here, I list three NDs / NMDs who engage in commerce by selling the service of 'the hCG diet', according to their web pages [see 001., below]; then, I excerpt from a recent Scientopia.org post by PalMD on 'the hCG diet matter' [see 002., below]:
001. a google.com search with the parameter "naturopathic hCG diet" [without the external quotes] produces these first-page hits (2011-07-15):
001.a. Toghyani, J. (ND SCNM) who states in "HCG Diet -- Frequently Asked Questions" [vsc 2011-07-15]:
"attempting to go on a low calorie diet without the use of HCG will actually cause permanent harm to the body and to your health! [...] the dosage is almost considered homeopathic – really minimal, and no side effects have been reported yet. If anything, side effects might include: brittle fingernails becoming strong and normal; high blood pressure might normalize; blood sugar might normalize; high cholesterol might come back down to normal; skin tone might be better and stronger, depression and arthritis symptoms might lessen or disappear; and you might have to spend a lot of money to change your wardrobe completely! :0)."
Note: cute promises, with cute little sign-off graphics as well. hCG is being posed as quite the panacea here. It sounds to me that the dosage is PHYSICALLY ACTUAL since the doctor states it is "almost considered homeopathic". If it were TRULY homeopathic, there'd be TRULY NOTHING in it. Which is it? Present or absent? There's a sliminess to this description provided, a quasi-ness.
001.b. Smith, G.L. (NMD SCNM) who states in "HCG Promotes Safe Healthy Weight Loss" [vsc 2011-07-15]:
"hCG diet shots for weight loss [yes, INJECTIONS...] the amount differences between the hCG diet protocol and hCG used for fertility purposes is significantly different in quantity [...] important notice: HCG is not approved by the FDA to aid in weight loss. [Yet!!!] HCG for the use of a weight loss aid, is an alternative forms of treatment. The FDA has not determined it to have sufficient evidence to indicate that HCG is effective as a weight loss aid. However, thousands of people all over the world have safely and successfully lost weight with the assistance of HCG [efficacy claim]. Dr. Smith will have the final say on who may and who may not qualify for HCG. Please call for details."
Note: there is no mention as to HOW LOW the dosage is. It seems again PHYSICALLY ACTUAL. The FDA nonapproval is interesting: isn't this then a nonapproved human drug trial? There are huge ethical issues therein. First and foremost, are the test subjects properly being protected and are they wholly consenting in a wholly actually informed manner? The lack of "sufficient evidence" hasn't stopped naturopathy from practicing whatever it wants, in my view. In fact, they even falsely label the hugely non-efficacious as efficacious without penalty.
001.c. Purcell, A. (ND SCNM) who states in "HCG Diet Frequently Asked Questions" [vsc 2011-07-15]:
"although HCG is associated with pregnancy, it can safely be used by both men and women that are looking to get their weight under control [...] HCG has been found to have a positive response in cancer treatment by inducing cancer cell death, inhibiting cell proliferation, turning on tumor suppressing genes and promoting DNA repair, stay tuned as more research is conducted on this amazing hormone [...] researchers have found that HCG can actually help the body burn more fat [...] at Portal To Healing, our HCG program is 30 days long. Usually this is enough for the patient to reach their goals, however, if a weight reduction greater than 10% of their body weight is desired, the patient can continue HCG for an additional 10 days [...] research suggests a small, daily HCG injection (approximately 125IU to 150IU) results in a weight loss of 1 to 2 pounds per day, and often more, when accompanied by a low calorie diet of approximately 500 calories [...] HCG dieters lose 1 to 2 lbs or fat or more per day [...] HCG injections [...] for weight loss are administered using a very fine needle and are virtually painless."
Note: so, again, this sounds like ACTUAL HCG. And of course a lot of promises are made. Cancer? Really? Is it even possible to burn that much FAT in a day? Particularly when the article mentions how LITTLE physical activity is required. Seems absurd.
002. PalMD writes in "The 'hCG diet': A Fraud Literally Without Substance" (2011-07-14):
"hCG has made a spectacular return as a diet fad [...] back in the 1950s [...] British endocrinologist [...] ATW Simeons had an idea [...that] hCG (human chorionic gonadotropin) could help people lose weight without feeling hungry [...] several studies in the 1970s effectively discredited his work [...] not only does it not aid in weight loss, but as an active hormone, it may have other unintended effects [...like] tumor formation or growth [...] but in the 90's, famous shill and convicted felon Kevin Trudeau published a book that helped revive the hCG diet craze [...] put yourself in the shoes of a convicted felon like Kevin Trudeau: you want to continue to sell a weight loss scam, but you want to avoid getting sued if you happen to cause a tumor. How can you still market the hCG diet without the hCG? Homeopathy! [...wherein] fake drugs [are legally allowed] to be sold as real drugs [...] homeopathic dilution[s] of hCG [...have] no hCG [...it's just] water [...] hCG does not contribute to weight loss, and ultra-dilute hCG isn't even real --- there is no hCG in it. It's all, in my opinion, more fraud."
Note: tell it to them, brother. So, when is the "effectively discredited" -- whether homeopathic or actually physically present -- claimed as a miracle panacea? Naturopathyland.
003. so, I wonder:
is this usage by naturopaths of hCG unapproved human experimentation? It doesn't seem homeopathic mainly but could be homeopathic in some instances. Either way, NDs/NMDs apparently find hCG WONDERFUL. They also seem quite unaware of the experimental nature or even the fraudulent nature, depending on the type of hCG being used, and the legal consequences of such activity!!!
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