Menopause Isn’t Taboo Menopause is not a taboo subject, and the Care Package is a mixture of quack remedies, questionable products, and placebos. This is silliness, not science.I recently got an email with the subject line “Menopause shouldn’t be taboo – this gift can help.” I wholeheartedly agree that menopause… read more "Menopause Isn’t Taboo"
“(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"
Alternative Medicine Exploits Coronavirus Fears
Alternative medicine has been quick to capitalize on the public’s fear of coronavirus. They offer an array of bogus treatments. The news is full of alarming reports about the new coronavirus that originated in China and is spreading throughout the world. There is no treatment other than supportive measures, and… read more "Alternative Medicine Exploits Coronavirus Fears"
The Parasympathetic State
The claims for an essential oil mixture, Vibrant Blue Parasympathetic, are devoid of science. They are a mixture of pseudoscience, misrepresentation, lies, and imagination. Starting a new year. For the past 12 years, I have written an article for the Science-Based Medicine blog every Tuesday. I have often thought that… read more "The Parasympathetic State"
Don’t Believe The Ads: Dietary Supplements Don’t Cure Tinnitus
Tinnitus, or ringing in the ears, is a hallucination. The sounds can’t be heard by anyone else; they are illusory sensations produced by the brain. For some, it is only a minor annoyance; for others, it interferes with sleep and quality of life and sometimes causes severe suffering. There is… read more "Don’t Believe The Ads: Dietary Supplements Don’t Cure Tinnitus"
On Guard, DōTERRA, Essential Oils, and a Lesson in Reading Research Studies
A study of On Guard, a mixture of essential oils, showed that it reduced the infectivity of influenza virus in dog kidney cells in the lab; but that’s irrelevant to the question of whether the product has any clinical effect in humans. Essential oils smell good, but the claims of… read more "On Guard, DōTERRA, Essential Oils, and a Lesson in Reading Research Studies"
Tag Away
Skin tags (acrochordon) are benign growths, often raised on a pedicle with a tiny stem. 46% of the population has one or more of them. They are usually ignored, but some people think they are ugly and want to get rid of them, and sometimes the lesions rub on clothing… read more "Tag Away"
dōTERRA: Multilevel Marketing of Essential Oils
A stay-at-home mom recently e-mailed me. She is a former CAM user who once treated her infant’s colic with homeopathy but has since seen the light and is now thinking skeptically. She asked that I look into the dōTERRA company, seller of essential oils: concentrated extracts distilled from plants, containing the… read more "dōTERRA: Multilevel Marketing of Essential Oils"