Ads selling CBD oil feature Dr. Oz and other celebrities, but Oz warns that he never endorses products, and that ads using his name or image are fraudulent. All sorts of ads for CBD oil have been popping up on my Facebook news feed. Many of them feature Dr. Oz.… read more "Dr. Oz Allegedly Selling CBD"
The Evidence for Hydrogen Water
Alex Tarnava sells Drink HRW Rejuvenation tablets. The evidence for the health benefits of drinking hydrogen water is not convincing. This is Alex Tarnava. He sells hydrogen water in the form of Drink HRW Rejuvenation tablets. The scientific evidence is not convincing.I am always ready to follow the evidence wherever… read more "The Evidence for Hydrogen Water"
Ground Glass Is Not a Poison
Some people think you can murder someone by putting ground glass in their food. That’s a myth. This Indian lawyer has a strange habit. He eats glass for fun but urges others not to try it.Don’t believe everything you hear. I recently watched an old episode of Midsomer Murders where the corpse… read more "Ground Glass Is Not a Poison"
Edzard Ernst Tackles Chiropractic
Edzard Ernst’s new book is a handy, comprehensive reference for all things chiropractic. Edzard Ernst’s prolific output continues. In his latest book Chiropractic: Not All That It’s Cracked Up to Be he takes on one of the most popular SCAMS (So-Called Alternative Medicines). It is an even-handed review of the history and… read more "Edzard Ernst Tackles Chiropractic"
Plexus: MLM Strikes Again
Many health-related products are sold through multilevel marketing (MLM); now the FTC is warning them to stop making false claims about COVID-19. The tactics that MLMs use to promote all their products are deceptive and are a variation on the old Ponzi scam. Multilevel marketing (MLM) companies have a terrible… read more "Plexus: MLM Strikes Again"
New Contraceptive Drug Makes No Sense
I subscribe to The Medical Letter to learn about new drugs. I am frequently appalled by their cost. For example, a year’s treatment with Ozanimod, a drug recently approved for multiple sclerosis, costs $84,800. And some new drugs cost much, much more than that. A gene therapy drug from Novartis currently holds the record: 2.1 million… read more "New Contraceptive Drug Makes No Sense"
New book: Anti-vaxxers: How to Challenge a Misinformed Movement
This book is a handy compendium of everything worth knowing about the anti-vaccine movement and how to challenge the misinformation. Jonathan Berman’s new book Anti-vaxxers: How to Challenge a Misinformed Movement has two goals: to provide a complete picture of the anti-vaccine movement and to provide a counterpoint to some of… read more "New book: Anti-vaxxers: How to Challenge a Misinformed Movement"
Taopatch Offers Everything… Except Science
Taopatch promises all kinds of vague benefits, but the mechanism of action is implausible and what they call scientific proof is no such thing. It promises to improve your health and wellness. Who wouldn’t want that? Immediate health benefits. Why wait for things that work slowly? Delivery via skin patch:… read more "Taopatch Offers Everything… Except Science"
How a Drug Is Born
Big Pharma is not a misnomer. Pharmaceutical drugs are big business. The US is the world leader in producing new drugs and is responsible for nearly half of the new molecular entities (NME’s) that come on the market. Americans spend well over $300 billion yearly on prescription drugs. Both Big Pharma and the FDA have come… read more "How a Drug Is Born"
“(Un)Well:” Netflix’s Documentary Series Is Poor Journalism That Neglects Science
The (Un)Well documentary series on Netflix asks “Wellness: does it bring health and healing, or are we falling victim to false promises?” But instead of answers, it offers false balance and confusion. Netflix: a good source of entertainment, not a good source of medical information Netflix recently produced a reprehensible documentary series… read more "“(Un)Well:” Netflix’s Documentary Series Is Poor Journalism That Neglects Science"