The herbal remedy St. John’s Wort effectively treats symptoms of major depression, an analysis of previous studies found on Wednesday. St. John’s Wort extracts tested in the different trials were better than placebos and as effective as standard antidepressants with fewer side effects, the researchers reported in the Cochrane review, a journal that analyses medical and scientific studies.

My Take:

WebMD Health News, along with many other news outlets, are reporting that the results from a national study which examined whether two popular supplements (glucosamine and chondroitin) slow the progression of knee arthritis. The news stories tell you the study shows that the supplements are NOT effective. But, is that true?

My Take:

Erectile dysfunction is nothing to laugh about. But what if ED could be helped by an extract from a plant called horny goat weed? Horny goat weed and related herbs have purportedly been treatments for sexual dysfunction for years. Now scientists may be a step closer to discovering how compounds from horny goat weed may work.

My Take?

Fox News is commenting on a study published in the August 27 issue of JAMA in which medical researchers say that one-fifth of Ayurvedic herbal medicines sold on the Internet contain dangerously high levels of lead, arsenic and mercury. How’s a consumer to protect themselves?

My Take?

ABC News is reporting about a man, Paul Karason of Oregon, whose skin is now a bright shade of blue – the result of a rare medical syndrome known as argyria, or silver poisoning. He began using silver as a form of alternative medicine, not realizing what might happen to his skin. It started a decade ago, when he saw an ad in a new-age magazine promising health and rejuvenation through colloidal silver.

My Take?

Reuters Health is reporting new research showing that a regimen of supplements and lifestyle coaching is just as effective as a statin medication for reducing levels of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) or “lethal” cholesterol. Not only that, the combination was shown to be more effective in helping people lose weight.

My Take?

The Associated Press is reporting that the NIH is being pressured by desperate parents who are pushing them to test an unproven treatment on autistic children, a move some scientists see as an unethical experiment in voodoo medicine. The treatment removes heavy metals from the body and is based on the fringe theory that mercury in vaccines triggers autism — a theory never proved and rejected by mainstream science. Mercury hasn’t been in childhood vaccines since 2001, except for certain flu shots.

My Take?

CBS News is featuring a report from Health magazine reporting on a UCLA study which lists the ten healthiest fruit juices. The study took into account the antioxidant levels of the juices. Pomegranate was judged the healthiest of the fruit juices because it contains the most of every type of antioxidant. It wins in all categories. And it’s thought that it might do some very good things; it may protect against some cancers, such as prostate cancer. It might also modify heart disease risk factors, and it could be healthy for your heart. So pomegranate was the clear winner.

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Don’t be fooled by this headline from WebMD Health News reporting a researcher who says that watermelon may be a natural Viagra. 

My Take?

Reuters Health is reporting a study in the journal Sleep that found that regular practice of tai chi, a Westernized version of the ancient Chinese martial art of tai chi, can help older people rest easier at night. Nearly two-thirds of people who learned the slow, gentle tai chi moves experienced significant improvements in sleep quality, compared to about one-third of those who participated in health education sessions that included information on how to get a better night’s rest.

My Take?

Reuters has published a story about Greek researchers who say a few cups of green tea each day may help prevent heart disease. The study, published in the European Journal of Cardiovascular Prevention and Rehabilitation, showed further evidence of the potential health benefits from a brew already linked to a reduced risk of a range of cancers and other conditions.

My Take?

A Los Angeles Times health column advises people not to believe that “our bodies [are] awash in ‘toxins,’… and that we should therefore go to dramatic lengths, such as ‘colon cleansing’ and chelation, to get rid of all this bad stuff.” 

My Take?