A South African consumers' guide to scams, pseudoscience and voodoo science, OR, a critical thinker's guide to the ins and outs of Complementary and Alternative Medicine
Choice survey finds therapies with little to no evidence of their benefits, including Bach flower remedies and homeopathic products, being suggested to shoppers
Nearly one third of pharmacists are recommending complementary and alternative medicines with little-to-no evidence for their efficacy, including useless homeopathic products and potentially harmful herbal products.
The finding comes from a Choice survey of 240 pharmacies including Priceline, Chemist Warehouse and Terry White. Mystery shoppers were sent in to speak to a pharmacist at the prescription dispensing counter and ask for advice about feeling stressed.
Three per cent of the pharmacists recommended homeopathic products, despite a comprehensive review of all existing studies on homeopathy finding that there is no evidence they work in treating any condition.
Teens Receiving Inaccurate Information on Supplements
A new study shows that teenage boys are frequently encouraged to use creatine and testosterone boosters by sales attendants at health food stores, despite American Academy of Pediatrics’ warnings.
Researchers pretending to be 15-year-old high school athletes asked sales attendants at 244 health food stores across the United States for advice on how to increase muscle strength. Creatine was recommended by 67.2% of the stores, 38.5% of which provided the recommendation without being asked specifically, while 28.7% recommended creatine when asked directly if it was not initially suggested. Furthermore, 74.2% of sales attendants stated that a 15-year-old could purchase creatine without a parent. Testosterone boosters were recommended by 9.8% of sales attendants. Study authors suggested that pediatricians should be educating teenage patients, particularly athletes, about these products and discourage their use.
MEDICINES AND RELATED SUBSTANCES ACT, 1965 (ACT 101 OF 1965)
The Medicines Control Council by virtue of the powers vested in it by section 14(2) of the Medicines and Related Substances Act, 1965 (Act 101 of 1965), has by resolution approved by the Minister of Health, resolved to rescind the call -up notice for medicines frequently referred to as complementary medicines as published in the Government Notice R.204, Gazette No 23128 of 22 February 2002.
Although not directly related to CAMS, this article addresses the aspect of evaluating evidence – in this instance, pertaining to Big Pharma – but just as applicable to CAMS.
Years after research contradicts common practices, patients continue to demand them and doctors continue to deliver. The result is an epidemic of unnecessary and unhelpful treatment.
A consumer lodged a consumer complaint against Revivo’s advertising. The website claims, inter alia, as follows:
“Used by celebrities, top athletes & royalty all over the world to fight immune illness and boost general health, [it] represents the ultimate in immune support and anti-aging and is now available for you to use as well”.
“Scientifically proven to make you live longer”.
“Delays the aging process and stops death of immune cells”.
“Builds healthy blood and fights viruses and cancer”.
The complainant submitted that he has searched credible medical databases and cannot find any evidence to support any of the claims made. He adds that even the ingredients contained in the product were researched, and there is no proof of their effectiveness as an immunity booster, particularly not in the dosages used in this product formulation.
This article by Consumer Reports, although directed at the USA market, has some lessons for us here in South Africa.
Some good reasons to be cautious about using dietary supplements
By Consumer ReportsFebruary 10 2017
You might think that dietary supplements offer a safer, more natural alternative to medication for problems such as high cholesterol. But “some contain ingredients that are really drugs,” says Marvin M. Lipman, Consumer Reports’ chief medical adviser.
How? In some cases, naturally occurring substances are chemically identical to pharmaceuticals. In other cases, manufacturers add illegal or prescription medications to their supplements. Manufacturers aren’t required to prove that their products are safe or work as advertised before they reach the marketplace. And the Food and Drug Administration does not usually test supplements to make sure they contain only the ingredients on the label, so undeclared drugs often go undetected.
CamCheck does not focus on homeopathy but limits its focus to other CAMS. However, occasionally a relevant article that has broader implications, and may be of interest to our readers, will be posted.
It has just been reported that the Russian Academy of Sciences (RAS) has labelled homeopathic medicine a health hazard. The organization is now petitioning Russia’s Ministry of Health to abandon the use of homeopathic medicine in the country’s state hospitals.
A RAS committee warns that some patients were rejecting standard medicine for serious conditions in favour of homeopathic remedies, a move that almost inevitably puts their lives in danger. The committee also noted that, because of sloppy quality control during the manufacturing processes, some unlicensed homeopathic remedies contain toxic substances which harm patients in a direct fashion.edzardernst.com
We (Canadian Broadcasting Corporation Marketplace) investigate popular green tea weight loss supplements and uncover dozens of reports of liver failure.
Diet pills with natural ingredients are part of a booming multi-million dollar weight-loss industry in Canada. But are they a waste of money? And are they always safe?
Unlicensed medicines used in obesity or erection remedies could lower blood pressure or raise chances of heart attack
Many herbal supplements, including for obesity and erectile dysfunction, contain hidden unlicensed pharmaceutical ingredients that could endanger people’s health, experts have warned.
The research team, from Queen’s University Belfast, Kingston University in London and the life sciences testing company LGC, concluded that not only do such supplements often make unverified claims as to their benefits but some have illegal ingredients which could pose a threat – potentially causing low blood pressure or an increased risk of heart attacks.
The substances are unlicensed medicines as they are appearing in products classified as food supplements. Among the most common substances identified was sibutramine, according to the study, published in the Journal of the Association of Public Analysts.
Sibutramine was licensed as the medicine Reductil … Read the rest
