Physician Short or Patient Excess? The Modern Obscenity
USA TODAY’s front feature on March 3, 2005, proclaimed a ”doctor shortage.” Over 25 years ago the Secretary of HEW stated ”Make no mistake; this is a consensus among experts throughout the world.” He was referring to the CA– USE of the vast majority of illnesses-sick lifestyle. About the same time Dr. John Knowles, President […]
To Test or Not To Test: Are Common Medical Tests Necessary?
Over the last 100 years, ever more complex laboratory tests have been developed. In the 1950’s, before the advent of most modern tests, the Cornell Medical Index was a simple set of questions including current symptoms, past history and family history. A physician trained in the use of this test could make a medical diagnosis […]
PREVENTIVE HEALTH?
Preventive health is an oxymoron if I ever heard one!! Occasionally a ‘scientific’ article actually uses that ridiculous term. We should not be seeking to prevent health but rather to prevent disease or prevent the need for medicine-thus preventive medicine should be a goal. There is little evidence that most routine testing is of value […]
Junk Food and Junk Drugs
Once upon a time, before 1945 or so, there were relatively few prescription drugs. Now there are literally thousands. Interestingly, prior to 1945, 90% of food was raised within 50 miles of its consumption. Pop, white bread, and sugar were the only significant junk foods. In the 1960’s we had the development of Medicare which […]
Anti-Inflammatory Herbs Versus Drugs
Inflammation is perhaps the most common cause of pain. Inflammatory reactions are major contributors to Alzheimer’s disease and to Atherosclerosis, including coronary heart disease. Free radicals and C-Reactive protein are the chief lab tests indicating an inflammatory response. Inflammation may occur because of an infection but also is a reaction to trauma and toxins. Anti-inflammatory […]
Cholesterol Re-Visited – Policosanol
Thanks to my med school classmate, Dr. Sheldon Steiner for reminding me of policosanol. This naturally occurring health-enhancing nutrient has moved to the top of my list! Back in the 1970’s policosanol (or Octacosanol) was touted as a treatment for Amotrophic Lateral Sclerosis. It actually was not very good for that serious disease. Meanwhile, there […]
Pharmacomafia Lies
Pharmacomafia Lies: 94% of the PharmacoMafia’s advertising is NON-Scientific!! In general, I have the impression that the PharmacoMafia has more political clout in the United States than it does in Europe. Thus the finding that the Emperor has been exposed to have only 6% honest clothing is most revealing and further emphasizes the great need […]
Effective Treatment of Back Pain
During my neurosurgical residency at Massachusetts General Hospital, I often questioned the rationale for surgery for the so-called ruptured intervertebral disc. A few years later, it was obvious to me that the majority of patients being operated did NOT have a truly ruptured disc. Gradually I began to see scores of failures of surgery done […]
HEARTBURN, GERD AND THE PURPLE PILL
Of all the ridiculous ads on TV, the purple pill stands out. Old-fashioned heartburn is now called gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) for which the ”purple pill” is pushed like religion. As you undoubtedly know, all drugs have complications called ”side effects. Folks, those are EFFECTS, if they happen to you! Here are a few of […]
Pharmaco Toxins
Slowly the public is learning what physicians have known for many decades. Drugs cause complications. Yes, sometimes pharmaceuticals are terrific and occasionally save lives. However, the evidence is quite overwhelming that prescription drugs kill well over 100,000 people each year-that was admitted in the JAMA in 2000. This means it almost certainly is 200,000, as […]