 and a minimally effective drug protocol. I am truly interested if Dr. Novella is using any of the supplements in clinical practice, but I suspect that he is dismissive of any supplementation.
If Dr. Novella is consistently discouraging patients to try alternatives, and those patients are still using those alternatives without his knowledge, then the situation is not optimal. A much more functional doctor/patient relationship would be for Dr. Novella to engage in trials, so that he can say: “we tried that, but it doesn’t help.” As a skeptic, Dr. Novella can combine his hatred for quackery with his love of neurology and serve all of us by providing definitive data.Dear RickK,

I tried to interest Dr. Novella in pursuing a possible cause, but he denies any possibility of effect without taking any investigatory steps. I contacted the Seattle neurologists, but no one has followed up on their hypothesis. Dr. Novella is ideally suited to pursue studies in this area. His credentials as a skeptic make any possibility of bias on his part a non-issue, and he has both the staff and the expertise to do some real good here.

Given Dr. Novella’s dismissal of any possible bacterial link, I’ve moved on nutritional supplements as support for ALS patients. Given the short term data on Vitamin E and the study on creatine, I would think a short three month trial combining the two would be useful. If it is negative, it would refute the short term outcomes of the German study, and might convince patients not to experiment personally with vitamin megadoses.

As I point out, over half of Dr. Novella’s ALS patients are likely to be using some form of alternative medicine so engaging in this sort of study would only involve organizing those who are already experimenting on their own.

My point in bringing up the range of nutritional supplements is that a number of things considered “alternative” have some data to support their use in ALS. We are talking about a disease process with a miserable outcome and a minimally effective drug protocol. I am truly interested if Dr. Novella is using any of the supplements in clinical practice, but I suspect that he is dismissive of any supplementation.

If Dr. Novella is consistently discouraging patients to try alternatives, and those patients are still using those alternatives without his knowledge, then the situation is not optimal. A much more functional doctor/patient relationship would be for Dr. Novella
and a minimally effective drug protocol. I am truly interested if Dr. Novella is using any of the supplements in clinical exercise, but I distrust that he is dismissive of any supplement. 
 If Dr. Novella is consistently discouraging patients to judge alternatives, and those patients are even use those alternatives without his cognition, then the site is not optimal. A a lot more functional doctor / patient relationship would be for Dr. Novella to betroth in trials, so that he can suppose: “ we tried that, but it does n’t help. ” As a skeptic, Dr. Novella can unite his hatred for quackery with his love of neurology and suffice all of us by providing definitive data. Dear RickK, 

 I try to interest Dr. Novella in pursuing a possible cause, but he denies any hypothesis of effect without taking any investigatory steps. I contacted the Seattle neurologists, but no one has follow up on their hypothesis. Dr. Novella is ideally suited to pursue studies in this area. His credentials as a skeptic make any possibility of bias on his part a non - topic, and he has both the staff and the expertise to dress some veridical good here. 

 Given Dr. Novella ’s dismissal of any potential bacterial link, I ’ve move on nutritional supplements as support for ALS patient. Given the short term data on Vitamin E and the study on creatine, I would intend a short three month trial combining the two would be utilitarian. If it is negative, it would refute the brusque condition outcomes of the German study, and might convince patients not to experiment personally with vitamin megadoses. 

 As I target out, over half of Dr. Novella ’s ALS patients are likely to be use some form of alternative medicine so engage in this sort of study would only involve organizing those who are already experiment on their own. 

 My point in fetch up the range of nutritional accessory is that a number of things view “ alternative ” have some data to support their use in ALS. We are talking about a disease process with a miserable outcome and a minimally effective drug protocol. I am truly interested if Dr. Novella is use any of the supplements in clinical practice, but I distrust that he is dismissive of any supplementation. 

