April 24, 2008
Homeopathy goes Hollywood
They influence the way Americans dress, comb their hair and eat; can celebrities also get fans to give homeopathy a try? If Dana Ullman's latest book makes it to the bestseller list, they just might. The Homeopathic Revolution: Why Famous People and Cultural Heroes Choose Homeopathy (North Altantic Books, 2007) features celebrated individuals from the past 200 years who have used and supported homeopathy for healing. Through quotes and personal stories, readers will learn how modern celebrities like Catherine Zeta-Jones and Cher rely on homeopathy. Ullman also takes readers back in time, revealing how notables such as Beethoven and Darwin and more than 10 presidents (including Bill Clinton) cured their ills with like-cures-like.
Kids just might have to take their herbs
Only a few months after the Food and Drug Administration recommended manufacturers pull children's cold and cough drugs from store shelves, the agency is issuing warnings about the pharmaceutical flu drug Tamiflu, when used in children. The agency is responding to reports of "bizarre behavior" in children who took Tamiflu, including self-inflicted injuries and erratic behavior such as jumping from windows. During the past seven years, 12 children have died after taking Tamiflu, and in the past year, 32 instances of neuropsychotic behavior such as seizures, delirium and loss of consciousness have been reported. The FDA is still reviewing the drug's safety but has advised the drug maker Roche to add labels on its product warning about possible neuropsychotic effects in children. Tamiflu is used more widely in Japan and is the first line of defense for avian flu worldwide.
No chemicals in the WC
Across the pond, shoppers in Britain are filling their carts with natural personal care products, and it has nothing to do with mere appearances. The British are concerned about the synthetic chemicals in mass cosmetics and toiletries, according to a new study by Organic Monitor, a global consumer research and marketing company. It reported that 89 percent of U.K. natural personal care buyers interviewed wanted to avoid chemicals; 79 percent cited ethical and health concerns as their reasons for purchasing naturals. Parabens in personal care topped the list of concerns, followed by sodium lauryl/laureth sulphates. Interestingly, certification was very important to only 35 percent of those polled, who said they looked for symbols and logos ensuring a product's purity when shopping.
Natural Foods Merchandiser volume XXIX/number 1/p. 30
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