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.

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  • Recent Comments

    Hoodia from a Canadian perspective

    Researchers from Dalhousie University, in Halifax, Nova Scotia reviewed the evidence in response to a request from women who was looking for advice.

    Here’s what they found.

    • There are no published high quality studies of the effectiveness of Hoodia for weight loss.
    • 1 small unpublished study reported promising results and no side effects.
    • The appropriate dose of Hoodia for weight loss isn’t known.
    • Short- and long-term safety and use in patients with concomitant diseases have not been defined.
    • The medical literature suggests that some commercial products may not actually contain Hoodia at all.

    The bottom line?

    The authors conclude, “Hoodia is not yet listed in the Canadian Licensed Natural Health Products Database meaning products sold in Canada may not meet Canadian regulatory standards.”

    Nothing has changed since 2008, as summarized here.

    More background on Hoodia is here.

    5/16/10 19:34 JR

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