A SCIENTIFIC LOOK AT ALTERNATIVE MEDICINE
Thomas J. Wheeler, Ph.D.
Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
University of Louisville School of Medicine
ON-LINE READING FOR FEBRUARY 14, 2006
CANCER AND AIDS THERAPIES; CHELATION THERAPY;
ALLERGY AND ARTHRITIS TREATMENTS; OTHER MISCELLANEOUS TOPICS
* = required reading for students in the course
Cancer therapies - general, news
American Cancer Society (2004) “Are ‘Alternatives’ Good Medicine?”
Weiger, W.A. et al. (2002) “Advising Patients Who Seek Complementary and Alternative Medical Therapies for Cancer” Ann. Int. Med. 137, 889-903 (abstract)
Kaiser, J. (2000) “Controversial Cancer Therapy Finds Political Support” Science 287, 2139-2141 [Burzynski]
Chowka, P. (2001) “Tijuana’s Alt Med Clinics: Finally the End of an Era?” NaturalHealthLine, Aug. 15
Lewis, C. (2001) “Online Laetrile Vendor Ordered to Shut Down” FDA Consumer 35(2), 37-38
Federal Trade Commission (2003) “Swiss Company Charged by FTC with Making Unsubstantiated Health Claims” (actions against companies associated with Hulda Clark)
Charatan, F. (2001) “Websites Violate US Laws Banning Treatment Claims” BMJ 323, 827
Cancer therapies - psychological and legal issues
Söllner, W., Maislinger, S., DeVries, A. et al. (2000) “Use of Complementary and Alternative Medicine by Cancer Patients is Not Associated With Perceived Distress of Poor Compliance With Standard Treatment but With Active Coping Behavior” Cancer 89, 873-880 (abstract)
Cancer therapies - critiques
* Vickers, A. (2004) “Alternative Cancer Cures: ‘Unproven’ or ‘Disproven’?” CA Cancer J Clin 54, 110-118
General articles and critiques:
• Barrett, S. and Herbert, V. (2001) “Questionable Cancer Therapies”
• Moran, P. “Alternative Medicine and Cancer” (includes links to “What’s So Hard About Showing That a Cancer Cure Works?” (multi-part series) and other articles)
• Diamond, J. (2000) “Close Encounters of an Alternative Kind” BMJ 321, 1163-1165. A journalist and cancer patient discusses alternative therapies.
• National Cancer Institute, page on CAM methods
• American Cancer Society, “Complementary and Alternative Therapies”
• Cassileth, B.R. (1999) “Evaluating Complementary and Alternative Therapies for Cancer Patients” CA Cancer J. Clin. 49, 362-375
Matthews, S.C. et al. (2003) “The Internet for Medical Information About Cancer: Help or Hindrance?” Psychosomatics 44, 100-103 (abstract) (“There is a staggering amount of medical misinformation on the Internet.”)
Green, S. (2001) "Stanislaw Burzynski and Antineoplastons"
National Cancer Institute (2005) “Cancell/Entelev”
Barrett, S. (2003) “Cellular Therapy”
Barrett, S. (2004) “The Bizarre Claims of Hulda Clark”
Barrett, S. (2005) “Stay Away from Dr. Lorraine Day“
Bertelli, G. (2003) "Di Bella Therapy"
Gerson therapy:
• National Cancer Institute (2005) “Gerson Therapy”
• Moran, P. “Dr Max Gerson and His Fifty Cases”
Green, S. (2000) “Nicholas Gonzalez Treatment for Cancer: Gland Extracts, Coffee Enemas, Vitamin Megadoses, and Diets”
Green, S. (2001) "Hydrazine Sulfate: Is It an Anticancer Agent?"
