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Bontech ts-PLUS Survey Results
In December 2002, The Natural Food Store's (address: 312 E
Beebe Capps Expy, Searcy, Arkansas 72143, phone: 501-268-9585) nutritionist, Perry Ambrose, CN, and co-owner, Cas Rifkin, in conjunction with Bontech Supplement's Ltd.
conducted an online survey concerning the usage of magnesium-rich Bontech ts-PLUS
CONTROL TM or "Bonnie's Program". The Natural Food Store is a retailer
for this product and Mr. Ambrose and Ms. Rifkin have especially noted many
anecdotal reports of improvement of symptoms and a sustained increase in sales
of this product to those with Tourette's syndrome and comorbidities. I am working with OSU (Ohio State University) on a study based on my recently published paper,
The central role of magnesium deficiency in Tourette's syndrome: causal relationships between magnesium deficiency, altered biochemical pathways and symptoms relating to Tourette's syndrome and several reported comorbid conditions. Grimaldi BL. Pickerington, Ohio, USA Prior studies have suggested a common etiology involved in Tourette's syndrome and several comorbid conditions and symptomatology. Reportedly, current medications used in Tourette's syndrome have intolerable side-effects or are ineffective for many patients. After thoroughly researching the literature, I hypothesize that magnesium deficiency may be the central precipitating event and common pathway for the subsequent biochemical effects on substance P, kynurenine, NMDA receptors, and vitamin B6 that may result in the symptomatology of Tourette's syndrome and several reported comorbid conditions. These comorbid conditions and symptomatology include allergy, asthma, autism, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, obsessive compulsive disorder, coprolalia, copropraxia, anxiety, depression, restless leg syndrome, migraine, self-injurious behavior, autoimmunity, rage, bruxism, seizure, heart arrhythmia, heightened sensitivity to sensory stimuli, and an exaggerated startle response. Common possible environmental and genetic factors are discussed, as well as biochemical mechanisms. Clinical studies to determine the medical efficacy for a comprehensive magnesium treatment option for Tourette's syndrome need to be conducted to make this relatively safe, low side-effect treatment option available to doctors and their patients. Copyright 2002 Harcourt Publishers Ltd. PMID: 11863398 [PubMed - in process]
Bonnie Grimaldi, MT (ASCP), managing member of Bontech Supplements, Ltd.
2005 Bontech ts-PLUS Survey Results On January 5, 2005, we ran a second survey to update our statistics. Bontech Supplements, Ltd. and The Natural Food Store (Searcy, Arkansas) sent this survey out by e-mail to everyone who had purchased Bontech TM ts-PLUS products and had provided their e-mail addresses to us. Below are the results of all of the responses we have received so far (29 as of 1/17/05). They are consistent with the larger 2002 sample that was tallied independently by an unbiased statistics company (see "2002 Bontech ts-PLUS Survey Results") above: 1. Which ts-PLUS products have the ts-PLUS product consumer used?
Results: ts-PLUS CONTROL: 100% (29/29) ts-PLUS Mag Taurate: 62% (18/29) ts-PLUS EPA/DHA: 62% (18/29) ts-PLUS Grape-X : 10% (3/29) ___________________________________________________________________ 2. What is/are the ts-PLUS product consumer's diagnosis/diagnoses or suspected diagnosis/diagnoses?
Results: Tourette Syndrome/Tic Disorder: 100% (29/29) AD(H)D: 28% (18/29) OCD: 17% (18/29) Asperger Syndrome/PDD: 7% (3/29)
___________________________________________________________________ 3. What is the age of the ts-PLUS product consumer?
Results: 6 to 10 years: 52% (15/29) 11 to 18 years: 38% (11/29) over 18 years: 10% (3/29) ___________________________________________________________________
4. Have you found these products to be helpful?
Results: Yes: 93% (27/29) No: 7% (2/29) ___________________________________________________________________ 5. Please rate symptoms in ts-PLUS product consumers now as compared to before starting product(s) from 3- to 3+ (3- is the most worsened and 3+ is the most improved). For example: " (your symptom) 2+ " would mean a moderate improvement in this symptom; and "(your symptom) 2-" would mean a moderate worsening of this symptom. (Symptom choices were not given – the following symptoms are self-reported. No worsening of symptoms was reported for this question.) Results: Vocal Tics: 0 no change: 5% (1/22) 1+ slight improvement: 9% (2/22) 2+ moderate improvement: 36% (8/22) 3+ extreme improvement: 50% (11/22)
Motor Tics: 0 no change: 3% (1/29) 1+ slight improvement: 7% (2/29) 2+ moderate improvement: 38% (11/29) 3+ extreme improvement: 48% (14/29)
Hyperactivity: 0 no change: 40% (2/5) 1+ slight improvement: 40% (2/5) 3+ extreme improvement: 20% (1/5)
Inattention: 2+ moderate improvement: 100% (4/4)
Impulsivity: 2+ moderate improvement: 100% (1/1)
Mood swings (includes “rage”): 2+ moderate improvement: 75% (3/4) 3+ extreme improvement: 25% (1/4)
Compulsions: 1+ slight improvement: 13% (1/8) 2+ moderate improvement: 63% (5/8) 3+ extreme improvement: 25% (2/8)
Headaches: 2+ moderate improvement: 100% (1/1)
Anxiety: 0 no change: 20% (1/5) 2+ moderate improvement: 40% (2/5) 3+ extreme improvement: 40% (2/5)
Sleep Problems: 3+ extreme improvement: 100% (1/1)
Teeth Grinding: 3+ extreme improvement: 100% (1/1)
Allergies 3+ extreme improvement: 100% (2/2)
Sensory Integration issues 2+ moderate improvement: 67% (2/3) 3+ extreme improvement: 33% (1/3) ___________________________________________________________________ 6. If you have found ts-PLUS products to be helpful, do you feel that these ts-PLUS products have been the most effective treatment for your symptoms?
