Today's post talks about a product, supposedly for neuropathy, that is promoted and sold from a source in the Netherlands. It's called Normast and it seems many people across the world, especially in America have been persuaded to buy it in the hope of helping their neuropathic problems. The website will try to persuade you by using incredibly complex language, that it's based on good science and research but in fact it's nothing more than (at best) a homeopathic product, with less than 1% of the palmitoylethanolamide it claims underpins it. the Dutch authorities have refused to give it a license as a medicine and for want of anything better, only allow it to be described as a food supplement.

You can look up Normast on the web and you will probably see links to a dutch website and one run by Ergomax.

It is promoted by Prof. Dr. Jan M. Keppel Hesselink, who's self-proclaimed title of professor is not recognised by the Dutch authorities. He also claims to be a pharmacologist and medical biologist but is also not registered in the Netherlands. He also claims to be linked to a medical university in Germany, which is bankrupt and furthermore does not have him on their employment lists. The best anyone can establish is that he is an unlicenced acupuncturist.

He sells Normast through a company called Ergomax or you may see it sold from an Italian company Epitech.

The problem is that much of the information about neuropathy on the sites is true and in some cases helpful, as information. He also sells Alpha Lipoic acid and Acetyl L- Carnitine amongst others, which are legitimate supplements known to have helped some people with neuropathy. So, just as with many of this sort of 'preparations' for neuropathy, there is a half accurate story to convince the buyer that the promoters are genuine but there is absolutely no scientific evidence that Normast works.

The Dutch Association which investigates quacks and charlatans have roundly condemned this man many times and if you look on the various independent forums about Normast, you will see many complaints that people have lost their money for nothing. Mister Keppel Hesselink or someone known to him, writes his own questions and answers (all positive of course) for various forums and has many YouTube video clips (in broken English) which are based mainly on patient accounts.

Of course, everyone must make their own minds up about Normast but this blog feels it necessary to take the opportunity to warn people about likely disappointing results. Do your own research and you will probably reach the same conclusions.

*edit* i only include this tips because whenever you make claims and counter claims, you need evidence to back them up.

When people are desperate due to neuropathy pain, they will clutch at any semi-convincing straws but should be aware that there are many unscrupulous operators on the internet and should research anything claiming to be a 'new' cure or 'help' for neuropathy. If the top neurologists and pharmaceutical companies have failed to come up with effective treatment when all accepted medications have failed, it's highly unlikely to be found by a private source which tries to sell it to you over the Net.