17 Comments
User's avatar
Tonya's avatar

"Whether this model accurately describes physiological reality is a separate question from whether the treatments produce the effects O’Neill reports."

I keep this in mind with all traditional remedies. If people have been using treatments for thousands of years with success, whether the mechanisms by which they claim to work are the mechanisms by which they actually work matters less than the fact that they work.

Unapologetically Me's avatar

Barbara O'Neill demonstrates potato poultice:

https://youtube.com/shorts/LeZwCYlVUx4

Barbara O'Neill demonstrates ginger poultice:

https://youtube.com/shorts/PyqkGUni8ks

eileen's avatar

My knee has been bugging me now for a year. I want to try this to see if it is really inflammation or joint mechanics. Since one only has to leave it on for 30 minutes, I want to try it on my dog. If his skin gets hot, then it is the kidney meridian and he is what the Chinese call 'damp'. If it doesn't, then the issue is his gall bladder meridian or mechanical. The treatments are very different.

Steven's avatar

No mechanism is actually suggested here by which ginger "draws" "inflammatory material" out. That's not actually a thing.

Ginger DOES contain bioactive compounds like gingerols and shogaol which possess anti-inflammatory, analgesic (pain-relieving), and stimulating, heat-producing qualities that MAY improve circulation and decrease inflammation. Studies on topical ginger application tend to have had small sample sizes, so the evidence there is positive, but weak.

Yes, radiative heat versus applying chemicals to the body can and would be expected to have different effects, that's not a "paradox".

Tracy Kolenchuk's avatar

re: "this turns the poultice into a diagnostic tool" - yes." The cure proves the cause." - Theory of Cure.

Margo's avatar

I have RA. I put a poultice on my hands and felt no heat from the ginger. I didn’t use the plastic but don’t see how that would make a difference. I know I have inflammation.

KoalaPower's avatar

RA is a diagnoses that could be wrong, a label used by doctors. It could be something else that causes your pain. Check out the medical medium website: www.medicalmedium.com

Margo's avatar

If that were only true! But I have antibodies and an unforgettable RA factor.

Nick Eggleton's avatar

No biological mechanism of action mentioned. So either it's unknown or a conjecture. Either way I am unconvinced.

Richard C. Cook's avatar

Have you written about natural treatments for foot and leg neuropathy? (non-diabetic)

Robin's avatar

The recent Unbecoming piece on cayenne pepper covers circulation problems at the extremities which bring about neuropathy.

Alexandra's avatar

so plastic against the skin? How does the ginger go through?

Unapologetically Me's avatar

No. Cloth against the skin. See above video.

indomitable reasoning's avatar

This 21 century zombies don't see nothing, they are just arguing with their own shadows, its a exhaustion 😉

Alexandra's avatar

alright thank you. That's what I would have thought but the description made it confusing, The plastic is not even needed I think. Thanks again