The C.A.M. Report
Complementary and Alternative Medicine: Fair, Balanced, and to the Point

Archive for the 'Anemia' Category

Consumer Alert: Rising Sun Health

Thursday, October 14th, 2010

The FDA is taking action to prevent Rising Sun Health and The Center for Complimentary and Alternative Health of Livingston, Montana, from manufacturing and selling unapproved new drugs and adulterated or misbranded dietary supplements in violation of the law.

Rising Sun manufactured and distributed a variety of unapproved new drugs under names such as Black Salve, Cancema, and Can-Support. (more…)

Background on vitamin B-2

Wednesday, January 21st, 2009

Riboflavin (vitamin B-2) was originally recognized as a growth factor in 1879 and named vitamin B-2 according to the British nomenclature system.

Here’s what we know today. (more…)

Using Sprinkles to reduce anemia in children

Tuesday, May 20th, 2008

Sprinkles is a nutritional supplement containing iron, zinc, vitamin A, folic acid, and vitamin C. Researchers from Cornell University in Ithaca, New York traveled to Haiti to do the study. (more…)

The pros and cons of folic acid fortification of foods

Friday, March 7th, 2008

Fortifying food, such as wheat and corn flour, with folic acid reduces the risk of spina bifida in babies.

This public health practice was introduced 10 years ago in North America. Now, that practice is being debated in the UK and worldwide. “Are the benefits to the few outweighed by possible harm to some of the many exposed? (more…)

Remember, dietary supplements can’t actually claim to treat or cure anything

Saturday, October 20th, 2007

That’s why phrases like “boosts you immune system” and “enhances (insert organ of choice) health” are popular. They don’t mean anything.

However, when you make unsubstantiated claims (eg, treat, cure), the FDA gets annoyed. For example? (more…)

Ayurvedic lead poisoning results in greater toxicity than lead paint intoxication

Wednesday, August 1st, 2007

Researchers from Harvard School of Public Health in Boston believe, “the United States Food and Drug Administration and corresponding agencies in other countries should require heavy metal testing for all imported dietary supplements.”

The recommendation is based on what they found among people taking Ayurvedic medicines. (more…)

Benefits of folic acid fortification in Canada

Thursday, July 12th, 2007

It’s associated with a significant reduction in the rate of neural-tube defects (eg, spina bifida) in Canada. (more…)

Lead poisoning and ayurvedic medicines

Sunday, August 27th, 2006

The New York Times Magazine published a travelogue by a San Francisco woman who spent time In India as an “ayurveda tourist.” The goal of the trip was to “immerse [herself] in ayurveda, the 3,500-year-old herb-based healing tradition that still flourishes in the daily life of India.”

As might be expected of a San Franciscan writing in NYT, she managed to insert a dig at Dick Cheney, but not once in 2900 words mentions the problem of lead poisoning associated with ayurvedic medicines.

Guess you have to pick your poison. But if she can’t do it, I will.
(more…)

Unintended consequences: treating iron deficiency leads to feminism

Sunday, July 30th, 2006

Here, from California Medicine Man via Instapundit, is one of the most important advances in medicine. (more…)