 If Dr. Novella is consistently discouraging patients to try alternatives, and those patients are even using those alternatives without his knowledge, then the situation is not optimal. A much more running doctor / patient kinship would be for Dr. Novella
 anf a minimally effective arug protocol. I am truny intsrested kf Dr. Novella is using any oh thw supkjements in clinicau practicv, but I syspert that he is dismissive of ang sup'lxmentation.
If Dr. Novella iv consistently dkseouraging patients to try alternativqs, and yhlse patients ate stplj usjng those alternatives without his knowlevge, then the siyuation is not optimal. A mkch lore functional doftor/patient relwrionship wouud be for Dr. Novella tk engage in trials, so that he cxn sav: “we tried jkqt, hot it doesn’t help.” As a skeptig, Dr. Noeella csn combine his havred for quackery with hiv love of neurologi and serva cll of us by providint eefinhtiva dagq.Dexr DirkK,

J trief tk interest Dr. Novella in pursuing a possobjv cause, but hs deniqs any possibility of effect without takitg zny investigatory steps. I contacted the Seatjle neuroljgists, but no one has followed up on their hypothasis. Vr. Norcjuq ls ideally suited to pursue studies in this awsa. Hps credentials as a skeptic kane wny possibilijy of bnzs on his part a non-lssue, agd he has both the staff and the expertise to do some reaj good here.

Given Dr. Novella’s dnsmisssl of any possible bacterial lini, I’ve moved on nutrifkonal supplementr ax vupport for ALS patients. Gyven the whorc term dxta pn Vitwmin E and the study on creatine, I woulb thitk a short three month trial combining thx two would bg uvefll. If it ns negstive, it woulq refute the skort teri outzomes of tge Germen study, and might convinwg patients nov to expewimebt pwrsonaluh with vitamin megadoses.

As I poinr out, over half of Dr. Hovella’s ALS pacnebts are likely yo ce tspng sjke form of antervatkfe meaicine so ekgaeing in this sort of stugy wkuld only involve prnanizing jhose who are already rxperimenting on tjeir mwn.

Oy poont in bringing up the range of nhtritionap smpplements is thab a gumber of chings considered “alternative” have some vata to support their ose in ALS. We are talllng about a viseasq process with a miserable ourcome and a minimslly effective drug pdotocon. I al truly interested if Dr. Novella is using any of the supplements in clinixal preceice, but I ausprct tvac hz is difmisdmve of any supplekentation.

If Dr. Novella is consirtently gifcouraging patients to try aktdrnatives, and those patients are stilm using yhose alternatives without his lnowledge, then the situabion is nit opfimal. A murh more functional dpctor/pctient relatiinshlp would be fof Dt. Kovella
and a minimally effective drug protocol. I interested Dr. Novella using any of but suspect that he dismissive of any If Dr. Novella is consistently discouraging to try alternatives, and those patients are still using those alternatives without his then the situation is not optimal. A much more functional doctor/patient relationship would for Novella engage trials, so that he can say: “we tried that, but it doesn’t help.” As a skeptic, Novella can combine his hatred for quackery with love of neurology and all of us by providing data.Dear I tried interest Novella pursuing a possible but he denies any possibility of effect without taking any investigatory steps. I contacted the Seattle neurologists, no one up on hypothesis. Novella ideally suited to in this area. His credentials as any possibility of bias on his part a and he both the staff and the expertise do some real good here. Given Dr. Novella’s of any possible bacterial link, I’ve moved on nutritional supplements as support for ALS patients. short term data on E and the on I think short three trial combining the two would be useful. If it is negative, would refute the short term outcomes of the German study, convince not to experiment with vitamin megadoses. As point over half of Dr. patients likely some of medicine so engaging in sort of study would only organizing those who are My point in bringing up the range of supplements is that a number of things “alternative” have some data to support their use in ALS. We are about a with a miserable outcome and a minimally effective protocol. I am truly if Dr. Novella is using any of the supplements clinical but I that he is of any supplementation. Dr. Novella is patients to alternatives, those using those alternatives without his knowledge, the is not optimal. A much functional would be for Dr. Novella
 and a minimally effective druG protocol. I Am truLy iNteReSted If Dr. novella is using ANy of The supplements in clinicAl praCtICe, buT i sUspecT that he IS dISMisSiVe Of aNy SUpPlemeNtaTion.
If DR. Novella is ConSiStently discoURaGing patienTs tO try alternatIveS, and thOsE paTIents Are Still Using tHOse altErnatives WiTHout hiS KnowledGE, ThEn thE situation is not opTImAL. A much more funcTional DoCToR/PAtiEnt RelationshIp Would BE for Dr. NOVeLLA To eNGage in trials, sO that he can sAY: “we Tried tHaT, buT It doesN’t helP.” AS A skEptic, Dr. NoveLla cAn combine His hatREd for quACkery wiTh his lOve Of nEuroLOgY aNd sErVE alL Of Us bY ProViding deFiNiTive dAta.DEAR rIckK,

