Sales of vitamins are booming in pandemic times. But is there any evidence that vitamin and mineral supplements can protect you from COVID or help you recover from infection?
Manufacturers of dietary supplements aren’t required to provide warnings to consumers about their potential risks. Here’s what to look out for.
The Australian drugs regulator is overhauling the health claims made by suppliers of complementary medicines, including homeopathic therapies. And some curious options are up for discussion.
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Would you trust a complementary medicine described as “vermifuge”, “vulnerary” or “emmenagogue”? That’s what new labelling proposes and not everyone’s happy about it.
How do you really know if vitamin and mineral supplements really ‘help your heart’ or ‘boost your mood’?
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If the Therapeutic Goods Administration implements new proposals to regulate complementary medicines, you can be more confident they actually do what they say on the packet.
Consumers want to know if their complementary medicines are safe and effective. But are links between science and manufacturers the answer?
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A new multimillion dollar deal between Swisse Wellness and CSIRO has raised questions about the integrity of Australia’s premier scientific research organisation and the motivations behind the deal.
Some supplements contain hidden ingredients.
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Making sure that a tablet claiming to have 500 mg of paracetamol really does contain 500 mg of paracetamol is relatively easy. But how do you test for herbs?
The Faculty would do well to appoint an external audit committee.
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The Faculty of Medicine at the University of Sydney has just announced A$1.3 of funding from Blackmores, the complementary medicine manufacturer, for a Chair in Integrative Medicine (a blending of evidence-based…
Direct links between universities and industry funders pose significant risks – but can they be managed?
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Paul Komesaroff, Monash University and Ken Harvey, Monash University
The University of Sydney’s announcement of a role funded by the Blackmores Institute raises perennial questions about whether industry-funded research can be truly independent.
Complementary medicines such as krill oil don’t always have the science to back up their claims.
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Ken Harvey, Monash University; Aaron Kovacs, Monash University, and Grace Jackel, Monash University
Two out of three Australians regularly use complementary medicines, which constitute a A$3.5 billion domestic market. But the industry’s marketing strategies are a source of ongoing controversy and pose…
Researchers working with alternative medicines have an obligation to report negative or null findings.
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TESTING ALTERNATIVE THERAPIES - La Trobe University’s decision to accept funding from Swisse for a new centre to research alternative medicines has sparked controversy. There’s been a fair bit of debate…
What really works to alleviate hot flushes and other symptoms of menopause?
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During menopause, estrogen levels drop, leading to a number of unpleasant symptoms. The transition to menopause can significantly affect women’s quality of life, with many willing to try anything to alleviate…
Acupuncture is one of a suite of alternative therapies almost two-thirds of Australians use every year.
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TESTING ALTERNATIVE THERAPIES - La Trobe University’s decision to accept funding from Swisse for a new centre to research alternative medicines has sparked controversy. This series looks at how the evidence…
How can you tell what products might be of use and which ones will only lighten your wallet?
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Australia’s complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) industry is worth about A$4 billion annually. Around two thirds of Australians use CAM – which includes therapies such as chiropractic and naturopathy…
Up to one in three Australians take vitamin supplements, but few healthy people need them.
Brian Gaid
Forget an apple a day, vitamin manufacturers would have you believe it’s important to take daily vitamins to boost your health. And a surprising proportion of Australians do. Data from the last National…
It’s unclear whether reflexology provides any therapeutic benefits beyond those of a generic foot massage.
Paul Bence
Reflexology is a form of manual therapy based on the principle that specific locations on the feet, hands and ears have connections to the rest of the body. By applying pressure to these locations using…
PANACEA OR PLACEBO – A weekly series assessing the evidence behind complementary and alternative medicines. Myotherapy was developed by American Bonnie Prudden in the 1970s as a system of treating painful…
The CHC Complaints Resolution Committee did not consider a $675 gift to be “undue influence, pressure or unfair tactics”.
Bradley Stemke
In April 2012 Swisse made the following offer to GPs, “For those who on-sell full sized Swisse Practitioner products, Swisse will sponsor the full cost for you or one of your staff members to complete…
Assistant Director of Pharmacy, Mater Health SEQ in conjoint appointment as Associate Professor of Pharmacology, Bond University and as Associate Professor (Clinical), The University of Queensland