Nov 13, 2023·edited Nov 13, 2023Liked by Dr. Jen Gunter
Thank you very much! Drives me crazy. The groups on Facebook (about human and animal holistic medicine) certainly don't help either. I needed my hysterectomy, my fibroids were not going to fixed by clean eating, or colloidal silver or essential oils.
That's kind of what got me started on commenting about this post, but I kept it centered on my experience. One of my cats was just diagnosed with chronic kidney disease (CKD) and has muscle wasting. Someone posted that veterinary diet ingredients were horrible, and then proceeded to invite me to their holistic group. I'll go with the veterinarian recommended diet and supportive measures. He's already feeling better and gaining weight on the prescribed diet. He has not been vaccinated due to his poor health. He has been vaccinated in the past, and will be in the future depending on his health. I have 5 cats, all of the others are completely vaccinated.
Thank you so much. I once turned to naturopath when I was having skin issues (ok, not as serious as hot flashes but annoying nonetheless) and without going into details, let’s just say I should’ve just stopped getting facials and gone to my derm, who, since finally asking for a skin care consult after my screening, has made my skin so happy. So much wasted time and money on this stuff. The issue of doctors’ visits being too short is surely a problem so no wonder we seek out someone who will spend a whole hour with us and return regular emails. And it can seem like you’re taking control of your problems. Yes, we deserve SO much better. Forwarding this a million times.
I wasted almost a decade in natural health and even applied to Bastyr's Uni's ND program. Nothing like a good fleecing to boot me out of that world. Unfortunately there are big medical centers, including teaching hospitals, offering TCM, aromatherapy massage, reflexology, etc. and orthopedists and neuroligists referring out to chiro, acupuncture, and PTs that do cupping, moxibustion, posture correction, and other debunked modalities.
100% agree! And this goes for all wellness products not just supplements. Seven years ago I asked you on twitter about cannabis suppositories for pelvic pain. You indicated there wasn’t any research. Seven years later there still aren’t any peer reviewed clinical trials to show efficacy or safety. Yet, in these seven years there has been a proliferation of cannabis containing products marketed to people with vaginas and vulvas for sexual wellness, pelvic pain, vaginal dryness etc. People buy these products because they as you mentioned are desperate for relief. Without safety standards and efficacy research people are opening themselves up to adverse reactions. We sent samples of some of these products to be analyzed by independent labs. Some were contaminated with bacteria that might be harmful. Some labels didn’t match the content of the product. In some cases products were more toxic in the lab to lactobacilli than antibiotic controls. Basic in-vitro testing for product safety on the vaginal microbiome starts under $2000 a product. Several lab companies offer this now. Because as we say if it kills the lacto just say no. We have had very little success convincing companies to test products prior to coming to market. Even companies with scientists and Drs. on their boards are not testing products, because there are not any requirements. This is not limited to cannabis companies. As you know. Lubricants require an FDA 510k approval process, and that’s basic safety. Companies claiming to provide remedies for vaginal dryness and lubrication are circumventing the FDA by calling the products balms, serums, lotions. Cost for competing a double blind clinical placebo study with a small # of participants is under $100,000. The budget to brand a new product and bring it to market is in many cases 10x that amount . A small company could easily do their own basic safety study using some of the Direct to consumer swabs companies like Evvy, Juno or even LabCorp. and a few volunteers, maybe even themselves. But, that might show the products aren’t safe or don’t work. So they don’t.. Companies pay influencers and agencies retainers of up to 10k a month to promote their products yet there are few that will spend under that to complete basic lab tests for product safety. The unfortunate reality is that consumers trust marketing more than science. When something says “clinically tested” REQUEST THE TEST. What did they test, on who, what where the results. Unless consumers are following Drs and truth seekers like Dr. Gunter they are being victimized by marketing.
The cannabis craze is driving me crazy. Everyone here in Australia is using medicinal cannabis for EVERYTHING...there’s a TONNE of money in it and the evidence is still SO LIGHT WEIGHT. Enraging.
