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Must homoeopathy be marginal?
British Homoeopathic Journal
192 ues and published work shows abnormalities of sugar handling, vitamin and mineral levels, urinary beta-alanine excretion and gut permeability. 2-5 Currently the diagnosis is based on a laboratory test showing measurable ethanol production after a sugar challenge in the fasting state. 6 At a r e c e n t i n t e r n a t i o n a l m e e t i n g in L o n d o n a w o r k s h o p was held to r e v i e w progress. It was considered that at this stage we should again review our nomenclature. Some patients who clinically have the condition and respond to the usual control measures--a diet low in fermentable foods with or without antifungal drugs--do not have a positive ethanol test and some are positive only for abnormal beta-alanine excretion. Clinically we suspect that a yeast or yeasts may be involved, but so far no individual organism can be incriminated and it also seems that in labelling the condition 'abnormal gut fermentation' we may be guilty of over-simplifying the biochemical processes involved. After discussion a new term was proposed in the hope that this would serve and be a c c e p t a b l e until a d e q u a t e causal p r o o f enables a definitive heading to be agreed. We c o n s i d e r e d that a s o m e w h a t bland term would be of most value in not limiting intellectual development. As there was not time at the conference to bring the proposed name to the attention o f all delegates the author undertook the task of writing to them all to s e e k t h e i r a p p r o v a l . 139 r e p l i e s w e r e received of which all but 2 approved the proposed new name. We therefore wish to put forward, as a t e m p o r a r y label, 'dysfunctional gut synd r o m e ' (DGS) and hope that this will be acceptable to the scientific medical community until a more precise name emerges as a result of continuing work. The author would be happy to engage on appropriate correspondence on the topic. References 1 Eaton KK. Gut Fermentation: a reappraisal of atl old clin-
2 3
4
5
6
ical condition with diagnostic tests and management: a discussion paper. JRoy Soc Med 1991: 669-671. Eaton KK. Sugars in food intolerance and abnormal gut fermentation. JNutr Med 1992; 3: 295-301. Eaton KK, Hunnisett A, Mclaren Howard JMH and Harris M. Abnormal gut fermentation: laboratory studies reveal deficiency of B vitamins, zinc and magnesium. J Nutr Bioehem 1993; 4: 635-38. Eaton KK, Howard M and Hunnisett A. Urinary beta-alanine excretion is a marker of abnormal as well as normal gut fermenation. JNutr Med 1994; 4: 157-63. Eaton K, Howard M and McLaren Howard JMH. Gut permeability measured by polyethelene glycol absorption in abnormal gut fermentation as compared with food intolerance. J Roy Soc Med 1995, In press. Hunniselt A. Howard J and Davies S. Gut fermentation (or the 'autobrewery' syndrome): a new clinical test with initial observations and discussions of clinical and biochemical implications. JNutr Med 1990; 1: 33-9.
DR KEITH EATON Templars Terrace Road South Binfield, Berks RG12 5DN
Must homoeopathy be marginal? S I R - - I e n j o y e d your Editorial (January 1995). It is hardly surprising the revolutionary p r i n c i p l e o f v a c c i n a t i o n / i m m u n i t y appealed to Hahnemann: 'to use a substance to stimulate the body's specific defence mechanism'. But, he appreciated that it was only suitable for 'identified epidemics', not for every day medical practice: for this, he suggested replacing the vaccine with a drug which would produce the similar response, and avoid its morbid effects. Like the vaccine, a single dose would be repeated as required. The suggestion of antibiotics and immunisation initiating AIDS is unlikely as initially the incidence was largely restricted to homosexuals. Might I suggest that unless these points are corrected officially, the credibility gap can only widen. C. OLIVERKENNEDY C/O 8 The Causeway London N2 0PR
Copy dates Copy for the January 1996 issue should reach the Editor by 21 August, copy for the April 1966 issue by 1 December.
192 ues and published work shows abnormalities of sugar handling, vitamin and mineral levels, urinary beta-alanine excretion and gut permeability. 2-5 Currently the diagnosis is based on a laboratory test showing measurable ethanol production after a sugar challenge in the fasting state. 6 At a r e c e n t i n t e r n a t i o n a l m e e t i n g in L o n d o n a w o r k s h o p was held to r e v i e w progress. It was considered that at this stage we should again review our nomenclature. Some patients who clinically have the condition and respond to the usual control measures--a diet low in fermentable foods with or without antifungal drugs--do not have a positive ethanol test and some are positive only for abnormal beta-alanine excretion. Clinically we suspect that a yeast or yeasts may be involved, but so far no individual organism can be incriminated and it also seems that in labelling the condition 'abnormal gut fermentation' we may be guilty of over-simplifying the biochemical processes involved. After discussion a new term was proposed in the hope that this would serve and be a c c e p t a b l e until a d e q u a t e causal p r o o f enables a definitive heading to be agreed. We c o n s i d e r e d that a s o m e w h a t bland term would be of most value in not limiting intellectual development. As there was not time at the conference to bring the proposed name to the attention o f all delegates the author undertook the task of writing to them all to s e e k t h e i r a p p r o v a l . 139 r e p l i e s w e r e received of which all but 2 approved the proposed new name. We therefore wish to put forward, as a t e m p o r a r y label, 'dysfunctional gut synd r o m e ' (DGS) and hope that this will be acceptable to the scientific medical community until a more precise name emerges as a result of continuing work. The author would be happy to engage on appropriate correspondence on the topic. References 1 Eaton KK. Gut Fermentation: a reappraisal of atl old clin-
2 3
4
5
6
ical condition with diagnostic tests and management: a discussion paper. JRoy Soc Med 1991: 669-671. Eaton KK. Sugars in food intolerance and abnormal gut fermentation. JNutr Med 1992; 3: 295-301. Eaton KK, Hunnisett A, Mclaren Howard JMH and Harris M. Abnormal gut fermentation: laboratory studies reveal deficiency of B vitamins, zinc and magnesium. J Nutr Bioehem 1993; 4: 635-38. Eaton KK, Howard M and Hunnisett A. Urinary beta-alanine excretion is a marker of abnormal as well as normal gut fermenation. JNutr Med 1994; 4: 157-63. Eaton K, Howard M and McLaren Howard JMH. Gut permeability measured by polyethelene glycol absorption in abnormal gut fermentation as compared with food intolerance. J Roy Soc Med 1995, In press. Hunniselt A. Howard J and Davies S. Gut fermentation (or the 'autobrewery' syndrome): a new clinical test with initial observations and discussions of clinical and biochemical implications. JNutr Med 1990; 1: 33-9.
DR KEITH EATON Templars Terrace Road South Binfield, Berks RG12 5DN
Must homoeopathy be marginal? S I R - - I e n j o y e d your Editorial (January 1995). It is hardly surprising the revolutionary p r i n c i p l e o f v a c c i n a t i o n / i m m u n i t y appealed to Hahnemann: 'to use a substance to stimulate the body's specific defence mechanism'. But, he appreciated that it was only suitable for 'identified epidemics', not for every day medical practice: for this, he suggested replacing the vaccine with a drug which would produce the similar response, and avoid its morbid effects. Like the vaccine, a single dose would be repeated as required. The suggestion of antibiotics and immunisation initiating AIDS is unlikely as initially the incidence was largely restricted to homosexuals. Might I suggest that unless these points are corrected officially, the credibility gap can only widen. C. OLIVERKENNEDY C/O 8 The Causeway London N2 0PR
Copy dates Copy for the January 1996 issue should reach the Editor by 21 August, copy for the April 1966 issue by 1 December.