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        Cluster Headache Help and Support >> Medications, Treatments, Therapies >> Xango
        
(Message started by: MarkHW on Jan 24^th, 2006, 10:22am)

Title: Xango
Post by MarkHW on Jan 24^th, 2006, 10:22am

Hey Everyone!
I have been a cluster sufferer for about 20 years now. I was chronic until my Neuro got me on the right dose of Verapamil, now I'm episodic with a bunch of cycles throughout the year.

My major cycle starts in January/February and lasts for about 3 months.

My cycle started early in January (earlier than usual) and my Dr. put me on steroids. High dose, to start - as always this stopped the cycle, but I always end up with the cycle returning once I taper the meds.

Well... I saw someone on this site mentioned Xango juice and that it was helping them. So, I said what the *$#% and gave it a try.

I have been on it for over a week. The steroids tapered to zero yesterday. I also have intermittant migraine that I treat with Excedrin and Imitrex if it gets really bad.
On top of everything I have a cold - which sometimes triggers my cluster cycle, also.

Since on the Xango I have taken no Excedrin and have not even had a shadow cluster.

I'm not claiming this is the miracle for Clusters.... It's way too early to tell if it will even work long term, but it does seem to be helping. I read that the Mangosteen juice is an anti-inflamatory so I wonder if it is keeping the steroid rebound from happening. Even if this keeps the migraine away, helps me taper off of steroids, and decreases my imitrex use I would be very happy!

I will keep you posted on my progress. Hoping it's not like some supplements I've taken that work for a month and then stop dead.

BTW... I am taking 1 ounce - 3 x per day.

Mark

Title: Re: Xango
Post by FramCire on Jan 24^th, 2006, 3:12pm

I was given a bottle of this stuff for free by a friend who suggested I try it. I haven't opened it because I know it is an Amway type product (that is what my friend told me who gave it to me). I might actually give it a try, but this stuff is really expensive and 1 of those "cure all" things that I am very reticent to even try.

By the way, at $30 a bottle this junk is VERY expensive.

Title: Re: Xango
Post by Ueli on Jan 24^th, 2006, 7:44pm

http://chetday.com/mangosteen.htm

Title: Re: Xango
Post by Kevin_M on Jan 24^th, 2006, 7:58pm

Bottom line from Ueli's link above.

Quote:

In my opinion, what we have here is simply an overpriced fruit drink. Fruit drinks are often healthful beverages. But the only reason I can see that the promoters of mangosteen can get away with charging $37 for this product is that they are playing on patients' hopes and fears in a cynical way. Without the health claims, open or implied, the product could only be sold for at most $5 or $6 (which, for example, is the cost of antioxidant-rich pomegranate juice).

The mangosteen phenomenon is a reprise of the aloe vera, gingko biloba, and especially the noni juice story, complete with exaggerated claims for the health benefits of an exotic fruit. It should come as no surprise that both the President and the Chief Financial Officer of Xango once worked for Morinda (now called Tahitian Noni International).

... The patient loses twice - by not having the fruits of serious research and by being deceived by slick operators posing as friends and benefactors. Some may even opt for unproven miracle juices in lieu of more certain therapies that might save their lives.

Title: Re: Xango
Post by floridian on Jan 24^th, 2006, 9:21pm

on 01/24/06 at 15:12:22, FramCire wrote:

Not just an Amway-style product - Costco wharehouse stores carry it for about half the price of the MLM stuff, about the same as pomgranate juice. Not cheap, but a month's supply for the price of an imitrex shot isn't too bad if it helps you. I have also seen tablets which claim to contain more alpha-mangostin at a lower price.

While the jury is still out whether it helps people with clusters, there is a bit of anecdotal evidence that it might, and no evidence that this food is harmful.

It is definitely hyped by some marketers. But the sceptics that automatically dismiss it for that reason are also going beyond evidence and reason. Ueli's article claimed that there were 'only 19' scientific articles on the active ingredients in mangosteen. A quick perusal of Pubmed shows that is an under-exaggeration, and 4 of those '19' articles show that it contains a potent inhibitor of the 5-ht2a/2c serotonin receptors, as well as an antihistamine. Given the fact that other proven meds (zyprexa, kudzu) are also 5-ht2 inhibitors, it is logical to assume that mangosteen might do the same, if the mangostin compound is strong enough/present in high enough amounts.

Is it proven? Not yet. But it isn't irrational to try it if you are so inclined. Wouldn't it be great if there were an herb with all the benefits of kudzu, but which didn't make some people fart a lot?? That hope keeps me going.

Quote:

Naunyn Schmiedebergs Arch Pharmacol. 1998 Jan;357(1):25-31.

Gamma-mangostin, a novel type of 5-hydroxytryptamine 2A receptor antagonist.

Chairungsrilerd N, Furukawa KI, Ohta T, Nozoe S, Ohizumi Y. Department of Pharmaceutical Molecular Biology, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Tohoku University, Sendai, Japan.

Quote:

Planta Med. 1996 Oct;62(5):471-2.

