Mangosteen:

Responses to Dr. Ralph Moss's Article, "A Friendly Skeptic Looks at Mangosteen"

Editor's note: the following letters were to sent to us in response to Dr. Ralph Moss's critical look at the alleged miracle fruit mangosteen. Since we make the critique available to our readers, it's only fair to publish some responses to it...

Tana Writes...

Iread the article on Mangosteen and was sad. If I'd read that article 9 months ago I would not be alive today. Read on ...

My Story is direct. I had an emergency surgery gone bad. I came out of anesthesia with only a tiny pouch for a stomach and 60 inches of small intestine. At the time I weighed 124# and am 5´3´´ tall. Through the unnecessary damage and radical surgery (law suit pending) I was not able to eat or drink enough foods, liquids or even special nutritional products to stay alive. They dropped a line into my arm that ended at the top of my heart and fed me TPN to keep me going. I was house bound, couldn´t get away from the bathroom and other serious problems that I´ll not go into. Even with the TPN I was barely able to live.

Then the insurance Company decided they would no longer pay for the TPN and the line was pulled from my heart. I cashed; losing weight very rapidly. I quickly dropped to 104# and by this time was in extreme pain, falling down, walking into walls and experiencing advanced loss of cognitive abilities. I now needed 24 hr home care and no money for it. I tried everything the doctors, surgeons, specialists suggested. Also since I own a holistic healing center of course every possible course of holistic care was worked with.

Finally I had to accept that I was slowly starving to death. My poor husband, my best friend and love of my life felt so helpless. We bought burial plots, designed the headstone, made arrangements, etc. Then we went to have two weeks alone. That is when someone (a little angle) just happened to meet us, gave me Mangosteen Juice from XanGo and I started drinking ½ bottle a day (12 + oz) where I now know the average person would take only 2 to 3 ounces a day, more if needed.

Neither David nor I expected any results as it really had no way to stay in my system to be assimilated. BUT in a few days I got out of pain and fully knew who I was, where I was and most astounding was the decrease in pain. Every day got better and better and now I have my life back.

What did the Mangosteen from XanGo do? I´m not a doctor but later started researching and how and why it helped me fell into place. Each person is different, each situation is different. But my friends and family watched me go from the brink to life, most of them are now on mangosteen as well for a wide variety of issues. Thank goodness for my little angle and my willingness to try one more thing even though it `couldn´t have worked´.... Grin.


Nancy writes...

Good afternoon Chet,

Just wanted to share my Xango experience with you ...

For approx 4 years I had severe him inflation and my doctor wanted to prescribe "Celebrex" which I took on few occassions when I could barely walk because of the pain ... Xango changed my life ... Didn't make a business out of it but today I can walk, I can run and I can even spend 2 hours at the gym working out without feeling that horrible pain ... Whenever we go in the Caribbeans I bring my juice ... 1/2 an ounce a day is all I need. Whenever I leave and forget my Xango, I come back home with the pain that's starting to build up. Maybe it's expensive but not as much as Celebrex and it doesn't ruin my stomach!!! My husband uses it because of joint pain after many years of free weights and he also sees a difference ...

So I would not completely tarnish Xango ... It is above all anti-inflammatory. If you take Xango and then take something else that kills those effects that you can't really say it's not working ... i.e. If you have cancer and take Xango and then keep smoking is that really the way to go??!!

Have a great afternoon.


Jennifer writes...

After reading this article, I too was saddened and irritated to be reminded there are such negative and closed minded people, especially ones who have the title of Dr. in front of their names. I shouldn't be surprised; it has been our experience that doctors and prescription drugs go hand in hand. If you are a doctor and you go against the norm, I applaud you!

For those of you who are interested, here's my testimonial. My husband is an Iraqi Freedom veteran. While in Iraq he developed and suffered from bulging discs, PTSD, and asthma. As a result he was put on 2 types of inhalers, sleeping pills, several types of pain medicine, nerve pills, anti-depressants, anti-inflammatory, ladicane patches, cortisone shots, allergy medicine and a prescription for his asthma. The list goes on because all those medicines had to be "played" with, adjusted and in some cases changed because of side effects and the adverse reactions some of the medications had with each other. For months I watched him barely even get out of bed!

