If allergies are the problem (as described in the opening post), why would you want to "enhance" the immune response? Seems like that would only make the problem worse (since allergies represent an improperly directed immune reaction). Graviola is one of the latest in a long line of "super foods", widely promoted on the Internet as curing a wide range of ills based on testimonials (but little real evidence). Most disturbing are unfounded claims that it's a cancer cure, though there is only limited data suggesting it acts against cancer cells, but no human studies verifying effectiveness. And it could negatively interact with valid treatment. "Despite the absence of supportive data, graviola, like many herbal products, is heavily promoted to cancer patients on the Internet, often with false claims of cure. Patients should be cautioned against herbal supplement use when on treatment... Alkaloids extracted from graviola were found detrimental to the survival of dopaminergic nerve cells in vitro and can cause neuronal dysfunction and degeneration. Graviola may also have antidepressive activity due to its ability to stimulate serotonin receptors. Extracts of graviola demonstrated cytotoxic effects against hepatoma cells[6] and doxorubicin-resistant human mammary adenocarcinoma cells by blocking ATP utilization and by inhibiting activity of plasma membrane glycoprotein. But human studies are lacking. ADVERSE EFFECTS: Graviola may cause movement disorders and myeloneuropathy with symptoms similar to ParkinsonâÂÂs disease.[5] SUMMARY: Graviola demonstrated anticancer effects in vitro, but has not been studied in humans. Despite the lack of human data, many websites promote graviola to cancer patients based on traditional use and on the in vitro studies. Caution is required as there is no evidence of safety or efficacy." Also, it is quite a coincidence that this discussion was started by two brand-new posters, both from India, with the second post linking to a website that coincidentally sells graviola. My spam detector is going off. Here is a link that might be useful: Graviola and cancer This post was edited by eric_oh on Sat, Jul 13, 13 at 1:23

I don't usually show up on the conversations side but for some reason, did tonight. Try and tell my dog that homeopathic is placebo or quackery. Its worked on his bladder stones. My experience with classic homeopathy started when I needed an alternative for my thyroid as all conventional medicine that I tried failed. I was unable to tolerate any form of thyroid gland. I tried Synthroid, Armour, Naturethroid. I read extensively about it and found a doctor who used synthroid in drops so that I could use just one watered down drop. I could not tolerate one drop. The tiniest amount of synthroid OR descicated thyroid made me feel thyrotoxic and drove my thyroid stimulating hormone down to hypo levels within only a couple of days on the meds. My finger nails were peeling off and a I had a host of other symptoms. My TSH without being on the hormone at one point, got up to 40. (VERY high). I was miserable. I had tried at that point with Western medicine for many years. I contacted a classic homeopathist. At that time my dog was having blood in his urine upon emptying his bladder when he would mark. Dr. Alan was willing to advise me on my dog. He suggested a particular remedy. My dog had the remedy, and the blood ceased that day. He was symptom free for the next three months. He did need the remedy again, and had more results upon taking it.( It later came back here and there and right now is much better when he takes glucosomine, because that helps with the mucus on the lining of the bladder.) Next I took my assigned remedy. With no other treatment, my TSH went from 40 down to about 5.9, then down to 3.9, then 2.9. It remained there for over a year, and when it went up a bit again, I went back to the doc and we tried another remedy or two. It was better, but not optimum, and so the doc and I agreed that would try Chinese medicine. I switched to an Asian doctor and am taking Chinese tea and getting results there. And as with valinsv, the least amount of money I spent on docs was for the homeopathic one. I have also had full blown flu instantly leave once upon taking a homeopathic remedy. A lot of people find that hard to believe because it is true that the original substance is not in that vial or sugar pill. It is the essence of it or the energy, or vibration that is there. I would totally use Western medicine for certain things that it is good for, but I am not married to it at all. Pharma has a lot at stake and pays big money to disprove vitamin studies and show that vite e is "bad for you", etc. They have PR men that figure out how to promote diseases so that you will except the "cure" that they are selling. My brother is a pathologist and does not believe in homeopathic, chiropractic, or most natural cures. He would not even try one chiropractic adjustment for his trigeminal neuralgia which had become excruciating. So he elected to have a risky surgery that went behind his brain. Thank God it was successful. But my chiropractor who practices Upper Cervical adjustments using a technique called Advanced Orthogonal, cured a patient of the excruciating pain associated with the ailment. The pain disappeared six weeks after the patient received his adjustment. My brother felt if would not work on him because he does not believe in that. However, when my mom fell on her face (86 years old) I took her to this chiro, and she is doing better than ever, and we put the walker away. Here is a link that might be useful: How to brand a disease and sell a cure

