Ten Day Rule

I remember drinking out of a garden hose, putting mud on a bee sting, and even having my dad lance a burn blister with a needle and a piece of thread. I survived intact. Modern health concerns seem to be almost exclusively focused on having someone else 'do something about it right now'. What if the problem would go away, all by itself, without any special intervention by a health professional? I am positive we need doctors, but I'm not convinced we have to run to them for every pain, sprain, itch, or sniffle. Here's a simple rule that I've followed for years. No, it isn't perfect, but I'd wager it is true and useful in the vast majority of situations. More..

Do Some People HAVE TO Use Fosamax?

Our newsletter subscribers know how I feel about bisphosphonates (Fosamax, etc). In a nutshell, I don’t see a reason for ANYONE to take them. They are dangerous and I cannot find sufficient evidence that they offer any real benefits. I wrote about a new FDA report on January 8th, 2008. One of our readers wrote to tell me she had to take the drug because her thyroid medicine was causing osteoporosis. That’s an interesting belief, but there really isn’t evidence to support it. More…

Taking Aim At Compounders - Again.

The FDA took another shot at compounders on January 9th, 2008. As expected, it was initiated by a complaint filed by Wyeth – the drug maker who supports the use of mare hormones over hormones that are identical to the ones made in the human body. Of course, remember that Wyeth makes drugs from mare's urine that they call PREMARIN. More…

HARMFUL BONE DRUGS (BISPHOSPHANATES)

I’ve tried to warn people about the dangers from using potent drugs to treat osteoporosis. The common treatments for “osteo” are the BISPHOSPHANATE drugs like Fosamax, Actonel, and Boniva (the one that the FLYING NUN stumps for). Our motto is that “too many people use too many drugs” and it is particularly true for those who are swallowing these kinds of drugs. The FDA has just issued a warning about side effects – because they found that most prescribers weren’t fully aware of the dangers EVEN THOUGH THE COMPANY LISTS THE PROBABLE HARMS IN THEIR PACKAGING. Does your doctor know what he or she is prescribing for you? Do you know about the dangers? More…

MONOSODIUM GLUTAMATE (MSG) AND GELATIN

QUESTION: I’ve noticed that you recommend avoiding MSG, which is found in gelatin and other foods. However, many nutritional supplements contain gelatin as an "other ingredient." Would you please comment?

Monosodium Glutamate can show up anywhere - even in some of the medicines we take. If you use L-Lysine to treat cold sores or canker sores, you will want to be sure you buy tablets NOT gelatin capsules. More...

ANOTHER ADDICTIVE SUBSTANCE !?

We're ALL addicted to sweetness. And food manufacturers feel obligated to feed our addiction by adding one or more sweeteners to their products - even some of the ones we wouldn't expect to be sweet. Some are chemicals (aspartame, for example) and some are natural (sugar). There's also a sweetener derived from corn - called HFCS (high fructose corn syrup). Just look at the labels and you'll find it in just about everything we consume. Dr. Al Sears warns us about this substance. You owe it to yourself to learn more about this potentially toxic substance. More...

Antibiotic Cocktail

You are completely responsible for your own health. All the good intentions on the part of your doctor might not save you from the side effects of prescription drugs. One of my customers has found this out the hard way. A long course of multiple antibiotics has seriously injured her health. Karen's done her research and she's given me permission to share her story with you. Please read it and share it. More...

POST-OP PAIN AND CONSTIPATION

Controlling pain often requires the use of strong opioid drugs. While opioids do relieve pain, they can also induces other symptoms that have to be dealt with. One of our readers asked about her brother's constipation problems. Unresolved constipation should not be tolerated. How does one resolve the constipation caused by opioids without reducing the level of pain relief? More...

IS THERE A NEW CHOLESTEROL DRUG?

I don't support the use of drugs to reduce cholesterol. Yes, I understand there is a correlation between elevated cholesterol and serious health conditions, but I am not convinced that cholesterol causes disease. Actually, the evidence supports just the opposite.

I am in the minority on this position. One drug company that has led the way with cholesterol-lowering drugs is trying a new tactic. They are planning to use a non-prescription vitamin (niacin) coupled with an experimental drug to lower cholesterol levels while controlling some of the side effects caused by niacin.

While this might restore sales for the drug sellers, I'm not sure this is such a good medical idea. More...