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Consumer Health Digest #07-38
October 2, 2007
Current # of subscribers: 11,828
Consumer Health Digest is a free weekly e-mail newsletter edited by
Stephen Barrett, M.D., and cosponsored by NCAHF and Quackwatch. It
summarizes scientific reports; legislative developments; enforcement
actions; news reports; Web site evaluations; recommended and
nonrecommended books; and other information relevant to consumer
protection and consumer decision-making. Donations to help support
this newsletter can be made conveniently through PayPal or Amazon via
http://www.quackwatch.org/00AboutQuackwatch/donations.html###
Review blasts homeopathic "provings."
A comprehensive review of homeopathic "provings" published from 1945
to 1995 has concluded that these studies "were generally of low
methodological quality." [Dantas E. A systematic review of the
quality of homeopathic pathogenetic trials published from 1945 to
1995. Homeopathy 96:4-16, 2007]http://www.sciencedirect.com/science?_ob=MImg&_imagekey=B6WXX-4MTJGVV-4-1&_cdi=7170&_user=10&_orig=browse&_coverDate=01/31/2007&_sk=999039998&view=c&wchp=dGLbVzW-zSkWb&_valck=1&md5=f9d5981e352a9086b0b67c51e3e25369&ie=/sdarticle.pdfHomeopathy is based on the misguided notion that substances shown to
cause symptoms when administered to healthy people can, if
appropriately diluted, cure diseases that manifest the same symptoms.
During the 19th century, homeopathy's founder and his early followers
conducted "provings" in which they administered herbs, minerals, and
other substances to healthy people, including themselves, and kept
detailed records of what they observed. Later these records were
compiled into reference books that are used to match a patient's
symptoms with a "corresponding" homeopathic product. However, the
accumulated data are meaningless because no control groups or other
statistical safeguards were used to determine whether the symptoms
were actually related to the administered substances. Homeopathy
relies on provings because the vast majority of homeopathic products
have never been tested for effectiveness. [Barrett S. Homeopathy: The
ultimate fake. Quackwatch, Oct 4, 2007] http://www.quackwatch.org/01QuackeryRelatedTopics/homeo.htmlThe current reviewers, who call provings one of homeopathy's
"pillars," concluded that, "The central question of whether
homeopathic medicines in high dilutions can provoke effects in
healthy volunteers has not yet been definitively answered, because of
methodological weaknesses of the reports." In other words, despite
more than 200 years of supposed testing, the homeopathic community
has failed to validate its basic method of remedy selection. The
reviewers call for better designed provings to provide "results that
can be trusted." However, because all of homeopathy's "pillars" are
invalid, it would be more prudent to relegate them to quackery's
dustbin.###
Kansas battling over dubious injectables.
A court battle has arisen over the use of phosphatidylcholine and
sodium deoxycholate injections for the alleged purpose of eliminating
of reducing local fat accumulations. Neither drug has been proven
safe and effective for that purpose. In August, the Kansas State
Board of Healing Arts voted to consider such use as "dishonorable
conduct" unless it is part of an FDA-sanctioned clinical trial under
an Investigational New Drug Application. However, a chain of clinics
that offer the injections (trade-named Lipodissolve) has obtained a
court order blocking the ban until the Board goes through a public
comment procedure. Further details are available at
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lipodissolve###
Bolens hit by large federal tax lien.
Certified records from the Orange County Clerk-Recorder's Office
http://cr.ocgov.com/grantorgrantee/ indicate that Tim Bolen (real
name Patrick T. Bolen) and his wife Jan owe more than $100,000 for
unpaid taxes, penalties, and interest. In August, the Internal
Revenue Service filed an $88,480 lien that included amounts for each
year from 1994 through 2003.
http://www.quackwatch.org/11Ind/bolentax.pdf There are also
California state tax liens totaling $11,495 for 1999, 2000, 2001,
2003, and 2004 for Tim and a $1,912 California lien for 1999, 2000,
2001, and 2003 for Jan. During a 2006 deposition, he was asked
whether he had filed any federal tax returns during the five previous
years.
http://www.casewatch.org/depos/bolen.pdf He said he had, but
when which ones, he became evasive. He also said that he had been
charging his living expenses to his business. The Bolens do business
as Jurimed, an entity whose stated purpose is to help "alternative"
health practitioners faced with regulatory action, criminal
prosecution, or other matters that threaten their ability to
practice. The assistance typically involves spreading false or
misleading information. For a detailed report about his activities,
see
http://www.quackwatch.org/11Ind/bolen.html###
Zeolite marketers ordered to stop illegal claims.
The FDA has ordered Zeo Health Ltd to stop illegal claims for three
zeolite-containing mineral products: Destroxin (cancer prevention and
treatment), Esdifan (diarrhea) and Zeo (hangover preventive). The
warning letter noted that the company's Web site made the violative
claims in metatags as well as in product descriptions. The metatags
(hidden code intended to attract the attention of search engines)
included "cancer prevention," "toxin removal," and "Natural
supplements that... are proven to inhibit cancerous tumor growth, and
will even prevent hangovers.... Effective diarrhea cure." The FDA
letter also ordered the company to stop falsely claiming that the
form of zeolite it uses is "approved by the FDA as completely safe."
[Baca JR. Warning letter to Zeo Health Ltd, June 29, 2007]
http://www.casewatch.org/fdawarning/prod/2007/zeo.shtml###
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Stephen Barrett, M.D.
Board Chairman, Quackwatch, Inc.
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