Using data from a study of pregnant women from an inland area in the US South, researchers at Duke University, in Durham, North Carolina, sought to understand the fish consumption habits and associated mercury levels. (more…)

Spirulina has been promoted as “the food of the future” with “exceptional constituents” that contribute to high energy levels.

In 2008, researchers from the UK and Greece reviewed the evidence, and it’s still relevant. (more…)

 The National Center for Contemporary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM) has updated their introductory reviews.

Here’s what’s important. (more…)

This study was conducted at the University of Sofia in Bulgaria using local herbals.

I don’t know the relevance to herbals in other parts of the world, but the results are disturbing. (more…)

The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has ruled that within limits, copper oxide can be safely used in food supplements. (more…)

Dr. Raghunath Anant Mashelkar is the former Director General of the Council of Scientific & Industrial Research in India.

During the Second World Ayurveda Congress he shared his thoughts about bhasmas — the Ayurvedic “supplements” with the highest reported heavy metal (lead, tin, iron, arsenic) content. (more…)

HemOnc Today has reviewed the historic and current role of arsenic in the mainstream treatment of cancer today.

Here’s a brief summary of its current use. (more…)

The World Health Organization has predicted a 39% rise in the worldwide prevalence of diabetes by 2030. And an article in The Lancet indicates this might be an underestimation.

Since November is Diabetes Month, here’s a round-up of CAM options for people with diabetes from 2006 through March 2007.
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The aim of this study was to review the literature in order to determine the levels of potentially harmful metals in table wines.

We know red wine is healthy, but is it safe? (more…)

What’s been published recently suggests there’s likely to be a problem.

Have we reached a tipping point? (more…)

I was shocked by a recent Cochrane Review that concluded, “There was no evidence that the Chinese medicinal herbal treatment caused harm” in women with breast cancer.

Anyone who has followed the pet food recalls or reviewed the safety literature on traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) and traditional Indian medicine (TIM) would come to a different conclusion. (more…)

Researchers from Boston and Bangalore, India ask, what’s the risk of getting lead, mercury, and arsenic in the Ayurvedic medicines purchased on the Internet? (more…)

Lead, mercury, and (oh yeah) arsenic intoxication have been associated with Ayurvedic herbal medicines.

Here’s an account of one patent’s experience. (more…)

A woman from Iowa has filed a lawsuit claiming she contracted lead poisoning from a Maharishi herbal product.

She apparently got it from a physician at a clinic in India.

A reader treated by the same doctor at the same clinic had a different experience and shares it in his comment.
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It’s only one patient (not the one in the photo), but it might reflect a bigger problem.

Here’s what happened.

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Dashmoola is a popular herbal formulation in ayurvedic medicine. It’s used to reduce fever and modify the immune response.

In this study, scientists from the National Botanical Research Institute in Lucknow, India tested the roots and stems from 10 herbs used to prepare Dashmoola. (more…)

The National Healthy Mothers, Healthy Babies Coalition has summarized the recommendations from official groups, worldwide. Their website should be essential reading for pregnant, breastfeeding, and postpartum women, and women thinking of becoming pregnant.

Let’s summarize their summary recommendations. (more…)

Fifteen years after enrollment of more than 600 people between 18 and 30 years of age, researchers from the Department of Preventive Medicine at the Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago report that higher magnesium intake is associated with a lower risk of the metabolic syndrome.

The results are interesting, but what’s the action plan for the average person?

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Researchers from Harvard School of Public Health in Boston believe, “the United States Food and Drug Administration and corresponding agencies in other countries should require heavy metal testing for all imported dietary supplements.”

The recommendation is based on what they found among people taking Ayurvedic medicines. (more…)

The Associated Press is reporting a second tainted pet food ingredient, which has added more pet food products to the recall list.

The connection with CAM is that contamination is not a new or rare event when it comes to food imports from China or traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). (more…)