Alternative therapies
I hear a lot about alterntative therapies. To me, these are products which have been spared the inconvenience of scientific testing. After all, we need therapies now. So, there is no time to wait around to prove something is effective and safe, right? Wrong.
While it is true that traditional treatments do not work for everyone; and, I believe if they were not working for me, I would be seeking out alternatives. But, I also believe I would be very cautious and hesitant to take anything that had no data for safety and effectiveness. If the therapy really does work, why not put it through clinical trials? This is the standard of proving a drug is a legitimate treatment for a condiion.
There may be alternative therapies which work for some people. But, until they are proven with clinical trials, the success stories are nothing but anecdotal sales pitches for a product.
I think one of the most despicable things I've seen with MS is seeing how many people seek to profit by taking advantage of those who are vulnerable. Yes, drug companies profit, but they also invest an incredible amount of research and development funds into developing these drugs. And, for each one that pops, there are countless others that they had to throw out. All of these costs get wrapped into the drug. It's with the people out there intentionally selling false hope with unproven products or ideas that I have a problem. There must be an easier, and less pathetic, way to make a living.