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

Archive for the 'L. AGENCIES/REVIEWERS' Category

Consumer Alert: Miracle Mineral Supplement aka MMS

Monday, July 11th, 2016

This product, when used as directed, produces an industrial bleach that can cause serious harm.

Swallowing doses of this bleach, such as those recommended in the labeling can cause nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and symptoms of severe dehydration. (more…)

Trade-offs: Comparing supplements vs. exercise

Saturday, January 4th, 2014

little-guy2Drs. Andrew Mendelsohn and James Larrick at the Panorama Research Institute and Regenerative Sciences Institute, in Sunnyvale, California, have complied an impressive list of reviews on the effects of exercise. Here’s the first in a series of summaries of their recent publications.

(more…)

Does it matter how you stop smoking?

Wednesday, July 24th, 2013

e-cigThe typical way to stop smoking is to quit abruptly, but some smokers opt to reduce smoking before quitting as an alternative approach to cessation.

Researchers from the UK and Vermont reviewed the evidence in this Cochrane review. (more…)

Here’s what we know about vitamin C and the common cold

Thursday, February 14th, 2013

150px-Ascorbic_acid_structureVitamin C (ascorbic acid) for preventing and treating the common cold has been a subject of controversy for 70 years.

Now, The Cochrane Library has reviewed the data. (more…)

Reducing the rate and risk of falling

Saturday, September 15th, 2012

Approximately 30% of people over 65 years of age living in the community fall each year.

This Cochrane review updates what we know. (more…)

Contaminated and adulterated herbals

Wednesday, August 1st, 2012

Prof. Ernst and colleagues reviewed the evidence and they aren’t sanguine. (more…)

Milk thistle fails in study of Hep C treatment

Wednesday, July 18th, 2012

Silymarin (Silybium marianum), an extract of milk thistle, is often used to treat chronic liver disease.

Researchers with the Silymarin in the NASH and C Hepatitis (SyNCH) Study Group studied its effect when combined with interferon. (more…)

Consumer alert: Reumofan Plus

Monday, June 4th, 2012

FDA is warning consumers that Reumofan Plus, marketed as a natural dietary supplement for pain relief and other serious conditions, contains several active pharmaceutical ingredients not listed on the label that could be harmful.

Here’s what we know. (more…)

Consumer Alert: Man Up Now capsules

Monday, February 27th, 2012

Man Up Now claims to be “herbal” and “all natural.” Consumers may mistakenly assume the product is harmless and poses no health risk. One consumer below thinks it no big deal.

Consumers who have Man Up Now capsules should stop using them, because the FDA determined it contains sulfoaildenafil, a chemical similar to sildenafil, and the active ingredient in Viagra. (more…)

Omega-3 for cystic fibrosis

Sunday, February 19th, 2012

In this Cochrane review, researchers at the Sydney Children’s Hospital, in New South Wales, Australia, evaluated the evidence that omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid supplementation reduces morbidity and mortality. (more…)

Consumer Alert: “Koff & Kold” and “Kold Sore”

Monday, February 13th, 2012

The FDA tells us that Wholistic Herbs Inc. is recalling all of its “Koff & Kold” spray with herbal extract and “Kold Sore” spray with liquid sea mineral. (more…)

Consumer Alert: RegenArouse

Monday, February 13th, 2012

According to the FDA, RegenArouse (Lot 130100) contains tadalafil (Cialis), an FDA-approved drug used as treatment for male erectile dysfunction, making this product an unapproved new drug. (more…)

Ayurvedic treatments for diabetes mellitus

Tuesday, January 31st, 2012

In this Cochrane review, researchers at the Child and Adolescent Care Centre, in Chennai, India, assessed the effects. (more…)

Spinal manipulation for chronic low back pain

Sunday, January 29th, 2012

Here are the findings of a Cochrane review. (more…)

Review: Ginger to treat pain

Monday, January 16th, 2012

Zingiber officinale, commonly known as ginger, has been used to treat pain, among other things.

Prof. Ernst and colleagues from the University of Exeter, in the UK reviewed the evidence for the use of ginger to treat any type of pain. (more…)

Finally, sanity in the salt wars

Monday, January 9th, 2012

For decades, politicians like Mayor Michael Bloomberg of NYC have tried to get Americans to eat less salt.

Now Scientific American asks, “But if the US does conquer salt, what will we gain?”

Answer: bland french fries. (more…)

More quality control problems with Vitamin D

Thursday, December 29th, 2011

ConsumerLab.com has reported problems with 29% of the vitamin D supplements selected for testing and review. (more…)

Does acupuncture relieve pain?

Wednesday, December 21st, 2011

Acupuncture is commonly used for pain control, but doubts about its effectiveness and safety remain.

Prof. Ernst and colleagues reviewed the evidence. (more…)

CAM use among older Americans

Sunday, December 18th, 2011

In October 2010 the American Association for Retired Persons (AARP) and the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM) conducted a telephone survey. (more…)

Yoga to help ease low back pain

Wednesday, December 7th, 2011

It has been suggested that yoga has a positive effect on low back pain and function.

Now, Prof. Ernst and colleagues have reviewed the evidence. (more…)