Comments on: The Breakspear Hospital and Antigen Vaccines http://www.quackometer.net/blog/2007/08/breakspear-hospital-and-antigen.html Experiments and Thoughts on Quackery, Health Beliefs and Pseudoscience Thu, 09 Feb 2012 21:47:47 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.1 hourly 1 By: Burzynski Supporting Charity Loses Funding | The Quackometer http://www.quackometer.net/blog/2007/08/breakspear-hospital-and-antigen.html#comment-17041 Burzynski Supporting Charity Loses Funding | The Quackometer Tue, 24 Jan 2012 22:13:00 +0000 http://www.quackometer.net/wpblog/2007/08/the-breakspear-hospital-and-antigen-vaccines.html#comment-17041 [...] The charity lists every quack cancer therapy you can name, inlcuding Laetrile, Vitamin C, Gerson, Issels and Mistletoe. Not only does it list these therapies but lists practitioners both in the UK and overseas that are prepared to take your money and provide treatments outside of the mainstream. The site lists the great and the good of alternative medicine in the UK, including Dr Peter Fisher, Dr Wendy Denning, Professor George Lewith and Dr Jean Munro. [...] [...] The charity lists every quack cancer therapy you can name, inlcuding Laetrile, Vitamin C, Gerson, Issels and Mistletoe. Not only does it list these therapies but lists practitioners both in the UK and overseas that are prepared to take your money and provide treatments outside of the mainstream. The site lists the great and the good of alternative medicine in the UK, including Dr Peter Fisher, Dr Wendy Denning, Professor George Lewith and Dr Jean Munro. [...]

]]> By: Jon http://www.quackometer.net/blog/2007/08/breakspear-hospital-and-antigen.html#comment-16858 Jon Thu, 19 Jan 2012 11:13:04 +0000 http://www.quackometer.net/wpblog/2007/08/the-breakspear-hospital-and-antigen-vaccines.html#comment-16858 Whoops, sorry about the formatting - it got lost when I reposted the comment... Hope it's still readable. Whoops, sorry about the formatting – it got lost when I reposted the comment… Hope it’s still readable.

