Fluoride is added to 2/3 of US public water supplies with the expectation that it reduces cavities. Just how little it reduces cavities was revealed by a study done in Australia. In the study 60,000 five- to six-year-olds were studied over a 5 year period. The fluoridated children averaged decay in about one tooth. Non-fluoridated …
This winter for the first time that I can remember I came across what the Chinese refer to as the “100 day cough”. In the western world it is known as whooping cough. The cases that I saw were either adults or teenagers. What was unique about the cough other than its longevity was the …
Many times when we treat a patient and they do not return you wonder if he just did not get better and went on to try something else or if he was cured and did not need to come back. Last November a patient that I had not seen for 5 years came back with …
When a patient sees a dramatic change in their health they, like a new convert to a religion, want to share what made them better with family and friends. Unfortunately, not everyone will be open to embracing new ideas. When this same patient comes back frustrated that their sick friend does not want to try …
Recently there has been some publicity over a study that showed that Glucosamine Chondroitin had little if any benefit in reducing the pain of Osteoarthritis. Personally, I would question the quality of the Glucosamine Chondroitin that was used in the trial as over 50% of my patients that take this do experience less pain. There …
Judging by the number of TV ads, infomercials and magazine ads the weight loss supplement industry has to be a multi-billion dollar industry. Probably a week does not go by that I have a patient ask my opinion about their weight loss supplement. These supplements often have caffeine-containing herbs such as guarana, green tea, Yerba …
Tourette’s Syndrome (too-RETTS SIN -drome) is a disorder that causes tics. These tics are sudden, brief movements (like muscle spasms) or sounds (like words or grunts) that a person repeats over and over. They are hard to control, can be mild to severe, and come and go over time. Common tics are eye blinking and …
These were the first words out of Nicole’s (31 year old) mouth as she sat down for her initial evaluation. She continues,” The minute I go off prednisone I cannot breath. I will wean off it for a week or two then have to go back on it. I’ve been on prednisone for 20 years. …
Stephen Barrett for at least 20 years has touted himself as a medical expert on "quackery" in healthcare and has assisted in dozens of court cases as an expert. He has been the subject of many magazine interviews, including Time, , and has been featured on television interviews on ABC’s 20/20, NBC’s Today Show, and …
I have several patients that think smoking only a few cigarettes a day is not as dangerous as more frequent smoking. But a study done in Norway over 30 years found that light smoking (i.e., fewer than five cigarettes per day) significantly affects health in later life. Men who reported smoking one to four cigarettes …