50 of 50 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
LDN therapy reference book -- share it with your doctor, December 29, 2008
This review is from: The Promise Of Low Dose Naltrexone Therapy: Potential Benefits in Cancer, Autoimmune, Neurological and Infectious Disorders (Paperback)
Elaine Moore and Samantha Wilkinson's (Sammy Jo) book on `Low Dose Naltrexone Therapy' is a much needed book. LDN therapy is an off-label use of an established, FDA approved drug - Naltrexone -- used to help modulate the immune system for autoimmune diseases like MS, Crohn's, and others. However, LDN therapy has also been proven beneficial for cancers by helping to reduce tumor size - in pancreatic cancer for example. The dose of Naltrexone used in LDN therapy is similar to the doses that are used in homeopathic medicines. It's good to have a reference that cites credible professionals describing the safety and efficacy of this therapy.
The information about LDN therapy is presented so that the average person (non medical) can understand the history behind LDN therapy, how LDN therapy works, and offer guidelines to help a patient talk to their doctor about the applicability of LDN therapy for their own health issues. I particularly liked how the writers broke chapters into smaller sections with clear, descriptive headings -- really made for easy reading even though some of the information is very technical.
There are a number of resources included in the book as well as a glossary and index. Specific conditions are also covered - like `autism' for example. Also, information about clinical trials is included. I especially found Sammy Jo's experience with MS and LDN to be very inspiring.
I particularly liked that the writers highlighted that the older theories of autoimmune disease proposed that the immune system was `hyperactive, strong, and easily stimulated'. Whereas new theories accept that the immune system in autoimmune disease is in-fact ` weak and ineffective'. I think this point is important because the confusion between the two theories hinders a lot of possible treatment options / therapies.
However, I think a doctor / medical professional will find the book most beneficial. Doctors don't have a lot of time to research --- this book consolidates a lot of the [current and historical] information about LDN therapy -- available on various websites -- into one place. It also includes information from LDN researchers that were interviewed and offers patient guidelines for a doctor considering prescribing LDN for their patient. I thought it was especially helpful that some LDN experienced doctors agreed to have their names published as a reference. These doctors offer phone consultations which will be helpful for not only for patients who cannot find a doctor willing to prescribe, but perhaps for other doctors as well.
The writers are very clear to point out that LDN therapy is NOT a cure for autoimmune disease nor cancers...but is to be used as a therapy to stop or slow the progression of disease. They also make the important point that larger, clinical trials are needed to allow LDN therapy to become more main stream and so that the larger medical community will become aware of this therapy. I agree with their assessment that a patient should be monitored by their doctor if they decide to try LDN therapy.
I want to thank the writers for creating a reference of information on LDN therapy that I'm sure will be helpful to a lot of people.
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23 of 23 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
An Important Book - A Long Time Coming, March 9, 2009
This review is from: The Promise Of Low Dose Naltrexone Therapy: Potential Benefits in Cancer, Autoimmune, Neurological and Infectious Disorders (Paperback)
I had intended to write a longer review of this important book but many of the points to be made have been listed in previous reviews. I can, however, add an historical context for many of the points discussed.
In the late 70's, I was a graduate student in Neuroscience working on my dissertation on the effects of chronic alcohol consumption in an animal model. As background, I was required to know what treatments were being used to treat physical dependency and naltrexone was just starting to be used to treat both opiate addiction and alcohol dependency. While naltrexone did not turn out to be especially effective in treating alcohol dependency, I heard a number of stories "on the grapevine" of unexpected and (then) unexplained effects of naltrexone. I knew a number of respected investigators who were convinced that naltrexone had, in the right circumstances, remarkable positive effects with some individuals on conditions unrelated to dependency or addiction. I was intrigued, then, when I came across this book.
The authors do not make outrageous claims for low dose naltrexone; what they do, instead, is present a substantial body of information and number of scientific studies that argue convincingly for further investigation of the use of low dose naltrexone in a variety of conditions.
Hopefully, this book will be read by both medical researchers and patients whose conditions may be improved by low dose naltrexone therapy.
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18 of 18 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
The Promise of Low Dose Naltrexone Therapy, February 11, 2009
This review is from: The Promise Of Low Dose Naltrexone Therapy: Potential Benefits in Cancer, Autoimmune, Neurological and Infectious Disorders (Paperback)
Let me keep it simple. This is an outstanding piece of work that everyone with any inflammatory/autoimmune/cancer problems should read, and every doctor should read. Not everyone will understand it, but most people will realize the potential this medication has in treating chronic and life-threatening illness. I speak from experience and it is changing my life for the better after 20 years of difficulty. The authors have gone to great lengths to present objective information, and to indicate the need for continuing education concerning "low dose naltrexone" treatment.
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