Histaminergic and serotonergic receptor blocking substances from the medicinal plant Garcinia mangostana.

Chairungsrilerd N, Furukawa K, Ohta T, Nozoe S, Ohizumi Y.

Quote:

Br J Pharmacol. 1998 Mar;123(5):855-62. Related Articles, Links

Effect of gamma-mangostin through the inhibition of 5-hydroxy-tryptamine2A receptors in 5-fluoro-alpha-methyltryptamine-induced head-twitch responses of mice.

Chairungsrilerd N, Furukawa K, Tadano T, Kisara K, Ohizumi Y.

Department of Molecular Biology, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Tohoku University, Sendai, Japan.

Quote:

Eur J Pharmacol. 1996 Oct 31;314(3):351-6.
Pharmacological properties of alpha-mangostin, a novel histamine H1 receptor antagonist.

Chairungsrilerd N, Furukawa K, Ohta T, Nozoe S, Ohizumi Y. Department of Pharmaceutical Molecular Biology, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Tohoku University, Sendai, Japan.

Title: Re: Xango
Post by Barry_T_Coles on Jan 24^th, 2006, 9:22pm

I am not a supporter of astronomically priced fruit juices especially when you can get OTC natural products that will do the same job.

I use a natural product here in Oz known as Kaprex; it contains Rosemary 2.6g, Hops 1.5g & dried olive leaf 50mg.
All of these are natural anti-inflammatory extracts and costs only around A $35.00 for 60 tablets taken twice a day gives you 1 months worth for about A$1.18/day.

Kind Regards
Barry

Title: Re: Xango
Post by chewy on Jan 25^th, 2006, 7:56am

Does it have a straw attached to the container ?

Grasping for the straw would be poetic justice.

Title: Re: Xango
Post by floridian on Jan 25^th, 2006, 8:00am

Barry,

Aspirin (or willow bark for purists) is a very powerful and innexpensive OTC anti-inflammatory. For about one US cent per day, it reduces inflammation, reduces the risk of some heart diseases, and may reduce the risk of some types of cancer (particularly colon cancer). But does it improve serotonin metabolism in a way that might help clusters? No evidence of that.

The dried form of mangosteen costs US $14 for a months supply from Swanson Vitamins. The juice costs 2 - 3 times that if bought from a large retailer, and perhaps 6 to 9 times that if bought from an inneficient MLM distributor. And one tablet of Amerge triptan cost me approximately $50 a few years ago.

Title: Re: Xango
Post by Barry_T_Coles on Jan 25^th, 2006, 10:16pm

Thank's Floridian

I had completely forgotten about Asprin and it's qualities.
One tends to miss the forrest when all you can see is the tree's.

Kind Regards
Barry

Title: Re: Xango
Post by MarkHW on Jan 26^th, 2006, 4:39pm

Well.. I have no intention of becoming a Marketer of this or any other product.

I'm still cluster free, which could be coincidence. I won't really know for several months.

I do agree that the product is over-priced, but I have not had much success with other supplements and if I take Aspirin for too long I start having all kinds of side-effects. I take the Aspirin to cut the migraines I get from rebounding.

So... if it helps cut the cluster or migraine or even just cuts the crap I have to ingest (without costing me a lot more) then I'm gonna keep using it.

At least it hasn't given me any negative side-effects at this point....

As I said I don't think this is the cure-all (for clusters or anything else), but if it helps without side-effects... I'm gonna keep taking it.

Mark

Title: Re: Xango
Post by MarkHW on Jan 26^th, 2006, 4:41pm

And yes... I will readily admit that I will grasp for anything that will help decrease the clusters, the migraines, and the side-effects! I've been doing migraine for 40 years and cluster for almost 20. I'm really ready for it to end now!

But... aren't we all?

Title: Re: Xango
Post by Barry_T_Coles on Jan 26^th, 2006, 8:35pm

on 01/26/06 at 16:39:20, MarkHW wrote:

As I said I don't think this is the cure-all (for clusters or anything else), but if it helps without side-effects... I'm gonna keep taking it.

Mark

Good on you Mark

I think all here will agree that if it works for you go ahead.
Kind Regards
Barry

Title: Re: Xango
Post by jckgales on Feb 22^nd, 2006, 6:54am

MARK
HI - READ YOUR POST ABOUT THE JUICE JUST WONDERING IF IT IS STILL HELPING YOU. I WAS THE ONE WHO POSTED ABOUT IT A WHILE BACK AM NO LONGER SELLING IT . I HAD HELP WITH IT ALSO. STOPPED IT FOR A WHILE AND THE PAIN CAME BACK. SO NOW IM ON PRED. AND STARTING BACK ON THE JUICE. LET ME KNOW, AM COURIOUS. IM SUPPOSE TO BE RAMPING UP DEPAKOTE WHILE TAPERING OFF PRED. BUT REALLY DONT WANT TO GO ON ANY MORE MEDS. SO IM GOING BACK ON JUICE IT IS COSTLY BUT I REALLY THINK IT HELPED BETTER THAN ANY MEDS YET.
JACKIE