The risk of fadang in dementia

The natives of Guam use fadang — the seed of the false sago palm (a cycad) (photo) — as an ingredient in their traditional medicine and food.

According to Marjorie Whiting, a nutritionist/anthropologist who lived with the native Guamanians, “Everybody knows that the fadang is toxic… The people go to a lot of trouble to process it in order to detoxify it.”

Now, we’re learning about the risk factors for toxicity they missed. Continue reading The risk of fadang in dementia

Reconsidering the effect of folate on breast cancer risk

A published (and widely circulated in the lay press) study by researchers at Lund University in Sweden reported that high folate intake by women 50 years and older was associated with a lower incidence of postmenopausal breast cancer.

Of greater interest is an editorial by Dr. Cornelia Ulrich from the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center in Seattle, Washington. Continue reading Reconsidering the effect of folate on breast cancer risk

Dietary supplements, allopathic, and homeopathic medicines

An article published by John Borneman and Robert Field on the Hyland’s website (and here) provides insight to the regulatory differences between these drug categories in the US.

It’s instructive to appreciate the similarities and differences. The authors believe the guidelines for homeopathic medicine could serves as a model for approval and postmarketing oversight of dietary supplements. Continue reading Dietary supplements, allopathic, and homeopathic medicines

Echinacea and the all too common cold

Taking echinacea after the onset of a cold shortens its duration or decreases the severity of symptoms, according to the results of most clinical trials. The best results are achieved using products containing alcoholic extracts and pressed juice preparations of the aerial (above ground) parts of the plant.

No evidence suggests echinacea can prevent the onset of the common cold or that it’s effective in children.

Continue reading Echinacea and the all too common cold