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Consumer Health Digest #16-19
May 22,  2016

Consumer Health Digest is a free weekly e-mail newsletter edited by Stephen Barrett, M.D
http://www.quackwatch.org/10Bio/bio.html
.,with help from William M. London, Ed.D., M.P.H
http://www.calstatela.edu/faculty/william-m-london
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.

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Naturopathy assertions debunked

Britt Hermes, who abandoned naturopathy after concluding that it did more harm than good, has written a superb analysis of the claims naturopaths use when lobbying—as she did for five years before changing careers.
[Hermes B. Fact-checking naturopathic talking points at DCFLI
http://www.naturopathicdiaries.com/fact-checking-naturopathic-points-dcfli/#more-1550
Naturopathic Diaries Blog, May 21, 2016]

The talking points she labels as false include:

"Naturopaths are qualified to serve as primary care physicians."
"Naturopathic students take all the same courses as medical students."
"Naturopathic medicine is safe and natural."
"Naturopaths can help ease the primary physician shortage."
Opponents of naturopathic licensing and mandated insurance reimbursement should sign her petition at Change.org.
https://www.change.org/p/naturopaths-are-not-doctors

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Traditional Indian practices criticized

Sanchita Sharma, health editor for India's Hindustan Times, has published a scathing attack on government support for ayurveda, yoga, naturopathy, unani
http://rationalwiki.org/wiki/Unani
siddha
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Siddha_medicine
, and homeopathy, collectively referred to as "Ayush."
[Sharma S. People want modern medicine, not miracle cures
http://www.hindustantimes.com/health-and-fitness/people-want-modern-medicine-not-miracle-cures/story-TqBXj2AZAnk8Nbj41z5V5I.html
Hindustan Times, May 22, 2016]

The article notes:

Nine out of 10 people living across India's teeming cities and sprawling villages prefer allopathic treatment to alternative medicine.
India has a severe shortage of science-based health-care providers, particularly in rural communities.
The Ayush Ministry, created by the Indian Government in 2014, has released a steady of misleading claims capped by a National Health Policy report
http://www.mohfw.nic.in/showfile.php?lid=3014
which asserts that inclusion of traditional practitioners into India’s health delivery system will counter the shortage.

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NAS concludes that genetically engineered crops are safe

The National Academy of Sciences has issued a 420-page report which concludes that genetically modified crops are safe. The full report can be purchased as a paperback book or downloaded free of charge from the National Academy Press Web site
http://www.nap.edu/catalog/23395/genetically-engineered-crops-experiences-and-prospects

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Continuing request for help from Dr. Barrett

In June 2010, Doctor's Data, Inc. sued Dr. Barrett because it didn’t like what he wrote about its urine toxic metals test on Quackwatch and in this newsletter. The events leading up to the suit are described at
http://www.quackwatch.org/14Legal/dd_suit.html
About half of the counts were dismissed in 2011, and most of the rest were dismissed in March 2016. Dr. Barrett expects to prevail completely, but the proceedings have cost hundreds of thousands of dollars so far. Even small donations, if sent by enough subscribers to this newsletter, will be very helpful. Contributions can be made by mail or through
http://www.quackwatch.org/00AboutQuackwatch/donations.html

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=================================

Stephen Barrett, M.D.
Consumer Advocate
287 Fearrington Post
Pittsboro, NC 27312

Telephone: (919) 533-6009

http://www.quackwatch.org (health fraud and quackery)
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