The C.A.M. Report
Complementary and Alternative Medicine: Fair, Balanced, and to the Point
  • About this web log

    This blog ran from 2006 to 2016 and was intended as an objective and dispassionate source of information on the latest CAM research. Since my background is in pharmacy and allopathic medicine, I view all CAM as advancing through the development pipeline to eventually become integrated into mainstream medical practice. Some will succeed while others fail. But all are treated fairly here.

  • About the author

    John Russo, Jr., PharmD, is president of The MedCom Resource, Inc. Previously, he was senior vice president of medical communications at www.Vicus.com, a complementary and alternative medicine website.

  • Common sense considerations

    The material on this weblog is for informational purposes. It is not medical advice or counsel. Be smart, consult your health professional before using CAM.

  • Recent Posts

  • Recent Comments

    Natural Products Association will test Chinese raw materials

    David Seckman, executive director and CEO of the Natural Products Association (NPA) announced. “By testing raw materials in China, we’re adding another layer of consumer protection.”

    In the past, US companies relied on Chinese laboratories or had to test samples themselves in the US. Now, the US Pharmacopeia (USP) will do the testing in their Shanghai, China laboratory.

    There are some advantages for the Chinese suppliers that submit ingredients to the program.

    • Restore their reputation
    • Potentially gain a market edge by differentiating their products
    • Ultimately, gain access to new customers

    The bottom line?
    This is a voluntary program. At some point we will see logos on products that proclaim the ingredients to be USP-approved.

    Along with the new role of the FDA to establish quality control, the NPA announcement could be important for the supplement industry and consumers.

    7/28/07 10:50 JR

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