Always “request the test”!! Soooo irritating how influencers now quote one random pub med reference as ‘proof’ and everyone accepts that and in fact it’s one extremely poor trial that often doesn’t even show what they are claiming anyway😑😑😑
Awesome summary! MD here...this is SO right! The placebo effect of alternative therapy is alive and well, even though some of its users may not survive
Thank you for this. I'm a life-time member of the "bad back club," now joined with rheumatoid and psoriatic arthritis. The "woo" shoved my way is just spectacular, even by fellow/sister academics. It's as if they turn OFF the skeptical side of their brain when it comes to medicine. I'm all about the mantra "show me your data, your clinical trials, peer reviewed studies and the like." Generally, the woo has very little of this. (See chiropractic in particular). Anyway, thank YOU for all that you do!
Nope. The research data on it is dismal and it is counter-indicated in RA patients (neck fractures). If it's not offered by the Hospital for Special Surgery or other research based orthopedic institutions, it's not "real."
Excellent article! One thing that drives me nuts is that so many “alternative” practitioners will claim that doctors are getting money from “Big Pharma,” which is totally untrue, and yet *they* are most often the ones raking in the dough selling untested supplements and products from their office or online portal.
Standing ovation here!!👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻 Thank you!! Well written and easy to understand. Will be saving this to forward on to friends who keep falling under the spell of "natural" being better than proven, studied practice. Also, as a menopausal woman pharmacist, I've been using your detailed information in my practice and personally. Thank you for putting all that information out there for us.
Thank you! Especially when it comes to menopause and wimen‘s health in general it seems that „natural“ is better gets said a lot. So, „natural“ endometriosis is better than priven therapies that actually work. Ditto with hormone replacement, i hear the term „natural“ so many times it makes me crazy..as if anything that comes in a bottle, pill or injectable pelketis „natural“…
"Many women are desperate because of real gaps that exist in medicine. These gaps are exploited in the name of profit." This statement is so true. My GP did not have the knowledge to help me with the menopause transition and referred me to a gynecologist, but because that was during the height of the pandemic lockdowns, she had trouble finding a specialist who would even accept the referral. I ended up first with a naturopath and then (when I left her because she insisted progesterone cream would protect my uterus) with a nurse practitioner in a private practice who refused to prescribe an estrogen product that wasn't compounded. It was many months before I was able to see a menopause specialist. I think women develop distrust in medicine because they are so often ignored, dismissed, under served, or even harmed by doctors who lack the knowledge to properly treat them.
I was so lucky to find an ob/gyn who specializes in menopause after 3 hits and misses. And this is in a major hospital system in Atlanta. I’ve recommended this doctor to all of my friends. The misinformation I got from other doctors in the practice was sad. They all specialize in obstetrics when literally 100% of women will go through menopause if they live long enough and significantly less than that will have babies. More research for half of society, please!
Wonderfully stated, thank you! The honest science based knowledge you provide is incredibly valuable. It’s empowering and has made a significant difference in my life. I’m 49 yrs-old and have been much better able to advocate for myself and sort out the science from the BS because of your books and articles, especially those related to the menopause transition and HRT. Grateful.
Thank you very much! Drives me crazy. The groups on Facebook (about human and animal holistic medicine) certainly don't help either. I needed my hysterectomy, my fibroids were not going to fixed by clean eating, or colloidal silver or essential oils.
Don't get me started on "holistic veterinary care. Some are not even vaccinating their animals.
That's kind of what got me started on commenting about this post, but I kept it centered on my experience. One of my cats was just diagnosed with chronic kidney disease (CKD) and has muscle wasting. Someone posted that veterinary diet ingredients were horrible, and then proceeded to invite me to their holistic group. I'll go with the veterinarian recommended diet and supportive measures. He's already feeling better and gaining weight on the prescribed diet. He has not been vaccinated due to his poor health. He has been vaccinated in the past, and will be in the future depending on his health. I have 5 cats, all of the others are completely vaccinated.
Same, exactly the same:).
Thank you so much. I once turned to naturopath when I was having skin issues (ok, not as serious as hot flashes but annoying nonetheless) and without going into details, let’s just say I should’ve just stopped getting facials and gone to my derm, who, since finally asking for a skin care consult after my screening, has made my skin so happy. So much wasted time and money on this stuff. The issue of doctors’ visits being too short is surely a problem so no wonder we seek out someone who will spend a whole hour with us and return regular emails. And it can seem like you’re taking control of your problems. Yes, we deserve SO much better. Forwarding this a million times.