]]> By: Jon http://www.quackometer.net/blog/2007/08/breakspear-hospital-and-antigen.html#comment-16857 Jon Thu, 19 Jan 2012 11:11:50 +0000 http://www.quackometer.net/wpblog/2007/08/the-breakspear-hospital-and-antigen-vaccines.html#comment-16857 Le Canard Noir, let me start by saying that I greatly appreaciate your website, for the most part I find it amusing and informative. I'm replying here because I have also been a patient at the infamous Breakspear for the past 4 years (on the immunotherapy/desensitisation treatment that everyone here is talking about). I have to say that I feel very torn about the continuation of the treatment. I agree with you that many of their claims and treatments sound dubious (particularly the claim about the substance from the vials affecting the patients who were holding them - I'd not come accross this paper and it sounds very bizzare and nonsensical). However, everytime I've stopped the treatment (mainly because I have doubts about it) within a month or two my symptoms return : crippling muscle and joint paint and extreme fatigue. In fact the pain has been so bad today that out of desperation I've made an appointment to get a new batch of vaccines. What concerns me is that, if they indeed do work, I may have to take them for years (intially they did not make it clear to me that this might be the case). For the record, I don't believe in homeopathy (I think it's a load of hogwash) or most other "alternative" therapies for that matter. But I've seen so many doctors in a search for relief from my condition, and have met my fair share of genuine quacks (practitioners with the most bizzare theories, bordering on the delusional). The Breakspear also diagnosed me with "leaky gut", which appears to be another disputed condition, though it does make some sense. When I started the treatment, I had IgE values of over 2000 (this is an index that denotes an strong immune reaction), and two years later this came down to almost normal levels (which my conventional allergy specialist thought was not possible). Now, of course, I can't say for sure that this was due to the immnotherapy, the levels might have come down anyway. I once asked the doctor at the Breakspear why there are no conclusive studies (double-blind controlled trials) of their treatment, and she said that it was too expensive for them to undertake on their own and there's not enough research funding for these treatments that are considered experimental (at best). Given the number of positive stories I've heard from those who have been treated there I think the NHS should at least fund some proper research or investigation of their methods. So, Le Canard Noir, I don't blame you for dimissing the whole enterpise as quackery, I would have done so myself had I not experienced it. Like you said, the immunotherapy/desensitisation part sounds plausible, but the electro-magnetic stuff sound bonkers. I'm keeping an open mind about it, but like I said, I'm going back to them next week :) Le Canard Noir, let me start by saying that I greatly appreaciate your website, for the most part I find it amusing and informative. I’m replying here because I have also been a patient at the infamous Breakspear for the past 4 years (on the immunotherapy/desensitisation treatment that everyone here is talking about). I have to say that I feel very torn about the continuation of the treatment. I agree with you that many of their claims and treatments sound dubious (particularly the claim about the substance from the vials affecting the patients who were holding them – I’d not come accross this paper and it sounds very bizzare and nonsensical). However, everytime I’ve stopped the treatment (mainly because I have doubts about it) within a month or two my symptoms return : crippling muscle and joint paint and extreme fatigue. In fact the pain has been so bad today that out of desperation I’ve made an appointment to get a new batch of vaccines. What concerns me is that, if they indeed do work, I may have to take them for years (intially they did not make it clear to me that this might be the case). For the record, I don’t believe in homeopathy (I think it’s a load of hogwash) or most other “alternative” therapies for that matter. But I’ve seen so many doctors in a search for relief from my condition, and have met my fair share of genuine quacks (practitioners with the most bizzare theories, bordering on the delusional). The Breakspear also diagnosed me with “leaky gut”, which appears to be another disputed condition, though it does make some sense. When I started the treatment, I had IgE values of over 2000 (this is an index that denotes an strong immune reaction), and two years later this came down to almost normal levels (which my conventional allergy specialist thought was not possible). Now, of course, I can’t say for sure that this was due to the immnotherapy, the levels might have come down anyway. I once asked the doctor at the Breakspear why there are no conclusive studies (double-blind controlled trials) of their treatment, and she said that it was too expensive for them to undertake on their own and there’s not enough research funding for these treatments that are considered experimental (at best). Given the number of positive stories I’ve heard from those who have been treated there I think the NHS should at least fund some proper research or investigation of their methods. So, Le Canard Noir, I don’t blame you for dimissing the whole enterpise as quackery, I would have done so myself had I not experienced it. Like you said, the immunotherapy/desensitisation part sounds plausible, but the electro-magnetic stuff sound bonkers. I’m keeping an open mind about it, but like I said, I’m going back to them next week :)

]]> By: anarchic teapot http://www.quackometer.net/blog/2007/08/breakspear-hospital-and-antigen.html#comment-16156 anarchic teapot Wed, 02 Nov 2011 18:32:36 +0000 http://www.quackometer.net/wpblog/2007/08/the-breakspear-hospital-and-antigen-vaccines.html#comment-16156 "I think if someone bothers to ask them," If you read the article again, you will see that the NHS did. And Breakspear failed to provide the data. “I think if someone bothers to ask them,” If you read the article again, you will see that the NHS did. And Breakspear failed to provide the data.

]]> By: anarchic teapot http://www.quackometer.net/blog/2007/08/breakspear-hospital-and-antigen.html#comment-16155 anarchic teapot Wed, 02 Nov 2011 18:29:54 +0000 http://www.quackometer.net/wpblog/2007/08/the-breakspear-hospital-and-antigen-vaccines.html#comment-16155 Allergies are not necessarily "for ever". They come and go. "Unless you have had a severe reaction to the number 3, e.g. a severe headache, as well as the skin’s reaction – in which case the attentive nurses will rush to you and go up early to the next dose." If you react to something, they'll inject you with more of it in a hurry? Did I read that right? "The ONLY bad thing about Breakspear is that it is so expensive"? Hmm that's one of the red flags that says "quackery" in my experience. Not always, but often. Far too often. Allergies are not necessarily “for ever”. They come and go.

“Unless you have had a severe reaction to the number 3, e.g. a severe headache, as well as the skin’s reaction – in which case the attentive nurses will rush to you and go up early to the next dose.”
If you react to something, they’ll inject you with more of it in a hurry? Did I read that right?

“The ONLY bad thing about Breakspear is that it is so expensive”? Hmm that’s one of the red flags that says “quackery” in my experience. Not always, but often. Far too often.