I can give you my story. DH quit smoking (for good) 4 years ago. I tried to quit at the same time but was not successful, and have tried numerous times as well. Once, in 1990, I quit smoking for 2 years but I never got past the urges and it was a constant battle. The only reason I was able to stop for so long was because I got pregnant during that time. Once the baby was born and several months past, I started again. The problem was I never really wanted to quit. I like smoking. But my asthma just kept getting worse and worse to where even my inhalers werent doing the job. So I actually wanted to quit, just for that reason. But bad habits are hard to kick. Last january I ordered a new little ecig starter kit, tried it for a short time and it just didn't do it for me. Smoking an ecig is NOT the same as having a cigarette. Along came June and I decided to give it another shot. This time I prepared a little better, found e liquid that I liked instead of just going with whatever I could find in my area. In a short time I upgraded again. So, now I have not had a cigarette since Father's Day, and now I use a no nicotine liquid. Some days I still get those nicotine pangs so I will use e liquid with the nicotine level equivalent of a light cigarette for a few hours. It's unbelievable how much better I can breathe. Weeks have gone by where I have not used my inhalers. Right now the pollen count is high and I have been using one most days, but it's due to pollen, not cigarette smoke. I'm happiest about my breathing. Before quitting cigs, I was using my inhalers countless times per day. I'm less happy about my weight gain. Supposedly, nicotine speeds up the metabolism. I have a sluggish metabolism so have gained some weight. My thought is that just buying an ecig starter kit is not always going to work for everyone. The right equipment, which is found by experimentation, is what made me successful in stopping smoking. But, it is just another addiction.

After seeing the ad on tv for nuvoh20, started research and found this site - read all the posts and have questions, but first, please know: 1) I have a well which produces horrible hard, visible grains of something which is filtered out by a well filter which has to be changed several times a year. The water produced has passed, repeatedly, the Dept of Health's water testing. 2) I have a septic tank which has to be pumped out once a year. 3) I have a Culligan Model 474 which is two years old - it replaced one that was 8 years old. 4) The Culligan has to be reprogrammed every time the electricity "blinks" - there is no battery back up for the programming even though this thing cost over 1200 dollars and the electricity "blinks" quite often out here. Reprogramming requires standing in a cold pump house, holding a flash light, the instructions and repeatedly pushing one button to get to the right place, then the second button to "select" then back to the first - several times until the thing is programmed. If, for some reason,I am unable to do this, I must pay an 85 dollar service call for someone to come out and I must wait all day for him to show up. 5) I am old and frail and salt comes in only 40 pound bags. I can still lift them, with large effort but foresee the day when I won't be able to. Takes, on average - two of these bags a month - which now cost 6.98/bag at Walmart. 6) I have a new, high end Kitchenaide diswasher with a stainless steel interior - within two weeks the "stainless" was covered with an ugly, streaky film that no amount of scrubbing would remove. 7) I read that running the dishwasher, empty, after putting a package of lemon koolaide in the soap dispenser would solve my problem. IT DID. The stainless interior looks nice again but, of course, will have to do it every couple of weeks. QUESTIONs: 1) if the Nuvoh20 system is bad science and does not work - why did the package of Kooaide work to remove the film in the dishwasher? 2) is there any other option for conditioning water (won't say "softening") in such a way that I don't get this white, filmy, yucky buildup on every surface touched by water in my house that will not require me to have to live with Culligan monster and heavy bags of salt?