Baratz, R. (2003) “Why You Should Stay Away from Insulin Potentiation Therapy (IPT)”
Laetrile:
• Wilson, B. (2004) “The Rise and Fall of Laetrile”
• Bromley, J. et al. (2005) “Life-Threatening Interacton Between Complementary Medicines: Cyanide Toxicity Following Ingestion of Amygdalin and Vitamin C” Ann. Pharmacother. 39, 1566-1569 [abstract]
Barrett, S. (2001) “Manner Metabolic Therapy”
Australian Government National Health and Medical Research Council (2005) “Review of the Use of Microwave Therapy for the Treatment of Patients with Cancer”
• Executive Summary (pdf file)
Mistletoe:
• National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (2005) “European Mistletoe”
• National Cancer Institute (2006) “Mistletoe”
Green, S. (2001) “Oxygenation Therapy: Unproven Treatments for Cancer and AIDS”
Swiss Study Group for Complementary and Alternative Methods in Cancer (2003) “Dr. Matthias Rath’s Cellular Health™” pdf file Quackwatch summary by S. Barrett
Shark cartilage:
• National Cancer Institute (2005) “Cartilage (Bovine and Shark)”
• Ostrander, G.K. et al. “Shark Cartilage, Cancer and the Growing Threat of Pseudoscience” Cancer Res. 64, 8485-8491
Barrett, S. (2005) “Some Notes on ‘Two Feathers Healing Formula’”
National Cancer Institute (2005) “714-X”
Cancer therapies - research studies
General reviews:
• Vickers, A.J. et al (2005) “Unconventional Anticancer Agents: A Systematic Review of Clinical Trials” J. Clin. Oncol. 24, 136-140 (abstract)
• Nahin, R.L. (2002) “Use of the Best Case Series to Evaluate Complementary and Alternative Therapies for Cancer: A Systematic Review” Semin. Oncol. 29, 552-562 (abstract)
Choan, E. et al. (2005) “A Prospective Clinical Trial of Green Tea for Hormone Refractory Prostate Cancer: An Evaluation of the Complementary/Alternative Therapy Approach” Urol. Oncol. 23, 108-113 [abstract]
Mansky, P. (2002) “Mistletoe and Cancer: Controversies and Perspectives” Semin. Oncol. 29, 589-594 (abstract)
Trials of shark cartilage:
• Miller, D.R. et al. (1998) J. Clin. Oncol. 16, 3649-3655 [abstract]
• Loprinzi et al. (2005) Cancer 104, 176-182 [abstract]
Cancer therapies - promotional
“Health Hotline” Contains links to many promotional sites.
“Dr. Gonzalez’s Nutritional Regimen”
AIDS therapies
* Barrett, S. (2001) "AIDS-Related Quackery and Fraud"
Mills, E. et al. (2005) “Complementary Therapies for the Treatment of HIV: in Search of the Evidence” Int. J. STD AIDS 16, 395-402 [abstract]
Hsaio et al. (2003) “Complementary and Alternative Medicine Use and Substitution for Conventional Therapy by HIV-Infected Patients” JAIDS 33, 157-165 [abstract]
Chelation therapy
* American Heart Association (2006) “Questions and Answers About Chelation Therapy”
Green, S. (2002) "Chelation Therapy: Unproven Claims and Unsound Theories"
Seely, D.M.R. et al. (2005) “EDTA Chelation Therapy for Cardiovascular Disease: A Systematic Review" BMC Cardiovasc. Disord. 5, 32
Chelation therapy - promotional
“Ultimate Resource on Chelation Therapy Home Page”
Detoxamin (oral chelation product)
Allergy and asthma treatments (general)
* Barrett, S. (2003) "Allergies: Dubious Diagnosis and Treatment"