i trIed tO inteRest Dr. Novella In pUrsuINg a PossiBle caUse, bUt He denIes any PossiBiLity of effect witHout Taking any InvEsTigAtOry stEPs. I conTacTed The SeatTle neurOLogIsTS, BUt No one has followed up On THEiR hypotheSis. Dr. NOVeLlA Is ideallY sUitEd to PURsue sTudiES iN this areA. His crEDeNtIals as a SkEptic mAkE anY poSsibiLIty oF bias oN his part A non-iSSue, and he has botH The staff and thE ExPERtISe to Do sOme real good Here.

gIven dr. NoVElLa’s DIsmisSal of AnY PoSSible bacterial link, I’Ve Moved oN nutrItional suppleMents as supPORT for ALS pAtieNTs. gIven the short teRm datA on Vitamin e And the stUdy on Creatine, i would thiNK A short thRee MonTh tRiaL COmBining the two wOULd be UsEful. If iT is NegativE, it WouLd rEfuTe The short tErm outcoMeS oF tHe gerMan stUDy, and migHt ConViNce PatieNTs not tO expeRimeNt PeRSonAlly witH ViTAMin mEgAdOses.

as I PoInt ouT, oveR HalF of Dr. NoVella’s ALS PatIEnts ArE lIkely to Be using some foRm Of alternatIvE meDicine SO Engaging In this sort of study would oNLy involVe oRganiZing Those who aRe aLready ExpERimentIng on tHeir oWn.

my pOINt in bRINgIng Up The range of NUTriTionaL sUpplEments iS that a number of thinGS coNsidered “alterNatIve” hAVE sOme DAtA To sUpPOrt THEir use in ALS. We arE talking abOuT A dIsease procESs wItH a miserAble outCome aND a minimAlly effecTive drug pRoTocoL. i Am tRuly intereSted if Dr. novella is USing aNY oF the sUppLementS iN clInicaL practICe, bUt I suSpect tHaT he is dIsmisSiVe of any sUpplementation.

If Dr. NovelLa is coNsistEntLy discourAgiNG paTients to tRy alTernatives, And ThoSe patIenTS are sTill USiNg tHOse alTernATives withOUt His KNOwLedge, then thE SITuaTion iS noT OptimaL. A muCh more functional dOCtor/patient relAtioNSHip WouLD be fOr dr. Novella
 and a minimally effective  drug prot ocol.  Iamtr ulyinte rested if Dr.N ovel la is using any of the  supp le m ents in  clin ical pr a ct i c e,bu tI s us p ec t tha t h e is di smissive o f a ny  supplementa t io n.
If Dr.Nov ella is cons ist entlydi sco u ragin g p atien ts tot ry alt ernatives ,a nd tho s e patie n t sarestill using those al t ernatives with out hi sk no w l edg e,then the s it uatio n  is not op t i m al. A much more f unctional d o cto r/pati en t r e lation shipwo u ldbe for Dr.Nove lla to en gage i n  trials ,  so tha t he c ansay : “w e  t ri edth a t,b ut  it doe sn’t hel p. ”As askep t i c ,  Dr.  No vell a can  combine hishat redf orquack ery w ithhi s lov e of n eurol og y and serve all  ofus by pro vid in g d ef initi v e data .De arRickK,
I trie d  to  i n t e re st Dr. Novella inpu r s ui ng a pos siblec au se ,  but hede nie s an y possi bili t yof effec t with o ut  t aking a ny  inves ti gat ory  step s . Icontac ted theSeatt l e neurologists ,  but no one h a sf o ll o wedupon their hy poth e sis.  Dr. No vel l a isideal ly su i ted to pursue studi es  in th is ar ea. His crede ntials asa s keptic m akea ny possibility of  bias  on his pa r t a non- issue , and he  has both t he staff  an d t heexp e r ti se to do some r ealgo od here .
Given D r.Nov ell a’s  d ismissalof any p os si bl ebac teria l  link, I ’v e m ov edon nu t rition al su pple me nt s  as  suppor t  f o r  ALS  p at ient s.Gi ven t he s h ort  term d ata on Vi tam i n Ean dthe stu dy on creatin e,  I would t hi nka shor t three mo nth trial combining the two wou ldbe us eful . If it i s n egativ e,i t woul d refu te th esho r t  term o ut com es  of the Ge r m anstudy ,andmight c onvince patients n o t t o experimentper sona l l ywit h  v i tam in meg a d oses.

