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

Archive for the 'THINGS THAT DON’T FIT ABOVE' 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…)

The reality of herbal supplement contamination

Thursday, October 17th, 2013

little-guy2Adulteration of herbal products is common and a threat to consumer safety.

Researchers from Canada and India are the latest to investigate the integrity of herbal products. (more…)

Does water really improve health?

Thursday, September 12th, 2013

indexFirst lady, Michelle Obama tells us that drinking more water will improve the health of kids and all Americans.

Really? Here’s what we know. (more…)

Use of tanning beds by Caucasian women

Sunday, August 25th, 2013

tanning-bedThe tanning industry is a thriving, largely unregulated $2 billion industry.

Researchers on The New England Journal of Medicine Journal Watch Dermatology Board reviewed the evidence. (more…)

Too fat to live in New Zealand

Sunday, July 28th, 2013

little-guy2If campaigns to promote more healthful eating are ineffective, how else might society address the obesity epidemic?

MailOnline reports that deportation is an option. (more…)

Tanning beds to treat psoriasis?

Wednesday, May 1st, 2013

ailmentPsoriasis-100x100In a recent post on the National Psoriasis Foundation discussion board, a patient stated that the dermatologist recommended “that I use a tanning bed as this is far more convenient and less costly than using light box therapy.”

This lead to divergent views on the role of tanning beds in psoriasis treatment.

Here’s what we know. (more…)

Consumers’ thoughts on pharmacists regarding complementary meds

Wednesday, April 3rd, 2013

little-guy2Researchers at the University of South Australia, in Adelaide, explored consumer expectations, perceptions, and satisfaction of their pharmacist. (more…)

Expanding the list of drugs that interact with grapefruit juice

Wednesday, November 28th, 2012

Dr. David Bailey from the University of Western Ontario in London, Canada, reported the “grapefruit effect” more than 15 years ago.

Now, Dr. Bailey and coworkers at the University of Western Ontario tell us that while 17 drugs were identified in 2008 as having the potential to cause serious problems when taken with grapefruit, this number has now grown to 43. (more…)

Update: Prevalence of CAM use

Tuesday, October 16th, 2012

Researchers at the University of Sheffield, in the UK, updated previous systematic reviews. (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…)

The end of tanning parlors

Tuesday, July 24th, 2012

In the ‘70s, commercial tanning beds were introduced. In less than 3 decades, over half of adults in northern Europe reported using them.

Now, growing evidence of health risks is leading to restricted access to indoor tanning, worldwide. (more…)

What’s trending now in visits to homeopaths

Saturday, July 21st, 2012

Two recent studies report marked differences in the use of homeopathy.

First, homeopathy in the US. (more…)

Smart acupuncture

Friday, July 20th, 2012

Fast Company reports that a new system links to a readout and shows how much electrical activity the needles are stimulating in a patient’s muscles. (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…)

Adverse response to exercise

Friday, June 1st, 2012

Dr. Claude Bouchard and colleagues from around the US and Finland tell us that people differ in their response to regular exercise.

Sometimes these differences contribute to adverse changes in cardiovascular and diabetes risk factors, according to this study. (more…)

Bath salts becoming illegal

Tuesday, May 29th, 2012

This has nothing to do with taking a bath.

Researchers at the University of Florida College of Medicine, in Gainesville, tell us, “The abuse of psychoactive “bath salts” (PABS) has become commonplace, and patients with PABS overdoses are presenting to emergency departments with increasing frequency. (more…)

Consumer Alert: “Bath Salts”

Tuesday, May 29th, 2012

Unlike traditional cosmetic bath salts, which are packaged and sold for adding to bath water for soaking and cleaning, drugs sold as “bath salts” have no legitimate use for bathing and are intended for substance abuse.

Confused? (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…)