Blanc, P.D. et al. (2001) “Alternative Therapies Among Adults With a Reported Diagnosis of Asthma or Rhinosinusitis” Chest 120, 1461-1467
Györik, S.A. and Brutsche, M.H. (2004) “Complementary and Alternative Medicine for Bronchial Asthma: is There New Evidence?” Curr. Opin. Pulm. Med. 10, 37-43 [abstract]
Markham, A.W. and Wilkinson, J.M. (2004) “Complementary and Alternative Medicines (CAM) in the Management of Asthma: An Examination of the Evidence” J. Asthma 41, 131-139 [abstract]
Allergy - methods
Niggemann, B. and Grüber, C. (2004) “Unproven Diagnostic Procedures in IgE-Mediated Allergic Diseases” Allergy 59, 806-808
Barrett, S. (1997) “Cytotoxic Testing”
Lewith, G.T., Kenyon, J.N., Broomfield, J. et al. (2001) “Is Electrodermal Testing as Effective as Skin Prick Tests for Diagnosing Allergies? A Double Blind, Randomised Block Design Study” BMJ 322, 131-135
Barrett, S. (2002) “Nambudripad’s Allergy Elimination Technique (NAET)”
Barrett, S. (1997) "Provocation-Neutralization Testing"
Clinical ecology
Barrett, S. (2000) "Multiple Chemical Sensitivity: A Spurious Diagnosis"
Arthritis
(note: glucosamine and chondroitin are covered in the reading list for dietary supplements)
Taibi, D.M. and Bourguignon, C. (2003) “The Role of Complementary and Alternative Therapies in Managing Rheumatoid Arthritis” Fam. Community Health 26, 41-52 [abstract]
Soeken, K.L. (2004) “Selected CAM Therapies for Arthritis-Related Pain: The Evidence From Systematic Reviews” Clin. J. Pain 20, 13-18 [abstract]
American College of Rheumatology (2005) “Herbal and Natural Remedies”
NCCAM (2005) “Rheumatoid Arthritis and Complementary and Alternative Medicine”
Mercury-amalgam toxicity
Barrett, S. (2004) "The Mercury Amalgam Scam: How Anti-Amalgamists Swindle People"
Life Sciences Research Office (2004) “Little Evidence to Link Mercury Fillings to Human Health Problems.” Press Release, Dec. 9; link to pdf file at: Review and Analysis of the Literature on the Potential Health Effects of Dental Amalgams
National Council Against Health Fraud (2002) “Position Paper on Amalgam Fillings”
Lorscheider, F.L., Vimy, M.J., and Summers, A.O. (1995) “Mercury Exposure from ‘Silver’ Tooth Fillings: Emerging Evidence Questions a Traditional Dental Paradigm” FASEB J. 9, 504-508 [abstract with link to free full text (pdf file)]; letter and response, 1499-1500 [Concludes “Research evidence does not support the notion of amalgam safety.”]
Bailer, J. et al. (2001) “Adverse Health Effects Related to Mercury Exposure from Dental Amalgam Fillings: Toxological or Psychological Causes?” Psycholog. Med. 31, 255-263 [abstract]
Risher, J.F. and Amler, S.N. (2005) “Mercury Exposure: Evaluation and Intervention - The Inappropriate Use of Chelating Agents in the Diagnosis and Treatment of Putative Mercury Poisoning” NeuroToxicology 26, 691-699 [abstract]
Candidiasis hypersensitivity
Barrett, S. (2005) "Dubious 'Yeast Allergies'"
Oxygenating therapies
“‘Oxygenated Water’ Pseudoscientific Snake-Oil”
Bren, L. (2002) “Oxygen Bars: Is a Breath of Fresh Air Worth It?” FDA Consumer, Nov.-Dec., 9-11
Morrison, D.S. and Kirkby, R.D. (2001) "Hyperbaric Medicine: What Works and What Does Not?"