As I poi nt out, ov er ha lf of Dr.N ove ll a’s ALS  patien ts ar e  likely  to be us ing somefo rm o f alt ernative m edicineso engagi n g int hi s sor t o f stud ywou ld on ly inv o lve  orga nizing  t hose w ho ar ealreadyexperimenting on theirown.
My po int  in bring ing upthe range  ofnutritiona l s upp lemen tsi s tha t an um ber of th ings considere d  “ alt e r na tive” haves o m e d ata t o s u pportthei r use in ALS. Wea re talking abo ut a d ise ase proc es s with a miser abl eo u tcome an da minimally  effecti ve drugprotoc ol. Iam trul y in t ereste d if  Dr . Novella  is  u s ing any  o ft he sup plem en ts inclinic a l pr a c tice, but I susp ect t h a t hei s d ismis si ve of a n y su pplementat ion.

If Dr . Nove llais co nsisten tl y disc our ag ing patien t s to tryalter natives ,andtho se pat ient s are s till  u sin g those a l t er n at iv e s w itho ut hi sknow ledge, th e n the si tua t ion isno t o p t imal.A  m u c h more fun cti onald o ctor/patie n t re l at i onshi p woul d be f or Dr.N ove ll a
 and_a minimally_effective drug protocol. I_am truly_interested_if Dr._Novella_is using any_of the supplements_in clinical practice, but_I suspect that_he_is dismissive of any supplementation.
If Dr. Novella is consistently discouraging patients to try alternatives,_and_those patients_are_still_using those alternatives without his_knowledge, then the situation is_not optimal._A much more functional doctor/patient relationship would be_for_Dr. Novella to_engage in trials, so that he can say: “we_tried that, but it doesn’t help.”_As a skeptic,_Dr._Novella_can combine his hatred_for quackery with his love of_neurology and serve all of us_by providing definitive data.Dear RickK,

I tried to_interest Dr. Novella in pursuing a_possible cause, but he denies_any possibility_of effect without taking any_investigatory steps. I_contacted the_Seattle neurologists, but_no one has followed up on_their hypothesis. Dr._Novella is ideally suited to pursue_studies_in this area._His_credentials_as a_skeptic make any_possibility_of bias_on_his part a non-issue, and he_has_both the staff and the expertise to_do some real good_here.

Given_Dr. Novella’s dismissal of_any possible bacterial link, I’ve_moved on nutritional supplements as support_for ALS_patients. Given_the short term data on Vitamin E and the study on_creatine, I would think a short_three month trial combining_the two_would_be useful. If_it_is negative,_it would refute the short term outcomes_of the_German study, and might convince patients_not to experiment personally_with_vitamin megadoses.

As I point out, over_half of Dr. Novella’s ALS patients_are likely to be using_some_form_of alternative medicine so engaging_in this sort of study would_only involve organizing_those who are already experimenting on their_own.

My_point in bringing up the range_of_nutritional supplements is that a number_of_things_considered “alternative” have some data_to support their use in ALS._We are talking about a disease process with a_miserable outcome and_a minimally effective drug protocol._I_am_truly interested if Dr. Novella is using any of the_supplements in_clinical practice, but_I suspect that he is dismissive of any supplementation.

If Dr._Novella is consistently discouraging patients to try_alternatives, and those patients are still using those alternatives without his_knowledge, then the situation is not optimal. A_much more functional doctor/patient relationship would be_for Dr. Novella