Northern California shoppers were divided into two groups: “regular organic shoppers” who buy organic produce on a typical grocery-shopping trip; and “nonregulars” who don’t. They were asked how much more they would pay for four different produce items.
Continue reading Are we willing to pay more for organic food?
According to WABC radio, New York City just passed the ban on using trans fats for cooking in NYC eateries.
The American Academy of Dermatology and the American Medical Association have called for a ban on the sale and use of tanning equipment for nonmedical purposes. And the FDA and Centers for Disease Control encourage people to avoid the use of tanning beds and sun lamps.
The tanning industry say that dermatologists have a “political agenda,” and that indoor tanning is actually good for you.
What’s the truth?
The Handbook of Clinically Tested Herbal Remedies is an excellent reference source on herbal medicines. Writing in the International Society for Complementary Medicine Research Newsletter (go here and click the volume 2 number 4 issue), the reviewer states that editor Marilyn Barrett and her contributors, “take a rigorous look at both the nature of the herbal evidence base, and how it [the evidence base] is and should be generated.”
Continue reading The importance of defining the active ingredients in herbal medicines
Councilman Dan Johnson says he plans to file an ordinance to ban using trans fatty acids in 2,600 Louisville Kentucky eateries.
Food chains that have recently decided to ban trans fatty acids from their foods on their own include the following.
Lots of others are listed on other entires on this blog.
Continue reading Louisville councilman proposes to ban trans fats
“More than half of women who treat their symptoms of menopause take soy supplements or herbal products as part or all of their therapy.” states The New York Times, which reported on a recently published article in the journal Menopause.
However, the women in this online survey generally felt illinformed about proper doses and use of herbal products.
Continue reading Use of soy and herbals to treat menopausal symptoms
Legislation has been submitted in Ontario, Canada to regulate acupuncture and traditional Chinese medicine. This is the culmination of an ongoing process that started in Canada in 1994. The proposed legislation would create a self-governing regulatory college, and restrict the practice of acupuncture to members of the profession who would be able to use title, doctor.
In North America, it’s the latest event in the growth of acupuncture, which was virtually unknown here until 1972 when China opened its doors to the West.
Continue reading The growth of acupuncture and traditional Chinese medicine in North America
A surgical procedure called a colonectomy removes part or all of the large intestine. A common side effect of this surgery is known as postoperative ileus (POI) in which bowel movement is impaired following surgery and can take 48 to 72 hours to recover.
Common symptoms experienced by patients with POI include bloating, pain, nausea and vomiting, an inability to pass stools, and an inability to eat solid food. There is also a greater risk for other complications that can prolong the time they must stay in the hospital. This, of course, results in higher health care costs.
A recently published study of 66 patients was designed to determine the usefulness of gum chewing to shortening the time to recovery from POI.
Continue reading Gum chewing vs acupressure wrist bracelet to shorten postcolectomy ileus
In February, the Danish Ministry for Family and Consumer Affairs withdrew food supplements containing saw palmetto because of concerns about its effect on the hormone system coupled with a lack of data about its safety in long-term use.
Dr. Kirsten Pilegaard, PhD, senior advisor for the Danish Institute for Food and Veterinary Research stated, “On the basis of the information available, it is not possible to establish a dose that does not give rise to concern.”
Continue reading Saw palmetto withdrawn from the market in Denmark
Now that new UVA blockers are being marketed, it’s not surprising to see more research in this area. The UVA sunscreen issue has been discussed here and here.
Now, results from new research.
Continue reading New view on the risk of skin cancer from UVA
Here is an update to an earlier post that chronicled a problem with genetically engineered cotton in China where it was necessary to use pesticides to control new pests.
Skeptico reviews the problem, the possible reasons for it, and the fix being use in the U.S.
Here’s a series of quotes from the October (Volume 12, 2006) editorial in Alternative Therapies in Health and Medicine that I think contrasts the points of view between alternative and mainstream medicine today. Is the alternative perspective too esoteric to be of practical value? Or is the mainstream approach (for chronic diabetes for example) destined to come up short? Or is the answer somewhere in the middle?
Continue reading A problem endemic to clinical medicine: treating the symptoms, not the cause
Here is an example of a Chinese herbal medicine (dan shen) interacting with a lab test to cause an inaccurate digoxin blood level result.
The movement to ban trans fats in restaurants and fast food outlets picked up more support earlier this week. The New York City Board of Health voted to move forward with plans to prohibit the city’s 20,000 restaurants from serving food that contains more than a minute amount of trans fats.
The next steps are a public hearing on October 30th and a final vote in December. The board is authorized to adopt the plan without the consent of any other agency. So, it’s likely that life in NYC will be come a bit healthier by 2007.
You can track back to other related posts starting here.
9/26/06 23:22 JR
In 2002, the FDA advised consumers of the potential risk of severe liver injury associated with the use of kava-containing (Piper methysticum) dietary supplements.
In 2003, the U.K.’s medicines regulatory body banned kava when it was linked to a number of deaths and liver damage around the world.
So, where are we today?
Dr. James Beaulieu, a clinical pharmacist specialist at Rhode Island Hospital in Providence, has published an excellent review of this topic.
If you are receiving immunosuppressive treatments and taking or considering taking any herbal medicine, consult this article first.
Immunosuppressive therapy is used for the following reasons.
A list and overview of immunosuppressive drugs are available here.
9/24/06 11:18 JR
A recent post here summarized the risks associated with lead blood levels. It’s more toxic than was previously believed. And if you take Ayurvedic medicine, it’s important to be aware of the risks you are exposed to.
How high is the risk?
Continue reading High risk of heavy metals in Ayurvedic medicines
In addition to Ayurvedic medicines, certain traditional or folk medications used in East Indian, Middle Eastern, West Asian, and Hispanic cultures contain lead. The “logic” supporting the addition of lead to medicine was summarized in an earlier post.
Now it’s reported that lead is more toxic than we thought. People with lead blood levels well below those previously considered safe (less than 10 mcg/dL) are at increased risk for heart attack and stroke.
How great is the risk?
Two companies in Germany, BASF and Organo Balance, are collaborating to develop products based on probiotics that, if successful, could be marketed to improve dental hygiene.
Here are the details.
Continue reading More probiotics being developed to prevent tooth decay
The Sixth U.K. House of Lords Science and Technology Report was published in 2000. It covers basic information on CAM. However, the section that interested me was on professional training and education.
Ultimately, the goal for CAM should be its integration into mainstream, allopathic medicine, according to the Report.
OK. But shouldn’t contemporary medicine be integrated into current CAM disciplines, as well? Patients benefit most when all healthcare providers understand the potential and limits of all available treatments.
Here are highlights of the Report’s recommendations on training and education. Again, these recommendations should apply to CAM and mainstream medicine training programs.
Continue reading A core curriculum for CAM and allopathic practitioners