Curing acid reflux with apple cider vinegar!

[Avicenna]

http://www.apple-cider-vinegar-benefits ... eflux.html

This stuff really works, better than any antacid I've had to use for my reflux a few years ago. Very bitter taste & a strong smell, but works. Brag's organic is the real deal.

[Methylamine]

makes sense...vinegar (acetic acid) has a slightly higher ph than hydrochloric acid so it helps buffer the stomach acid at a reasonable acidity

[Avicenna]

Yep. Pharmaceuticals charge people a fortune for stuff that you can get for a fraction and with less side effects.

It was just re-affirmed for me on Dr. Oz earlier, most docs shy away from natural remedies, surprised he allowed his guest (a naturalist) to encourage its use.

[Nabeela]

Interesting, can't wait to inform my cousin.

[Methylamine]

Avicenna why do most docs shy away from prescribing natural remedies?

[Avicenna]

bariis - for fear of litigation/lawsuit.

Herbs & natural remedies are all good, but most have never been tested or approved. A person uses them at their own personal risk.

This is the justification pharmaceuticals use in why prices for their medicines are so expensive i.e. research, development, testing and approval fees.

Also, some specialty doctors like oncologists get a cut from whatever medications they use on their patients. This is why oncologists earn more than anyone else, the average annual pay for them is almost half a million and most of it comes from commissions. ecause of fear of a lawsuit.

[Methylamine]

makes sense, no wonder the pharmaceutical companies are making a killing off prescription drugs

[Avicenna]

Pharmaceutical companies have always had the medical community on a lock down. The only medicine any doctor can prescribe is medications the FDA have approved (which are exclusively produced by 3-4 pharmaceutical companies with GSK & Bayer being the two giants). Recently there was a ridiculous price hike where a medicine called Makena meant to help women with conception went from costing $10 at your local drugstore to $1500. It's a progesterone based medicine that a company called KV got a patent for with the FDA, effectively baring any pharmacy from selling anything resembling it. Prior to this, pharmacies used to mix it in their own establishments, but KV forced the FDA's hand and these pharmacies were barred from selling it for $10. The sad thing is the FDA is not in place to regulate pricing, their job is to check the risks & benefits of whatever medicine lands on their table. There's still outrage over it, even OBGYN's were outraged because they can't prescribe it to their patients, since its so expensive.

[Methylamine]

from $10 to $1500?!?! That's insane! . They shouldn't put patents on medicine though, because that just gives a company full monopoly on that product and can price to whatever price they want. If a new drug passes FDA's regulations then it should be able to be sold in drugstores.

[Avicenna]

Here's the story:

http://healthland.time.com/2011/03/11/k ... rice-hike/

Price hikes & gauging in the medical community has become more rampant over the years. Everything is being patented sxb, even agricultural products, specially seeds. Lawsuits have been filed left & right against Monsanto; the mega-agri-corporation that's behind patenting grain seeds. Some farmers in the Midwest have to buy exclusively from them or not farm at all. These corporations have very strong lobby groups in Washington and can get away with pretty much anything. This world is run by greed and we are just the prey for the most part, sad really.

[Methylamine]

I wonder how these pharmaceutical CEOs go about with their lives, knowing that they are ruining the lives of many. This whole topic of pharmaceutical companies intrigues me, I wanna look into it more when I have the time and see if the government here in Canada is regulating the price of prescription drugs.

@ your 2nd point, you're 100% right, the world is run by greed and I don't see it changing at all.

[Beans]

Acid on acid.Interesting.

Av. How is that company selling their product at that price? Who is their buyer?

[Avicenna]

bariis - Canada's regulations are far more reaching than here. Drugs and the medical community there is constantly under scrutiny because of Canada's welfare state system.

Here it is a free-for-all, cowboy mentality that they call capitalism. Look in to it, should be interesting.

Beans - The funny thing is that this progesterone based drug ( 17-hydroxyprogesterone caproate) has been around for over 40 years, but it was never really patented or branded. Compounding pharmacies used to mix it onsite upon request, for around $10 per dose. A company called KV got a hold of it and submitted a brand request for it through the FDA, presented clinical trials that it indeed did help prevent premature births in high risk mothers, voila! They got approved and over a very short span (within months) the price went from a mere $10 to $1,500 (150 fold). The drug is still on the market, but its sales have been sluggish over time. It's sold to expectant mothers who are high risk (hx of premature births), billed through their insurance companies. The total cost through-out the pregnancy is estimated at around $30,000 which has outraged many in the health field and even politicians/lobby groups like March of Dimes, etc. The company is promising to work with low-income mothers with paying for it through a charity network they set up (under a lot of pressure) as long as they have ob prescriptions.

[Avicenna]

Oh shit, I forgot to mention 2 tablespoons mixed in with a glass of water. Or else, it'll dry out your insides.

I gargled some of it without the water and could barely breathe once, shit is very strong - works like a charm. Take it whenever you feel food coming up or you get that burning chest pain, bitter taste, etc.

[Beans]

Monopoly.

They need to be regulated.Max allowed profit fir drug companies. But that isnt gonna happen when drug companies and the govt are cuddling under a velvet.