Two weeks before his 3rd cortisone shot (within a 4-month period of time), I was introduced to Xango. I immediately purchased the supplement and we both began drinking it 3 times a day. My husband improved enough within a 2 week period of time that he DID NOT have to go back for his 3rd shot and within a 3-month period of time had discontinued of the remainder of the prescriptions. The problems I had were gone and I discontinued my prescriptions within 1 week. Some of us are tired of taking medicine that never cure our ailments, but only mask them and give us side effects. Why should you take a prescription if you can get the same or better result from a food or in this case, juice? Thank you Dr. Templeman for the insight!!!

So while you attempt to discredit the supplement and the company that you know so little about, real people with real problems are benefiting from you're, loosely termed "overpriced juice". Xango is worth it's weight in gold! My husband and I feel great and we will never be without our Xango! If you haven't tried it, you are missing out! What's more, you aren't qualified to condemn it.

Xango doesn't make claims that the "juice" will work for everyone, nor do they say that it will cure, treat, or diagnose any disease. They simply say try it, we think you'll like what it does for you. They also say if it doesn't work for you, return your first shipment within 30 days and we'll refund the purchase price.

Xango found a way to bring a botanical that has benefited people for centuries to market. Say what you like about the product, the company, and multi-level marketing, but you really don't know until YOU know! If you haven't tried it, you can't give an educated opinion about it.

For the record, there are 1,155 articles on PubMed about Xanthones. Don't believe me, look it up at www.pubmed.com. Simply type Xanthones into the search engine.

Have a xantastic Xango day. I know I will!


Shirley writes...

I read your article on Xango's Mangosteen juice. My reason for trying the juice is because many pharmeuceuticals that were prescribed by a doctor I experienced the side effects. Refusing to take Lipitol because of high cholestrol of 264 I took Mangosteen and within three months my LDL went down to 130. I am 70 and had two very serious falls. One in which I hit my head on concrete, and the other I slipped on ice. When I hit my head my blood pressure went from 110/70 to 150/90. I went to the doctor and my nose was not broken but swollen because of the fall. It my age many people would have passed out. I began to take large doses of the Mangosteen juice and within one day the swelling around my eyes and nose decreased and the pain totally gone. When I slipped on the ice my left arm because of the way I fell twisted to the back and I thought I either broke or dislocated my shoulder. After taking x-rays and there was no breakage or dislocation, again I consumed large amounts of the Mangosteen juice.


Patti writes...

Dear Chet:

Having perused the Health Article below by Ralph Moss, I delved into the section on Mangosteen. You have probably been inundated with testimonials about Xango, however I would like to add our experience, being as it deals with non-cancer.

My husband, Bill, has had 2 heart attacks, 3 stints, a 5 artery bypass, and a pacemaker, this over the last 16 years, He also has Diabetes and high blood pressure. Consequently he goes into the hospital for eccocardiograms almost yearly. The life expectancy of the male line in his family, both maternaly & paternaly has been in the low 70s.

2 years ago, March 2005, His pulse slowed down to the mid 30s, his insulin intake increased, and he just generally felt sh---. A friend, talked Bill into trying Xango, with the provision that if he didn't get any results within 30 days, he got full money back. Bill, being a sceptic, was not impressed and on day 28, he phoned to cancel the Xango. He did, however, have an appointment on the 29th of March to have an eccocardiogram. Having been a few times, he was on friendly terms with the technician, who told him, ordinarily he would not say anything to the patient, but would let the Doctor relay any info. However, he was amazed at the difference in my husbands heart functions, and said that the last time he had the test done, the technician was very concerned at the shape of Bills heart. He said " I don't know what medicine you are on, but don't stop, this is the best shape, I've seen your heart in, for years.

Bill did not mention Xango to the technician, but thinking overnight about the results and realizing that his pulse had returned to normal as well as his insulin intake being cut in half, he phoned and cancelled the cancellation.

Upon seeing his Doctor and mentioning Mangosteen, the Doctor, who is a South Asian, said that as a child, his mother used the Mangosteen rind as a poltice, with great effect and that he thought that Bill should continue to use it.

