Category Archives: Complementary medicine

New WHO Guidelines on risk reduction of cognitive decline and dementia

Posted on May 16, 2019 by Dr Ken Harvey

https://www.who.int/mental_health/neurology/dementia/guidelines_risk_reduction/en/ Relevant to concerns about FSANZ Standard 2.6.5 which has allowed products such as Souvanaid® and Ceretain® to be self-assessed and promoted for the dietary management of Alzheimer’s dementia or related mild cognitive impairment. On supplements, WHO says: Vitamins B … Continue reading →

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A medical food for depression?

Posted on May 14, 2019 by Dr Ken Harvey

Neurofolin® (containing 15 mg of L-methylfolate calcium) is a self-declared food for special medical purposes promoted for dietary support of depression management. Advertisments claim that L-methylfolate is, “an active form of folate known to be deficient in individuals with depressive … Continue reading →

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MJA Insight: Two new articles on Food-Medicine regulation

Posted on April 23, 2019 by Dr Ken Harvey

Where food meets medicine: reform needed Junk food advertising to kids: the list of shame See also: FSANZ Sports Supplements Roundtable: Report on Discussions and Next Steps by

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Traditional Chinese Medicine in Australia: Yunnan Baiyao

Posted on April 7, 2019 by Dr Ken Harvey

An illustrative example of products available in Australia from local Chinese outlets. Illegally supplied (no ARTG number), a potentially dangerous ingredient (Aconiti Kusnezoffii Radix), claims that breach numerous section of the Therapeutic Goods Advertising Code (No.2) 2018 (including promoting for … Continue reading →

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TGA fails to act on illegal sports supplements

Posted on March 30, 2019 by Dr Ken Harvey

ABC story at: https://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-03-30/canberra-fitness-community-not-fazed-by-sarms-health-risk/10930470 But, this problem was publicised last year and a complaint sent to the TGA And there are more complaints to the TGA that have not been dealt with: These are illegally supplied and promoted products by … Continue reading →

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Food-medicine interface problems

Posted on March 28, 2019 by Dr Ken Harvey

FSANZ, Consumer and Public Health Dialogue, 27 March 2019, Canberra. I’ve now provided a report of my presentation and the discussion that ensured. Summary The regulation of health claims for foods and complementary medicines is inconsistent; complaint systems are problematic, … Continue reading →

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Lectures in Canberra; ANU & FSANZ

Posted on March 26, 2019 by Dr Ken Harvey

In Canberra from 25th-27th March 2019 staying at University House, a guest of the ANU. Two lectures to ANU BHSc students: Antibiotic Resistance: A Threat to Global Health Health Activism: A Case Study of Health Action International Asia Pacific One … Continue reading →

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SBS Insight – Vitamins: Sorting science from scam

Posted on March 13, 2019 by Dr Ken Harvey

The vitamins and dietary supplements industry has doubled over the last 10 years – we’re now spending an estimated $4.9bn each year on complementary medicines. But while some medical professionals say they work, others say the scientific evidence isn’t there, … Continue reading →

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60 Minutes: Health supplements could contain heavy metals, arsenic and even snow leopard

Posted on February 11, 2019 by Dr Ken Harvey

Media: Doctors lift lid on weird animal product in Australian supplements Blackmores slams 60 Minutes TGA targeted by 60 Minutes by

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Forthcoming SBS Insight program on Vitamins and Supplements

Posted on February 7, 2019 by Dr Ken Harvey

I spent 3 hours with a very pro-supplement audience, being filmed by SBS last night (6/02/2019) . I was surprised by the number of ‘true believers’. I give talks on complementary medicines to U3A classes but I have never found … Continue reading →

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