Arthritis treatment, how could this work?

sudzs

I've come across this new gel, Flexiseq, for arthritis what is supposed to work by applying it to the area, vesicles containing phospholipids are absorbed and then somehow transported to the cartilage area of a joint, coating it in a lubricating film and so easing the pain of arthritis.

http://www.flexiseq.com/row/sequessome-vesicles


Could this work or is is a bit of a swizz. I don't understand how the phospholipids are attracted to the cartilage rather then anything else and the info on the website doesn't explain how either.

Any ideas?!

beeno67

From their website
"FLEXISEQ does not contain any pharmaceutical drug, and consequently FLEXISEQ benefits from an excellent safety profile avoiding the documented risks that may be associated with many common pain medicines"

Basically therefore it does not work beyond placebo/massaging effect.

locum-motion

It works in the exact same way as homoeopathy does. See this website...

http://www.howdoeshomeopathywork.com/

sudzs

locum-motion wrote: »

It works in the exact same way as homoeopathy does. See this website...

http://www.howdoeshomeopathywork.com/

I'm very cynical about this product as well. Although the concept of adding lubricants to the affected joint seems to be a good idea but there is no explanation as to how the phospholipids make their way to the cartilage in a joint. But a pharmacist I know has recommended it, based purely on the fact that she "can't keep it on the shelves" :rolleyes:

echo beach

sudzs wrote: »

But a pharmacist I know has recommended it, based purely on the fact that she "can't keep it on the shelves" :rolleyes:

All that proves is that there are a lot of people out there in pain who will try anything. A percentage of them will perceive a benefit, either from the placebo/massage effect or because they would have got better anyway by themselves so they buy it again and recommend it to their friends.
It is an expensive product and very few people will admit, even to themselves, that they have wasted their money.

locum-motion

echo beach wrote: »

...
It is a very expensive product and very few people will admit, even to themselves, that they have wasted their money.

Fixed your post.

OMD

sudzs wrote: »

But a pharmacist I know has recommended it, based purely on the fact that she "can't keep it on the shelves" :rolleyes:

Exactly why you should never trust a pharmacist for advice despite the ads to the contrary. Pharmacists sell crap and recommend crap.

locum-motion

OMD wrote: »

Exactly why you should never trust a pharmacist for advice despite the ads to the contrary. Pharmacists sell crap and recommend crap.

Wrong.

I'm a pharmacist.

I have never and will never recommend this stuff, unlike my "colleague" mentioned above who (at least according to one person) sells it.

Your post is a sweeping generalisation bad-mouthing an entire profession based on the actions of a few bad eggs.

sudzs

Well I emailed the company "Pro Bono Bio" (how could you not trust them with a name like that?!!) to ask how exactly are the phospholipids attracted specifically to the cartilage in a joint and this was the vague reply...

The phospholipids are too big to pass into the blood circulation but have the ability to travel into the joint, where they build a second layer of lubrication around the cartilage.

:rolleyes:

locum-motion

sudzs wrote: »

Well I emailed the company "Pro Bono Bio" (how could you not trust them with a name like that?!!) to ask how exactly are the phospholipids attracted specifically to the cartilage in a joint and this was the vague reply...

Quote:
The phospholipids are too big to pass into the blood circulation but have the ability to travel into the joint, where they build a second layer of lubrication around the cartilage.


:rolleyes:

If they're too big to penetrate into the bloodstream, then they're too big to penetrate the joint.

Complete horse5hit of a pseudoscientific answer, designed to sound good to the lay person, but with absolutely no basis in fact.

Tree

I bet you get lovely moist skin on the outside of the joint though.

sudzs

locum-motion wrote: »

If they're too big to penetrate into the bloodstream, then they're too big to penetrate the joint.

Complete horse5hit of a pseudoscientific answer, designed to sound good to the lay person, but with absolutely no basis in fact.

I thought as much!