Magnet therapy
* National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (2004) “Questions and Answers About Using Magnets To Treat Pain”
Barrett, S. (2002) "Magnet Therapy"
Eccles, N.K. (2005) “A Critical Review of Randomized Controlled Trials of Static Magnets for Pain Relief” J. Altern. Complement. Med. 11, 495-509 [abstract]
Trials of magnet therapy:
• Harlow, T. et al. (2004) BMJ 329, 1450-1454
• Winemiller, M.H. et al. (2005) Mayo Clin. Proc. 80, 1138-1145 [abstract]
Magnet therapy - promotional
Miscellaneous - news, research, and critiques
* Barrett, S. (2000) "Be Wary of 'Fad' Diagnoses"
Anon. (2003) “Finding Fountain of Youth...or Dangerous Waters?” Jewish World Review
Barrett, S. (2004) "Applied Kinesiology: Muscle-Testing for 'Allergies' and 'Nutritional Deficiencies'"
Barrett, S. (2004) "The Aqua Detox Scam”
“Bioidentical” Hormones:
• American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, news release (2005) “No Scientific Evidence Supporting Effectiveness or Safety of Compounded Bioidentical Hormone Therapy”
• Subcommittee on Human Rights and Wellness, House Committee on Government Reform (2004) “Balancing Act: The Health Advantages of Naturally-Occurring Hormones in Hormone Replacement Therapy” Testimony of A. Fugh-Berman [pdf file]
• Barrett, S. (2005) "Steer Clear of ‘Bioidentical’ Hormone Therapy”
Barrett, S. (2002) "Biological Terrain Assessment"
Colloidal silver:
• Barrett, S. (2005) "Colloidal Silver: Risk Without Benefit"
• National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (2004) “Colloidal Silver Products”
Colonic irrigation:
• Barrett, S. (2003) "Gastrointestinal Quackery: Colonics, Laxatives, and More"
• Ernst, E. (1997) "Editorial: Colonic Irrigation and the Theory of Autointoxication: A Triumph of Ignorance over Science" J. Clin. Gastroenterol. 24, 196-198 [abstract]
Devices:
• Barrett, S. (2005) "'Electrodiagnostic' Devices"
• Bratton, R.L. et al. (2002) “Effect of ‘Ionized’ Wrist Bracelets on Musculoskeletal Pain: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Trial” Mayo Clin. Proc. 77, 1164-1168 [abstract]
Dryer, L. (2005) “Why Ear Candling is Not a Good Idea”
Holdcraft, L.C. et al. (2003) “Complementary and Alternative Medicine in Fibromyalgia and Related Syndromes” Best Pract. Res. Clin. Rheum. 17, 667-683 [abstract]
Full-body CT scans:
• Lewis, C. (2001) “Full-Body CT Scans: What You Need to Know” FDA Consumer, Nov/Dec
• Illes, J. et al. (2004) “Advertising, Patient Decision Making, and Self-Referral for Computed Tomographic and Magnetic Resonance Imaging” Arch. Intern. Med. 164, 2415-2419 [abstract] (see also editorial comment, pp. 2406-8)
Barrett, S. and Hall, H. (2003) “Dubious Genetic Testing”
Barrett, S. (2001) "Commercial Hair Analysis: A Cardinal Sign of Quackery"
Seidel, S., Kreutzer, R., Smith, D. et al. (2001) “Assessment of Commercial Laboratories Performing Hair Mineral Analysis” JAMA 285, 67-72 [abstract]
Human growth hormone (HGH):
• Barrett, S. (2005) “Growth Hormone Scams”
• Blackman, M.R. et al. (2002) “Growth Hormone and Sex Steroid Administration in Healthy Aged Women and Men: A Randomized Controlled Trial” JAMA 288, 2282-2292 [abstract]
Baratz, R. (2003) “Why You Should Stay Away from Insulin Potentiation Therapy (IPT)”
Barrett, S. (2005) "Live Blood Cell Analysis: Another Gimmick to Sell You Something"
Multiple sclerosis treatments:
• Barrett, S. (2005) “Be Wary of Multiple Sclerosis ‘Cures’”
• National Multiple Sclerosis Society (2006) “Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM)”
• Wesselius, T. et al. (2005) “A Randomized Crossover Study of Bee Sting Therapy for Multiple Sclerosis” Neurology 65, 1764-1768 [abstract]
Wolraich, M.L., Wilson, D.B., and White, J.W. (1995) "The Effect of Sugar on Behavior or Cognition in Children: A Meta-analysis" JAMA 274, 1617-1621 [abstract]. Also letter in response and reply from authors, 275, 756-757
Aetna Clinical Policy Bulletins (2006) “Thermography”
Barrett, S. (2005) “Urine/Saliva pH Testing: Another Gimmick to Sell You Something”
“Yam” and progesterone creams:
• Gorski, T. (2002) “‘Wild Yam Cream’ Threatens Women’s Health”
• Wren, B.G. (2005) “Transdermal Progesterone Creams for Postmenopausal Women: More Hype Than Hope?” MJA 182, 237-239
Miscellaneous - promotional
American Academy of Anti-Aging Medicine
Greenberg, R.C. (1996) “Understanding Biological Terrain: a Simplified Approach”