]]> By: Bernie http://www.quackometer.net/blog/2007/08/breakspear-hospital-and-antigen.html#comment-16150 Bernie Tue, 01 Nov 2011 21:21:10 +0000 http://www.quackometer.net/wpblog/2007/08/the-breakspear-hospital-and-antigen-vaccines.html#comment-16150 I have Crohns disease and would like to know has anyone with my illness had any sucess with treatments at Breakspear? I have Crohns disease and would like to know has anyone with my illness had any sucess with treatments at Breakspear?

]]> By: Le Canard Noir http://www.quackometer.net/blog/2007/08/breakspear-hospital-and-antigen.html#comment-15348 Le Canard Noir Wed, 03 Aug 2011 12:45:34 +0000 http://www.quackometer.net/wpblog/2007/08/the-breakspear-hospital-and-antigen-vaccines.html#comment-15348 Tara, This is a clinic that charges a lot of money to administer questionable therapies. I can only suggest you discuss in detail with your GP any private approach you consider taking before handing over any money. I wish you and your daughter well. Tara,

This is a clinic that charges a lot of money to administer questionable therapies.

I can only suggest you discuss in detail with your GP any private approach you consider taking before handing over any money.

I wish you and your daughter well.

]]> By: Tara O Brien http://www.quackometer.net/blog/2007/08/breakspear-hospital-and-antigen.html#comment-15344 Tara O Brien Wed, 03 Aug 2011 12:33:52 +0000 http://www.quackometer.net/wpblog/2007/08/the-breakspear-hospital-and-antigen-vaccines.html#comment-15344 I would like to contact anyone on this site who has benefited from Breakspear please??? I have daughter v ill now for 30 months and am considering this clinic. Any help advice /input etc would be greatly appreciated. thanking you in advance tara I would like to contact anyone on this site who has benefited from Breakspear please??? I have daughter v ill now for 30 months and am considering this clinic. Any help advice /input etc would be greatly appreciated. thanking you in advance tara

]]> By: Anon http://www.quackometer.net/blog/2007/08/breakspear-hospital-and-antigen.html#comment-15310 Anon Sun, 31 Jul 2011 17:17:19 +0000 http://www.quackometer.net/wpblog/2007/08/the-breakspear-hospital-and-antigen-vaccines.html#comment-15310 Although I have briefly skimmed through the responses on here, I can only assume, as another suggests, that the writer of the "article" denigrating the achievements of Breakspear, & particularly those of Dr Munro, may have unfortunately suffered little success from medical professionals in the past. This, presumably, has led him to feel justified in this action. As the parent of someone who has suffered from CFS/ME for over 10 years with a great deal of support but few solutions from conventional medical professionals, I am delighted to note that, in a very short space of time, we have begun to see improvements in his health following the very actions Le Canard Noir is maligning. As others have stated, there is a possibility that he may require these antigens "for life", but having actually lost any normality from the age of 10, we feel this may be a small price to pay!!! Although I have briefly skimmed through the responses on here, I can only assume, as another suggests, that the writer of the “article” denigrating the achievements of Breakspear, & particularly those of Dr Munro, may have unfortunately suffered little success from medical professionals in the past. This, presumably, has led him to feel justified in this action. As the parent of someone who has suffered from CFS/ME for over 10 years with a great deal of support but few solutions from conventional medical professionals, I am delighted to note that, in a very short space of time, we have begun to see improvements in his health following the very actions Le Canard Noir is maligning. As others have stated, there is a possibility that he may require these antigens “for life”, but having actually lost any normality from the age of 10, we feel this may be a small price to pay!!!

]]> By: Foresight Preconception: Beware of Claims | The Quackometer http://www.quackometer.net/blog/2007/08/breakspear-hospital-and-antigen.html#comment-15297 Foresight Preconception: Beware of Claims | The Quackometer Fri, 29 Jul 2011 17:16:54 +0000 http://www.quackometer.net/wpblog/2007/08/the-breakspear-hospital-and-antigen-vaccines.html#comment-15297 [...] is also on the list. I have written about her private clinic and bizarre treatments on several occasions. Munro was the subject of an investigation by ‘World in Action’ in 1990 for “allegations of [...] [...] is also on the list. I have written about her private clinic and bizarre treatments on several occasions. Munro was the subject of an investigation by ‘World in Action’ in 1990 for “allegations of [...]

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