Category Archives: Natural Therapies

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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Laboratory tests commonly used in complementary and alternative medicine

Posted on March 3, 2019 by Dr Ken Harvey

Does it? See: Laboratory tests commonly used in complementary and alternative medicine: A review of the evidence. Ann Clin Biochem. 2019 Feb 27:4563218824622. doi: 10.1177/0004563218824622. [Epub ahead of print] Abstract It is increasingly easy for the general public to access a … 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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New Head for Health Watchdog

Posted on February 6, 2019 by Dr Ken Harvey

Monash University Associate Professor Ken Harvey AM is the new President of Friends of Science in Medicine. He replaces Professor John Dwyer AO, the founding president. Friends of Science in Medicine (FSM), founded in 2011, has grown to become a … Continue reading →

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Experts warn that natural supplements can destroy your liver

Posted on January 14, 2019 by Dr Ken Harvey

Jane Hansen, The Sunday Telegraph January 13, 2019 (behind a paywall, extracts follow) It’s a multibillion-dollar business, and one in three Australians regularly take their products, but health experts are concerned the increasing popularity of herbs and supplements is contributing … Continue reading →

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Outcome of TGA Complaint AC-BULV1O9Q/2018, Gumby Gumby capsules: Compliance achieved? Updated 16/01/2018

Posted on January 9, 2019 by Dr Ken Harvey

This is the first complaint outcome reported where the TGA said compliance had been achieved after “formal action”. The complaint was received on 03/08/2018 and closed on 17/09/2018. If you didn’t know the TGA’s complaint reference (AC-BULV1O9Q/2018) you have to … Continue reading →

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Ear Candles: the outcome of TGA complaint AC-5TMWIYHC/2018

Posted on January 6, 2019 by Dr Ken Harvey

Ear candling is a widely promoted alternative medical practice that involves inserting and lighting a hollow candle in the ear canal. It is claimed that candling creates a vacuum that removes wax and that it can also relieve ear ache, … Continue reading →

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TGA Submissions: Draft Therapeutic Goods Advertising Code and Complaint Handling

Posted on June 1, 2018 by Dr Ken Harvey

Draft Therapeutic Goods Advertising Code Submission Our submission noted that many previous Code recommendations made by civil society had been ignored. For example: Submissions from consumer and health professional organisations wanting advisory statements on all products with “traditional indications” to … Continue reading →

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Choice takes campaign to disallow the Permissible Indications Determination to Canberra

Posted on May 23, 2018 by Dr Ken Harvey

Katinka Day, Choice Campaigns and Policy Team Lead, delivers mock-ups of shonky products allowed by the TGA’s permissible indications determination to Senators, see: https://campaigns.choice.com.au/tga-fact-over-fiction/ https://ajp.com.au/news/choice-calls-out-supplement-claims/ http://www.medreach.com.au/?p=2594 by

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Channel Nine ACA ADHD breakthrough; TGA response to FOI

Posted on March 27, 2018 by Dr Ken Harvey

For Background see: https://croakey.org/a-current-affairs-adhd-breakthrough-bona-fide-news-or-unethical-advertising/ On 27 March 2018, following FOI requests, the TGA confirmed that their Advertising Compliance Unit (ACU) did investigate a complaint about this program submitted by Prof Jon Jureidini to the Complaint Resolution Panel on 21 February 2017 … Continue reading →

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