Frederick [FN] Noronha asked: Is this pseudo-science?
Journal of Ethnopharmacology : A survey of the tribals of Western Madhya Pradesh of India for the treatment of jaundice has yielded 13 plants for this purpose. etc etc etc Or will it become 'science' only after a man in a white coat 'discovers' it and markets it for some greedy multinational? -- Dear Frederick, I wish life and medicine were that easy. Is it possible that the vast majority of cases of jaundice (on the Indian subcontinent) are secondary to Infectious Hepatitis following infection by the Hepatitis A and E viruses? What if I suggested to you that the vast majority of these patients recover with NO medicinal treatment but REST and supportive eg Fluids, low fat diet, No alcohol or drugs which pass the liver? ....and that the minority with severe liver damage - do not survive - come what may? (The timely preventive and early administration of IgG having been noted) NOW ...why would anybody with some common sense want to give a patient "Medicines" - when the symptoms (including jaundice) in the vast majority of cases, disappear without any treatment? And would it not be important to know the CAUSE of the jaundice? Is it not important from a public health (disease transmission) point of view ESP as most cases of Hepatitis are subject to Transmission and Prevention? Now ....what has the alleged Medicinal Treatment for jaundice ( when none is needed or even possible) got to do with "white coats and multinationals"? Many a predator and con-artist is very 'multi-local'. All he needs is the fertile mind of a brain-washed anti-white coat and an unnecessarily anti-multinational person ....to sell his untested and unregulated product. Never mind that it is not required. If one examines the data scientifically ....there is NO need to go looking for the chap who is trying to sell you the Mandovi bridge. jc HEPATITIS A: There are no special medicines or antibiotics that can be used to treat a person once the symptoms appear. Generally, bed rest is all that is needed. http://www.health.state.ny.us/diseases/communicable/hepatitis/hepatitis_a/fact_sheet.htm other source for info: http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/diseases/hepatitis/index.htm