“Alternative medicine has become mainstream,” according to Associated Press medical writer Marilynn Marchione. “Consumer spending on it in some cases rivals that of traditional healthcare.” But after stating that major hospitals and clinics increasingly offer complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) therapies, that medical schools now teach CAM, and some health insurers promote deals for policyholders… Continue reading Alternative Medicine Find Wider Acceptance by Doctors, Insurers, and Hospitals, Yet They “Lack Value”
Month: June 2009
Update on the NIH Chelation Trial
The federal Trial to Assess Chelation (TACT) study is once again enrolling heart attack survivors. The study’s leader, Dr. Gervasio Lamas of the Mt. Sinai Medical Center in Miami, voluntarily suspended enrollment last fall after allegations were published in Medscape critical of the consent form given to patients and of the safety of the trial.The… Continue reading Update on the NIH Chelation Trial
Who Gets to Make Your Lifestyle Choices—You or the CDC?
He is the new director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, leaving behind the post of New York City’s top health official. The New York Post called him “Dr. Buttinsky” because of his policy to ban smoking and trans fats in New York City. He is physician Thomas Frieden. Does he want the… Continue reading Who Gets to Make Your Lifestyle Choices—You or the CDC?
With Mandated Healthcare, Your Healthcare Freedom of Choice is at Risk
On May 11, President Obama stated at a news conference, “I will not rest until the dream of healthcare reform is achieved in the United States of America.” A Wall Street Journal article opined that “the Obama administration . . . is convinced it is smart enough to engineer more efficient medical practices out of… Continue reading With Mandated Healthcare, Your Healthcare Freedom of Choice is at Risk
FDA Seeks Your Suggestions for Increased Transparency
The FDA has established a Transparency Task Force, and has called for public comment. We certainly applaud this as a hopeful sign. Openness in government is imperative, and prompt disclosure to the public of government activity ensures legitimacy and accountability.
Congressional Panel Wants New Review of BPA Safety
As we have reported earlier in Pulse of Health Freedom, chemicals in the packaging, surfaces or contents of many products may cause long-term health effects, including cancers of the breast, brain and testicles; lowered sperm counts, early puberty and other reproductive system defects; diabetes; attention deficit disorder, asthma and autism. A decade ago, the government… Continue reading Congressional Panel Wants New Review of BPA Safety
Big Pharma and the FDA: Suppress the Science, Ban the Natural Substances, Sell the Drugs!
In 2005, an up-and-coming pharmaceutical company made a big mistake: they invested millions of dollars into developing a drug only to discover that the only active ingredient of the drug, pyridoxamine, was really a common, naturally occurring substance that has been sold for decades at low cost to consumers in the form of a dietary… Continue reading Big Pharma and the FDA: Suppress the Science, Ban the Natural Substances, Sell the Drugs!
In Memoriam: Dr. Abram Hoffer, Vitamin Pioneer
Dr. Abram Hoffer died this week at the age of 91. A renowned Canadian psychiatrist, Dr. Hoffer was instrumental in discovering the importance of megadoses of vitamins in the treatment of psychiatric disorders like schizophrenia and bipolar disorder, and was a pioneer in the field of orthomolecular medicine.
Creating a Generation of Drugged Children
Last November, the journal Pediatrics published research that found medication use among children across the United States is dramatically increasing as more kids are being treated for diabetes, hypertension, obesity, asthma, and attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Using a database of prescription claims from children with private health insurance, they were able to find prescriptions for… Continue reading Creating a Generation of Drugged Children
Will FDA Call Tomatoes a “New Drug”?
Scientists say the naturally occurring antioxidant lycopene, found in abundance in tomatoes, helps block the body from absorbing “bad” LDL cholesterol. This bad cholesterol is primarily responsible for clogging arteries.