. Today I’m reading more about Taoist demonological medicine from Michel Strickmann’s book _Chinese Magical Medicine_. Some interesting pieces are coming together, I’m glad to know more acupuncturists are reading my blog, it makes it even more worthwhile to put the time and effort into writing!

Kevin

The whole book, Natural Causes, has many more interesting facts and insights in it and is worth reading. I think Kava’s toxicity is more in the ‘rare adverse reaction’ category rather than the ‘this molecule is always toxic’ category. Lead and arsenic toxicity are ongoing concerns with supplements from Mexico, India, China, etc. You’re welcome to mail me a copy of the herbal toxicity list at Kevin O’Neil, PO Box 502, Klamath Falls, OR 97601. I look at lists online, but am always interested in more, fresher information.

Thanks for reading and leaving a comment!

Kevin

Michael Egan, LAc

On my earlier medical tour in Harbin, I was chastised for taking a picture of a amazingly dirty truck spewing black exhaust. Did you see my wildlife street vendors pictures? http://ancientway.com/blog/?p=1485

I can hardly imagine dirtier dentistry, wow… We are so lucky.

Kevin

I agree, though the best solution would seem to be encouraging better education to increase the ethical and scientific filters for all practitioners and consumers. If we are to avoid the creation of a world-spanning super-bacteria, the extinction of tigers, rhinos, etc., and learn what the best parts of Traditional Chinese Medicine are, it seems that we will need to all work together to raise our knowledge and standards. It’s a long-shot, I know…

Kevin

Please be more specific with the presentation of that pattern and I’ll be glad to dialog about it some more. I’ve got some ideas about it, but want to make sure we’re talking about the same thing.

Kevin

Thanks,

Eric

I understand the difficulty of choosing treatments for a troubling condition like chronic Lyme with few well-studied good options. As far as I know, my blog posts are the only critical investigation of Aconite and the foundational theories of Classical Pearls. I have no experience using them in my clinic for treating any conditions. You may pull up all of the practitioner information by googling the name of the formula followed by PDF. Here’s Ox Bone Pearls: http://www.classicalpearls.org/downloads/formulas/OxbonePearls.pdf and Bamboo Pearls: http://www.classicalpearls.org/downloads/formulas/BambooPearls.pdf
That is, as far as I know, the only info avaialble to practitioners. There are no studies, references, clinical trials, etc. for any of them. While it appears unlikely that the Aconite in them is a lethal dose, the anesthetic and analgesic properties of the Aconite, along with its potential adverse reactions, are something every prospective patient (and practitioner) should be informed of. I just found some info about the use of Low Dose Naltrexone for Chronic Lyme (http://mylymediseasetreatment.com/lyme-disease-therapeutic/lose-dose-naltrexone-ldn-a-panacea-for-lyme-disease-other-chronic-illnesses/). It temporarily blocks opiate receptors, causing the body to produce more endorphins, which then helps with pain and the immune system. The Aconite also has some opioid effects, so it may work on this pathway as well. Ultimately, it boils down to your willingness to be a test subject in a for-profit clinical research trial which gathers no data in a meaningful way, and is not known for giving good informed consent. The fact that Classical Pearls illegally markets Ocean Pearls as “a remedy for toxic conditions in the lower burner, such as venereal disease, abnormal cervical changes due to HPV, and prostate and ovarian cancers” crosses over every ethical and legal line I know of, so frankly I don’t trust anything they print. (ref: http://www.classicalpearls.org/downloads/formulas/OceanPearls.pdf). Hopefully you can enlist a caring MD to help you go over all of the research you gather for your options and help you make a informed choice. Feel free to post an update comment with what you decide, discover, or try.

Regards,

Kevin

I am finishing up with the BWF protocol and I do know that my current Lac Dr stated that she would do things differently. I am thinking that I will go with her recommendation since I’ve have the most breakthrough with her addition to my treatment. Can you tell me where I can more info about Ox Bone and Bamboo and how it works in treating my pain? Thank you.

Thanks for the thoughtful comment. I’ve addressed some of my research-based discoveries in a couple other posts: http://ancientway.com/blog/?p=1701 is a good one. The companies certainly know better, but are trying to ride the line. Distributing any written material that references/promotes your brand by name with medical claims is clearly over the line, even if it’s published by a different company. Yin Care has toned down their marketing materials, but as it is a topical drug, it will always be illegal until it is an approved drug product (in which case it needs to have a legal label declaring the active ingredients). Check out other women’s douching and anti-fungal topicals for their labeling. BTW, did you read about “Dr.” Kaptchuk’s degree? http://www.sciencebasedmedicine.org/index.php/dummy-medicine-dummy-doctors-and-a-dummy-degree-part-2-3-harvard-medical-school-and-the-curious-case-of-ted-kaptchuk-omd/ It’s a bummer to find that so much in the TCM world is based on deception and fraud. I hope that my writings can help to direct it towards a legal, ethical, safe & effective medical field.

Kevin