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The ultimate way to thwart greedy drugs companies
2nd December 2005
They say Christmas is a time of good cheer don't they?
'Tis the season to be jolly and all that...?
Well one giant drugs company Merck seems to have had its Christmas present about 4 weeks early.
And it's a present worth millions and millions of pounds.
Ahhhhh... isn't that nice?
No, it's not. Not when it's left over 200 people emptyhanded...
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Had a heart attack...? Hard luck!
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In case you missed the news, here's what happened on Wednesday...
Over 200 people who had heart attacks or strokes while taking the painkiller Vioxx have lost a legal aid appeal, which effectively means they cannot pursue a claim for compensation.
Well they can, but they'll have to fund the claim out of their own pocket.
Fair isn't it?
Mrs Smith of 1 Acacia Avenue, pensioner and heart attack victim... versus Merck & Co, Inc a global drugs corporation worth billions.
Hmmm...I wonder who'd win that court case in the 'battle of the giants'?
And it gets worse. For reasons that are beyond me, these people aren't allowed to employ a legal team on a nowin, nofee basis either.
So it's either stump up millions to fight your case, or quit complaining.
Mr Day, of Leigh Day & Co Solicitors in London, said
'The fact that we have not been able to achieve any sort of funding package to allow these cases to go ahead spells the end of drug litigation in this country. Here is a very good case to test the system and the system is found terribly wanting.'
And unless you've got a spare £10 million £15 million sitting around to pay for mounting a compensation claim, you're left high and dry.
'I'm very worried there will be no recourse to justice for these people. They are very likely to be left in limbo land.'
So the message here is clear; the bigger your bank balance, the 'fairer' the legal system.
The whole situation is absolutely outrageous, especially when you consider the case against Merck and Vioxx...
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Too little, too late
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Merck withdrew Vioxx last year after a study it carried out said the drug could double the risk of heart attack or stroke.
A spokeswoman said: 'We believe we did the right thing every step of the way, including withdrawing Vioxx.'
Yes, but only AFTER thousands of people have been affected.
What next? A hitandrun killer being let off the hook because he's 'withdrawn' his car from public and parked it in the garage?
I'd laugh, if it wasn't so horribly wrong.
After all, why was Vioxx recommended in the first place? I bet there's not a person on earth who's been told they have 'Vioxx deficiency'. All Vioxx did was mask the pain of arthritis and associated joint pain. The underlying disease was still there.
And it's pretty much the same story with so many manufactured drugs.
Still, we can all do our bit to protect ourselves from ever finding ourselves in the same position as these poor people...
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Has Mother Nature ever been taken to court?
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I don't think so and it's not because she's got a great legal team behind her.
It's because natural remedies and treatments tend to work with the body rather than fight against it, which means there are no nasty side effects to worry about.
So do yourself a favour (and hit the drugs companies where it hurts their pockets), and take a look at some natural remedies that could help you fight arthritis and joint pain SAFELY:
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- Uncaria Tomentosa, is sometimes called the 'Miracle Herb from the Rain Forest of Peru'. No wonder - it's easier to say! Also known as Cat's Claw, the anti-inflammatory effects this herb have proven beneficial in the treatment of arthritis, rheumatism, bursitis and gout. It also doubles as an effective cleanser, removing toxins from the body, which can help ease arthritis, joint pain and inflammation.
- Eat pineapples! They contain a powerful anti-inflammatory enzyme called bromelain, which studies suggest could help patients with rheumatoid arthritis. In one trial, bromelain was given for periods varying between 3-week to 13-monts, and an impressive 73% of patients had good to excellent results. (I don't know what 'good to excellent' results means, but you can bet it doesn't mean heart attack or stroke. Big drugs companies - please take note.)
- Glucosamine - is an amino sugar produced by the body. However, when are bodies stop producing enough, what do we do? Obviously we look to crabs for the answer! Glucosamine supplements are derived from shellfish shells, and it seems to be a promising way forward in the fight against arthritis.
Apparently glucosamine is used by the body to manufacture cartilage components, and as we get older our bodies just doesn't produce this sugar in the same quantities, leading to a deficiency. So taking a glucosamine supplement could lead to growth and regeneration of the cartilage.
- Add some zing to your cooking! Both ginger and turmeric have anti-inflammatory properties, so add a dash of these spices to your cooking from to time. Weirdly enough, dried ginger is more effective than fresh ginger.
If you decide to take any supplements mentioned in the Good Life Letter, ALWAYS follow the directions that come with the supplement. Better still, talk things through with your doctor.
And while you're at it, why not see how many of these remedies he knows about...
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500 pages of amazing all-natural health remedies that could help you and your family right now
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Hands up if you know...
- The 'healthy' diet that can actually be bad for you!
- The magic food that can cut the risk of prostate cancer by 50%
- The secret exercises that can help end the misery of impotence
- The little known threat of Smoker's Sleep Trap
- How to 'tube' your way to strong muscles
- How to make blood vessels work properly
No, neither did I...
That is not until I came across a great new book called The World's Greatest Treasury of Health Secrets.
This book isn't available in the shops - but I've tracked down the suppliers so that you can get your hands on a copy. I've attached a link to the site, and I reckon it's well worth a look.
In fact, this book makes my job a lot easier, because it's packed with over 500 pages of tips and remedies covering heart disease, arthritis, diabetes, cancer, diet, headaches, Alzheimers, and so much more...
... which means that's 500 pages of remedies that I don't have to tell you about!
Take a look at the link below to find out more -
Health Secrets
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Wear it like Beckham?
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Let's face it, we've all had a silly haircut at some point or other...
Oh, right, only me then. (I'd deny it, but Lara's got the photographic evidence to prove it).
But I don't know if this latest Beckham craze is going to catch on...
Recently he and his Real Madrid teammates have been seen wearing patches that the manufacturers claim can raise energy levels by 20% in as little as 10 minutes. Not only that, the blurb says they can help sufferers of serious illness like cerebral palsy and cancer.
So what's the deal?
Apparently these patches - called Lifewave Energy Enhancers - do not release any chemicals into the system. Instead, they use technology to tune into the body's communication system, and send signals to cells telling them to burn up fat.
According to wearers, these patches work wonders.
But they're not convincing the scientists.
Edzard Ernst, professor of complimentary medicine at Exeter university said 'The explanation of the technology doesn't make the slightest sense and seems to be using scientific language to disguise bulls**t.'
So I take it he's not on Lifewave Energy Enhancers board of directors then.
At least these patches don't seem to be harming anyone, but that's no reason to go and buy them. Having said that, I'm intrigued. I think I might get some, check them out with my GP, and if I get the all clear, give them a go.
After all, I could do with 20% extra energy over the coming weeks... the in-laws are coming over at Christmas.
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