We are very active, golfing and ballroom dancing and Bill continues to enjoy life. As he puts it "The more you do, the more you can do"

He will celebrate his 82nd birthday come January. So we are in pretty good shape for the shape we are in. Xango works for us. Incidentally, I did a great deal of research into Xanthones, Mangosteen and any related material that I could find. Our sceptisism was overcome by results.

I do believe that the timing was perfect and it goes with my feeling that nothing is by accident in this Universe.

If you have managed to read all of this, I thank you. I also would like to complement you on your emails, Jokes, and introductions to many fine possibilities on life in general. Also thank you for Dr. Kim.



Tracey F. writes...

The mangosteen article by Ralph Moss that you posted on your site saddens me. I have always been a fan of yours and am surprised that you thought this article credible. It is obvious that Moss is against MLM. He has never tested the product and he misquotes XanGo™™ and Dr. Templeman. This has caused some people who might have benefited from drinking the juice to not give it a try.


Rickey writes...

This is about XanGo™. I would just like to tell you that I disagree with all of the things you say about the company. First, I don't see why you attack it so much when you have no idea of what you are talking about. Second, you attack it because they sell overpriced juice when you are selling some over priced crap. The last thing is that there aren't so many tests on this because the western world is just opening its eyes to this so don't be surprised if in the near future tests come out to bite you in the ass.

Thank you for your time and have a xantastic day. ;)


Annette H. writes...

Regarding Dr. Moss's critique of XanGo™ Mangosteen: whilst I agree that more scientific information needs to be made available and more clinical trials done, I must conclude that Dr. Moss has never actually used the product for any particular problem, nor experienced the complete cure of inflammatory bowel problems that I and another friend of mine experienced as a direct result of taking Mangosteen.

Within 4 days of taking XanGo™ my problem, which had seen me hospitalized 3 times in 6 weeks, started to clear, and within a week I was again eating relatively normally. My friend who couldn't eat at all because of a huge tumor in her abdomen is now eating again, in a lot less pain and feeling a lot more positive about fighting her cancer.

In conclusion, skepticism is great, in its place, but no product should be "canned" without those doing the "canning" actually trying it, or having someone close to them try it on an actual problem. I receive Dr. Moss's newsletters regularly and have found many of his articles informative, however, if all "new" treatments are as summarily dismissed I can only say I am extremely disappointed.


Nick W . writes...

Hello Doc, I recently started my wife on XanGo™. She has had a hip replacement two years ago and is otherwise quite arthritic. Three weeks onto XanGo™ and I really notice a difference. We researched the heck out of this juice and naturally ran into your website. I too was bothered by the method of distribution, but when I checked with all of the other distributors of the juice, I found the price to be the same (4 bottle for $100).

When you said this on your site: "The price of their XanGo™ mangosteen juice is currently $37 per bottle (or four for $100). You have to ask yourself: who on earth would pay that much for a bottle of fruit juice, no matter how delicious it might be?" you appear to have missed the point. The juice is not attractive because its a "bottle of fruit juice." It is attractive because of what it does.

Your site is dated. You might wish to take another look a this. Costco sells the stuff for $25 a bottle. So having it sold to me by network marketers is not a big deal, particularly since it comes right to my door.

The empirical evidence is growing. How about an update to your site?



Annette E. writes...

I'm writing you in regards to your opinion on XanGo™ juice.

You must not be a person that has ever been in horrible pain every day for years with no relief. You obviously have never tried XanGo™ juice or you would know that it is for real and not hype!

I was trying to find a way out of life because I hurt so bad everyday. It had been going on for over 20 years. Headaches every day and migraine several times a month. Panic attacks also. Plus much more. I was given a bottle of XanGo™ to try. I didn't believe in it one bit. But it was free so I did try it.

Within a week I was feeling a little better and hadn't had a headache of any kind all week. I had also kicked a drill bit that was attached to a drill. It was the size of my little finger. It poked a hole under my big toe! As soon as it quit throbbing it didn't hurt anymore not at all!

I know it sounds unbelievable but it is true! I would not believe it myself if it hadn't happened to me. That was when I decided to start taking it. I had to borrow money to do it.