Results: Yes: 86% (25/29) No: 14% (4/29) ___________________________________________________________________ 7. How long did it take to see improvement?
Results: less than 1 week: 15% (4/27) 1 to 2 weeks: 33% (9/27) 3 weeks: 7% (2/27) 1 month: 15% (4/27) 2 months: 19% (5/27) 3 months: 7% (2/27) 6 months: 4% (1/27)
___________________________________________________________________ 8. If the ts-PLUS product consumer discontinued use of the product(s) after 2 months of improvement in symptoms, please describe how the symptoms were affected. Please rate symptoms after discontinuation from 3- to 3+ (3- is the most worsened and 3+ is the most improved). For example: " (your symptom) 2+ " would mean a moderate improvement in this symptom; and "(your symptom) 2-" would mean a moderate worsening of this symptom. (Symptom choices were not given – the following symptoms are self-reported. No improvement of symptoms were reported for this question.)
Results: Vocal Tics: 1- slight worsening: 20% (1/5) 2- moderate worsening: 40% (2/5) 3- extreme worsening: 40% (2/5)
Motor Tics: 0 no change: 11% (1/9) 1- slight worsening: 22% (2/9) 2- moderate worsening: 33% (3/9) 3- extreme worsening: 33% (3/9)
Hyperactivity: 0 no change: 50% (1/2) 1- slight worsening: 50% (1/2)
Inattention: 3- extreme worsening: 100% (1/1)
Impulsivity: 2- moderate worsening: 100% (1/1)
Mood swings (includes “rage”): 2- moderate worsening: 50% (1/2) 3- extreme worsening: 50% (1/2)
Compulsions: 3- extreme worsening: 100% (2/2)
Anxiety: 2- moderate worsening: 67% (2/3) 3- extreme worsening: 33% (1/3)
Allergies 2- moderate worsening: 100% (2/2)
Sensory Integration issues 1- slight worsening: 100% (1/1) __________________________________________________________________ 9. If this ts-PLUS product consumer (above in question #8) started using the product(s) again please describe how the symptoms were affected. Please rate symptoms after restarting from 3- to 3+ (3- is the most worsened and 3+ is the most improved). For example: " (your symptom) 2+ " would mean a moderate improvement in this symptom; and "(your symptom) 2-" would mean a moderate worsening of this symptom. (Symptom choices were not given – the following symptoms are self-reported. No worsening of symptoms were reported for this question.) Results: Vocal Tics: 2+ moderate improvement: 25% (1/4) 3+ extreme improvement: 75% (3/4)
Motor Tics: 3+ extreme improvement: 100% (7/7)
Hyperactivity: 0 no change: 50% (1/2) 3+ extreme improvement: 50% (1/2)
Inattention: 3+ extreme improvement: 100% (1/1)
Impulsivity: 2+ moderate improvement: 100% (1/1)
Mood swings (includes “rage”): 2+ moderate improvement: 100% (2/2)
Compulsions: 3+ extreme improvement: 100% (2/2)
Anxiety: 3+ extreme improvement: 100% (1/1)
Allergies 2+ moderate improvement: 50% (1/2) 3+ extreme improvement: 50% (1/2)
Sensory Integration issues 3+ extreme improvement: 100% (1/1)
___________________________________________________________________ 10. If you have not found ts-PLUS products to be helpful, did you contact Bontech or your retailer for adjustment help?
Results: No 100% (2/2) ___________________________________________________________________ 11. If the ts-PLUS product consumer discontinued taking the product(s) please explain why. (Choices were not given – the following reasons were self-reported.)
Results: Summer break (1/7) School trip (1/7) Didn’t help (1/7) Rebellious about number of pills (1/7) Started prescription medications (1/7) Tried to reduce the number of pills (1/7) ___________________________________________________________________ 12. How long has the ts-PLUS product consumer been using ts-PLUS products?
Results: 2 weeks 4% (1/25) 1 month: 4% (1/25) 2 months: 4% (1/25) 4 months: 8% (2/25) 6 months to 1 year: 36% (9/25) 13 months to 2 years: 36% (9/25) 3 years 8% (2/25)
___________________________________________________________________ 13. Where do you purchase ts-PLUS products?
Results: Bontech Supplements, Ltd.: 48% (14/29) Natural Food Store 52% (15/29)
___________________________________________________________________ 14. Do you have any comments or suggestions concerning ts-PLUS products? If so, please let us know!
Results: Excellent Service! Need to reduce # of capsules (5 responses gave the same comment) I’ll bet money on it that his tics began waning BECAUSE of the supplements, not in addition to them I think you are on to something Is there any way to make the opened capsules palatable? Very, very thankful! We are thrilled that we are using the products. Of course we had them OK’d by both his GP and Environmental Doctor – both said they were safe for him to take and that they were excellent products. I’m very happy with the products. Before using them, my son was on prescription medication that made him very tired and slow to respond. I was also concerned about side effects. However when he started taking Bontech supplements he improved greatly and feels great also. This has been a good balance between treatment and no side effects. We know there are more powerful “medications” available, however, we are not willing to take the risk of their side effects. We would like to see this approved for insurance purposes. These products have made a huge difference in my daughter. We’re in the process of slowly removing her medications, which had done nothing for her other than making her very tired and sleepy. ___________________________________________________________________ 15. Please give the name/initials and address/city of the ts-PLUS product consumer (which will be kept strictly confidential) for your above responses to be included in the statistical analysis in order to keep the results valid and to ensure no duplications. Results confidential.
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