Re: melafix

[Mike & Diane Wise <apistowise@bewellnet.com>]

I feel Dr. Olson reflects my views exactly. I'll use anything that has been
scientifically tested and found effective, be it "natural" or synthetic. All of the old
stand-by antibiotics have had scientific testing on humans and found effective. I can't
say that for most "natural" medicines. Besides, if it's good enough for me, I feel it's
good enough for my fish.

Mike Wise

Kathy Olson wrote:

> Afraid I have to agree with Colin on this one.  We have lots of
> medications derived from Herbs/Natural remedies, and there is a place for
> them in Medicine.  However, too many people do think since they are
> natural or a herb they are better and safe.  Not so...Colin had a nice
> list and you can add to that Taxol from the Yew tree as the new main
> chemotherapeutic drug in several regimens for different cancers.  Just in
> case you do think these are safe we have now had at least two people come
> in to the ICU with Herb/Homeopathic medicine side effects (and more than
> that to the hospital). One
> young lady (30's) had seizures, and then had washed out her kidney
> gradient...it took us four days to stabilize her kidney's so they would
> actually work again (concentrate urine), oh yeah she also lysed a bunch of
> her muscle cells (in non technical terms).
> It was quite an ordeal....and of course all we could do is stabilize her
> until the herbs wore off...thank goodness it was days, not weeks or she
> may not have made it.  So, beware, all plants/extracts have the potential
> to be drugs, know what you are using, and follow directions (hopefully
> someone has tested it before you).
>
> Kathy (M.D.)
>
> On Fri, 16 Jun 2000, Stuart Hall wrote:
>
> > Chad Attlesey wrote:
> >
> > > You can also go to http://www.petopia.com/ and do a search for Melafix.  Try
> > > it, it is good stuff.  I used it to treat torn fins and infection with great
> > > success.  I like it because it is a natural antibiotic and seems to greatly
> > > accelerate fin repair and minimize/eliminate permanent damage.  Unlike other
> > > medications, it doesn't seem to have any side effects or stress the fish
> > > being treated.  It isn't snake oil.  No, I don't own stock in the company
> > > either....
> >
> > I want to make a quick comment here because Chad brings up an important point
> > which happens to be a favorite topic of mine.
> >
> > Don't be fooled into thinking something is better in any way, shape, or form just
> > because it's "natural."  Without being particularly facetious, I can bring up that
> > digitalis comes from the plant foxglove, and that atropine comes from deadly
> > nightshade.  Aspirin first came from willow bark.  I can understand the motivation
> > behind trying to buy natural products, but I have reservations about using tea
> > tree oil in a fish tank.
> >
> > My reasoning is this: tea tree oil is an effective, NONSPECIFIC bactericide; in
> > other words, it kills bacteria indiscriminately.  Including, potentially, the
> > biological filter.  I've read that people have used it to treat Hexamita spp.
> > infections.  Sure, it might work, but so does metronidazole, and metronidazole
> > does not hurt the biological filter.  Also, it's not generally recommended that
> > tea tree oil be taken internally.  Who knows what the toxic dose would be for
> > fish, anyway?
> >
> > If you have a stubborn infection and you can properly isolate your ill fish in a
> > treatment tank, then it might not be a bad idea to use something broad-spectrum
> > like tea tree oil.  It may or may not have side-effects; certainly anecdotal
> > evidence that it doesn't speaks well for it, but by no means do we have a
> > significant sample.  Bear in mind that "natural" doesn't equal "safe" or "better."
> >
> > Stuart
> >
> > (Oh, I don't know, I guess it just pushed one of my buttons.)
> >
> >
> >
> >
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