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

    Archive for the 'FDA/FTC/CDC' 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…)

    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…)

    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…)

    Consumer Alert: FDA takes legal action against ATF Fitness Products Inc.

    Tuesday, November 29th, 2011

    This is the first time FDA has taken legal action against a dietary supplement manufacturer (ATF Fitness Products) of this size for failure to comply with the dietary supplement current Good Manufacturing Practice (cGMP) regulations. (more…)

    Consumer Alert: Pentrexyl Forte Natural

    Monday, May 23rd, 2011

    FDA has recalled Pentrexyl Forte Natural because the packaging is believed to be misleading — causing it to be confused with an antibiotic.

    (more…)

    Consumer Alert: Fraudulent STD treatments

    Wednesday, May 4th, 2011

    The FDA and the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) today announced a joint effort to remove products from the market that make unproven claims to treat, cure, and prevent sexually transmitted diseases (STDs).

    Among the products targeted are Medavir, Herpaflor, Viruxo, C-Cure, and Never An Outbreak. (more…)

    FDA warns companies to stop making MRSA claims

    Thursday, April 21st, 2011

    FDA is warning companies to stop making MRSA claims.

    Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) bacteria can cause an infection that’s highly resistant to some antibiotics. MRSA cause infection after they enter the body through a cut or sore.

    The US Food and Drug Administration has issued 4 warning letters to companies that manufacture and market over-the-counter (OTC) drug products (including hand sanitizers) that claim to prevent infection by MRSA. (more…)

    Consumer Alert: X-Hero and Male Enhancer

    Wednesday, March 30th, 2011

    FDA lab analysis of X-Hero found the product contains sulfosildenafil, the analogue of the active ingredient of an FDA-approved drug (sildenafil, Viagra, Revatio) used to treat erectile dysfunction.

    In addition, FDA analysis of Male Enhancer found it contains tadalafil (Cialis, Adcirca), the active ingredient of an FDA-approved drug used to treat erectile dysfunction. (more…)

    Effects of green tea in obese breast cancer survivors

    Monday, January 24th, 2011

    Being overweight after breast cancer treatment may increase a woman’s risk for recurrent disease.

    Researchers at the University of Arizona, in Tucson found that there are benefits from drinking green tea, but weight loss isn’t one of them. (more…)

    Consumer Alert: Rockhard Weekend, Pandora, Fruta Planta

    Thursday, December 23rd, 2010

    FDA has received reports of adverse events associated with the use of Fruta Planta, including several cardiac events and one death.

    In addition, FDA testing revealed that certain lots of RockHard Weekend and Pandor contain an analogue of sildenafil, an FDA-approved drug used as treatment for male erectile dysfunction. (more…)

    FDA makes its position clear on dietary supplements

    Sunday, December 19th, 2010

    There are “significant public health problems posed by products that are marketed as dietary supplements but that contain the same active ingredients as FDA-approved drugs… that do not qualify as dietary ingredients.” (more…)

    Consumer Alert: Vigor-25

    Friday, November 19th, 2010

    The FDA tells us that Vigor-25, a product marketed as a natural dietary supplement to enhance male sexual performance, should not be purchased or used because it contains sildenafil, the active ingredient in the prescription drug Viagra.

    The FDA is investigating the reported death of a 26-year old man, possibly associated with the use of Vigor-25. (more…)

    Consumer Alert: FDA warns about OTC chelation products

    Friday, October 15th, 2010

    8 companies of over-the-counter (OTC) chelation products were told that they are selling unapproved drugs and devices and are violating federal law with respect to unproven claims about these products.

    These products purport to treat a range of diseases by removing toxic metals from the body. Some also claim to treat autism spectrum disorder, cardiovascular diseases, Parkinson’s disease, Alzheimer’s disease, macular degeneration, and other serious conditions. (more…)

    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…)

    Consumer Alert: Slimming Beauty Bitter Orange Slimming Capsules

    Friday, October 8th, 2010

    So good they had to name it “slimming” twice.

    Unfortunately, Slimming Beauty contains the active pharmaceutical ingredient sibutramine (Meridia), a stimulant. And the marketer, Beautiful Health Inc., formerly LL Health and Beauty, failed to list it among the ingredients on the label. (more…)

    Consumer Alert: Aromatase inhibitors in dietary supplements

    Monday, September 20th, 2010

    Aromatase inhibitors are a class of drugs used to treat breast cancer and ovarian cancer in postmenopausal women.

    Now, the FDA is recalling the following supplements that illegally contain these drugs. (more…)

    Consumer Alert: TimeOut

    Thursday, August 26th, 2010

    It’s labeled as “100% natural” and consumers may mistakenly assume the product is harmless and poses no health risk.

    The FDA says, Not so fast, all you erectilely challenged people out there. (more…)