I hadn't gotten the funds for 3 weeks after the bottle had been empty. That is when I knew exactly how much it had really helped! I was in horrible pain again headaches and migraines were back in full force. I was able to get back on and now I have been walking every night 3 miles or more WITHOUT PAIN!!!! You have no idea how great that is! I couldn't even walk a step without pain! I figured it would help me but not as much as it did!

I'm getting so much better I shocked my Doctor Big time! She still can't believe the changes in my health. Cholesterol has gone down. I was taking 7 pills a day now I don't take any and I still feel great! ...

Everyone is asking me about the juice just because the changes they have seen in me. People I never ever thought would try something like that are now taking it. They are having nothing but good results on it. I hope to hear from you soon. I will be glad to set you straight.

Annette E.



Cindy M. writes...

I just read your article on XanGo™. My parents have jumped on that bandwagon and are constantly pressuring family, friends, and even strangers to try it. I probably would have been interested myself, but the literature they gave me said it would cure absolutely everything. That is an automatic red flag for me. If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.

I searched the web and found your site. The article by Dr. Moss on Mangosteen confirmed my suspicions that my parents have landed themselves in a "pyramid" scheme.

Anyway, thank you for the article.

By the way, I searched for you on Google and laughed myself silly when I realized your straight-talk article was surrounded by ads for XanGo™.


Joann M. writes...

After reading Dr. Ralph Moss's article on mangosteen, I feel that I just have to share my experience with you.

I began taking mangosteen juice the beginning of September. I started with XanGo™, and changed to a product by Dynamic Health. Other that a big price difference there doesn't seem to be any difference in how the products affect me.

When I began mangosteen I couldn't go up as few as two stairs without a great deal of pain in my right knee, and I had spurs on my heels that made walking very difficult for me. After only three days on the mangosteen beverage, 2 oz. a day, the inflammation in my knee and in my feet was totally gone. I sat here the 3rd night and actually watched the swelling go down in my feet.

The improvement was so rapid that I thought it must surely be in my head, but after 2 months I am still experiencing the same results. I am so much more physically active now and I have none of the pain that I experienced in my pre-mangosteen days.

Now, these juice blends have many other juices in them with anti-inflammatory properties, so I really don't know if it is only one of them that is helping or if it is the combination. All I know is that this product is helping me and a few friends and relatives that were also experiencing severe arthritic symptoms.

As I previously stated, I began with XanGo™, but that is not the product I am now using.

I would be interested to know what it is about this juice that is helping me, but meanwhile, I'll continue to use it. The results have just been too positive and I don't want a return of my previous condition. I have found though, that it is not necessary to take it every day. I can go 2 or 3 days without any ill effects then I begin to feel the return of inflammation. So, it obviously hasn't provided me with a cure, but it is successfully treating my symptoms.


Deborah D. writes...

Chet, you do not have to reply. I read the comments on the mangosteen [XanGo™] and just felt I should comment. When I turned 52, getting up in the morning become harder and harder. Arthritic pain was getting worse and worse. For several years I have spent more and more time at home. Oneyear ago a friend introduced me to XanGo™. FREE. she gave it go me to see if it helped. I am now 56, walk at least 4 miles a day, without pain. Prunes have never given me this kind of freedom. Because I can not put a price on my freedom and life without pain, the $25 I pay for XanGo™ is worth every penny. And by the way, using XanGo™, I will never need the help of a prune again.



Richard writes...

Another of the "best thing since sliced bread" readers here. I started taking Xango in November and ... by now I normally would have been thru at least two Z-packs for flu and flu-like crud. But to date I've only had a runny nose. My digestion is better than it's been in more years than I can remember. And my painful and creaky knees are no longer painful and no longer creak!

It's got to be the Xango and it's well worth $25 to me.

And for Cindy M. who wrote about her parents being in a pyramid scheme and what confirmed it was that she got a good laugh about Xango being advertised all over your webpage, I found you and this article when I typed in a Google search for Dr. Templeman! Cindy M: It's advertising and that's why websites are free. Type in spark plugs and you'll find ads all over the webpage for sources of the newest and latest spark plug!

Meanwhile, don't let your stupidity block the improved health your parents could be enjoying.





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