| Posted 14 November 2024 Dr. Edzard Ernst, an emeritus professor at the University of Exeter, has described several categories of harm caused by so-called alternative medicine (SCAM). They include: - direct harm by SCAM therapies such as chiropractic spinal manipulation, acupuncture, and herbal medicine
- harm such as missing a serious diagnosis or giving false positive diagnoses caused by SCAM diagnostic techniques that haven’t been validated
- harm caused by SCAM practitioners recommending subpar treatments, offering poor advice, diagnosing conditions that don’t exist, or exaggerating the importance of everyday health impairments
- harm caused by the industry by leading consumers to misspend their money and by endangering species through the exploitation of natural resources
- harm caused by unreliable research that undermines trust in science
- harm caused by fallacious notions, such as “nature knows best,” that undermine rational thought
Ernst concluded: As the benefits of SCAM are often only marginal or entirely absent, even relatively … Read the rest Posted 10 October 2024 Juta Medical Brief A commercial promising a wonder cure for infected toenails – and which has drawn dozens of complaints over the years – has again drawn the ire of the Advertising Regulatory Board (ARB), after two consumer complaints. The advert, displaying images of discoloured toenails and infected toenails transforming into shiny, perfect specimens after the application of a special oil, “introduces” Homemark’s “… tried and tested Aragan Secret Nail Treatment Oil… harvested from the Aragan tree found only in Morocco …” The narrator says the oil contains ingredients that ensure “low pH levels to not only keep your nails smooth and attractive …” TimesLIVE reports that the ad features various visuals of people applying the oil to their fingernails or toenails, some of which appear chipped or discoloured. An animated image shows what appears to be a badly damaged or infected nail being … Read the rest Posted 02 October 2024 Stem cell biologist Paul Knoepfler, PhD, has reviewed and fact-checked stem cell products sold as dietary supplements and concluded the market has worsened in the last two or three years. He noted: “While Google has rightly (and generally very effectively) banned stem cell clinic ads, it still feels like anything goes with stem cell supplement ads.” [emphasis in the original] Reference: Knoepfler P. New review of stem cell supplements and pills. The Niche blog, Sept 18, 2024 He provided this article summary: Stem cell supplements claim to improve your health by impacting your stem cells. My research indicates there are no strong clinical trial data to support such claims. Stem cell supplements pose risks, too, and they are expensive. As a stem cell biologist, I generally recommend against taking stem cell supplements but consult your physician. … Read the rest Posted 02 October 2024 Many sellers claim vitamin C supercharges immunity and is useful for preventing or treating diseases other than scurvy. Immunologist and microbiologist Andrea Love, PhD, looked at the issue in an effort to distinguish science from pseudoscience. Excess amounts of vitamin C can lead to serious gastrointestinal issues and “interfere with muscle recovery after exercise or other important immune-related processes,” she writes. Love A. Vitamin C: Scurvy savior or immune overdose? More of a good thing isn’t always better. Skeptical Inquirer, Sept 16, 2024 Dr. Love concluded: While legitimate vitamin C deficiency can impact your health, there’s a big difference between that and claims that excess vitamin C is advantageous. Vitamin C deficiency is uncommon, especially in developed nations. Unfortunately, the wellness industry exploits people’s desire to take control over their health with clever marketing and vague science-adjacent statements. Even in the case of an … Read the rest Posted 19 September 2024 Extract: “Dr. Cohen said no supplement currently on the market can lead to significant weight loss. “It just doesn’t exist,” he said. “If it existed, if it was also safe, it would be widely used and purchased.” Dr. Pieter Cohen, an associate professor at Harvard Medical School who studies supplements. Kourtney Kardashian’s new “GLP-1 Daily” pill is the latest product to capitalize on the weight loss drug craze. By Dani Blum Sept. 17, 2024 New York Times There’s a long list of products that companies and influencers claim can deliver quick and dramatic weight loss, just like Ozempic. There are gummies filled with fruit extract, neon yellow berberine tablets, green teas, even jars of oatmeal and rice steeped in lime water. The latest addition to that list: a weight loss pill released this week by Lemme, Kourtney Kardashian’s supplement company. Weight loss hacks have been around … Read the rest Posted 11 September 2024 Pharmacist Scott Gavura has found through a search of the Internet and TikTok videos that magnesium oil applied to the skin is promoted as a sort of panacea to help with sleep, muscle cramps, skin conditions, and “detoxification” even though evidence suggests magnesium isn’t absorbed through the skin. Reference: Gavura S. Magnesium oil: Not so magical. Science-Based Medicine, July 18, 2024 Similarly, McGill University science communicator Jonathan Jarry has noted claims in Internet videos promoting magnesium supplements as sleep aids are not supported by scientific evidence. Reference: Jarry J. Magnesium supplements for sleep may not work like a ###dream. Office for Science and Society, Sept 22, 2023 … Read the rest Posted 9 September 2024 Homemark continues to dupe customers claiming, now for years, that this treatment can fix broken nails, fungal infections, etc, in spite of numerous ASA/ARB (Advertising Regulatory Board) rulings against the claims. The rulings are valid for Homemark is unable to supply a shred of evidence to back up its claims. Now two consumers coincidentally laid a new complaint with the ARB arguing that this product is no more than a ‘scam’. The ARB asked Homemark for evidence for their claims, which Homemark was unable to supply and hence a ruling against Homemark followed. Decision of the ADVERTISING REGULATORY BOARDAdvertiser – Homemark (Pty) Ltd
Consumer/Competitor – Consumer
File reference -3392 – Homemark Aragan Secret Nail Treatment Oil
Outcome – Partial uphold
Date – 6 September 2024 The Directorate of the Advertising Regulatory Board has been called upon to consider two consumer complaints against a commercial … Read the rest Posted 28 August 2024 A recording of the livestream Mind the Science: Saving Your Mental Health from the Wellness Industry with Jonathan Stea (62 minutes), part of the Skeptical Inquirer Presents series, is now available on YouTube. Stea discusses: - a coffee enema device promoted on Goop for relief from depression, confusion, nervous tension, and more
- the cornucopia of misinformation in A Mind of Your Own by Kelly Brogan, M.D.
- unregulated providers of mental health-related services
- the nine red flags of pseudoscience
- clearcut pseudoscientific health care practices
- somewhat plausible health care practices with some features characteristic of pseudoscience
- harmful impact of pseudoscientific health care practices, why they are seductive, and how to defend against them
- science literacy and mental health literacy
- mental health pseudoscience on social media
- the anti-psychiatry movement
- misleading marketing of wellness
- the branding and rebranding of pseudomedicine
- journals publishing pseudoscientific papers
Stea, a clinical psychologist and adjunct assistant … Read the rest Posted 20 August 2024 Based on their literature review of cannabidiol (CBD) products’ purity, harmful effects, and effectiveness, researchers from the U.K. and the University of Alberta have concluded: “For people living with pain, the evidence for CBD or hemp extract shows it is expensive, does not work, and is possibly harmful.” Moore A, and others. Cannabidiol (CBD) products for pain: Ineffective, expensive, and with potential harms. The Journal of Pain, 25(4):833-842, 2024 Their key findings were: - CBD products have varying amounts of CBD, from none to much more than advertised.
- CBD products may contain other chemicals that may be harmful.
- Out of 16 randomized clinical trials for pain using pharmaceutical CBD in oral, buccal/sublingual, and topical forms, 15 found no greater pain-relieving effect for CBD than for placebo.
- Meta-analyses link CBD to increased rates of serious adverse events and liver toxicity.
Cannabidiol (CBD) Products for Pain: Ineffective, Expensive, and … Read the rest Posted 06 August 2024 “Conclusions and Relevance In this survey study, an estimated 15.6 million US adults consumed at least 1 botanical product with liver liability within the past 30 days, comparable with the number of people who consumed nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and a commonly prescribed hypolipidemic drug. Given a lack of regulatory oversight on the manufacturing and testing of botanical products, clinicians should be aware of possible adverse events from consumption of these largely unregulated products.” HEALTH 07 August 2024
By Tessa Koumoundouros
Science Alert From turmeric to green tea, many botanicals we commonly use as herbal remedies pose a threat to our liver if we indulge too much. A new survey from the University of Michigan estimates up to 18.6 million people in the US make use of at least one of these herbal remedies with liver-damaging potential. When used in moderation, herbs like green tea and other … Read the rest | |