I wasted almost a decade in natural health and even applied to Bastyr's Uni's ND program. Nothing like a good fleecing to boot me out of that world. Unfortunately there are big medical centers, including teaching hospitals, offering TCM, aromatherapy massage, reflexology, etc. and orthopedists and neuroligists referring out to chiro, acupuncture, and PTs that do cupping, moxibustion, posture correction, and other debunked modalities.
100% agree! And this goes for all wellness products not just supplements. Seven years ago I asked you on twitter about cannabis suppositories for pelvic pain. You indicated there wasn’t any research. Seven years later there still aren’t any peer reviewed clinical trials to show efficacy or safety. Yet, in these seven years there has been a proliferation of cannabis containing products marketed to people with vaginas and vulvas for sexual wellness, pelvic pain, vaginal dryness etc. People buy these products because they as you mentioned are desperate for relief. Without safety standards and efficacy research people are opening themselves up to adverse reactions. We sent samples of some of these products to be analyzed by independent labs. Some were contaminated with bacteria that might be harmful. Some labels didn’t match the content of the product. In some cases products were more toxic in the lab to lactobacilli than antibiotic controls. Basic in-vitro testing for product safety on the vaginal microbiome starts under $2000 a product. Several lab companies offer this now. Because as we say if it kills the lacto just say no. We have had very little success convincing companies to test products prior to coming to market. Even companies with scientists and Drs. on their boards are not testing products, because there are not any requirements. This is not limited to cannabis companies. As you know. Lubricants require an FDA 510k approval process, and that’s basic safety. Companies claiming to provide remedies for vaginal dryness and lubrication are circumventing the FDA by calling the products balms, serums, lotions. Cost for competing a double blind clinical placebo study with a small # of participants is under $100,000. The budget to brand a new product and bring it to market is in many cases 10x that amount . A small company could easily do their own basic safety study using some of the Direct to consumer swabs companies like Evvy, Juno or even LabCorp. and a few volunteers, maybe even themselves. But, that might show the products aren’t safe or don’t work. So they don’t.. Companies pay influencers and agencies retainers of up to 10k a month to promote their products yet there are few that will spend under that to complete basic lab tests for product safety. The unfortunate reality is that consumers trust marketing more than science. When something says “clinically tested” REQUEST THE TEST. What did they test, on who, what where the results. Unless consumers are following Drs and truth seekers like Dr. Gunter they are being victimized by marketing.
The cannabis craze is driving me crazy. Everyone here in Australia is using medicinal cannabis for EVERYTHING...there’s a TONNE of money in it and the evidence is still SO LIGHT WEIGHT. Enraging.
Always “request the test”!! Soooo irritating how influencers now quote one random pub med reference as ‘proof’ and everyone accepts that and in fact it’s one extremely poor trial that often doesn’t even show what they are claiming anyway😑😑😑
Thank you, very informative.
"For example, a scientist who knows the earth is round isn’t being close-minded about the philosophy of flat earthers!"
So true, not just in medicine, but in many other areas as well.
Awesome summary! MD here...this is SO right! The placebo effect of alternative therapy is alive and well, even though some of its users may not survive
https://www.cancer.gov/news-events/cancer-currents-blog/2017/alternative-medicine-cancer-survival#:~:text=Forgoing%20Conventional%20Cancer%20Treatments%20for%20Alternative%20Medicine%20Increases%20Risk%20of%20Death,-Subscribe&text=In%20a%20large%20study%2C%20patients,who%20received%20conventional%20cancer%20treatments.
Thank you for this. I'm a life-time member of the "bad back club," now joined with rheumatoid and psoriatic arthritis. The "woo" shoved my way is just spectacular, even by fellow/sister academics. It's as if they turn OFF the skeptical side of their brain when it comes to medicine. I'm all about the mantra "show me your data, your clinical trials, peer reviewed studies and the like." Generally, the woo has very little of this. (See chiropractic in particular). Anyway, thank YOU for all that you do!
Don't bash chiropractic. It certainly won't cure your cancer, but it could get you over an orthopedic issue.
Nope. The research data on it is dismal and it is counter-indicated in RA patients (neck fractures). If it's not offered by the Hospital for Special Surgery or other research based orthopedic institutions, it's not "real."
I was unaware that chiro tx is coNTRAindicated in RA, but I wasn't talking about that. It can be useful for back pain, injuries, etc.
It's helpful because of everything except the adjustment.
Excellent article! One thing that drives me nuts is that so many “alternative” practitioners will claim that doctors are getting money from “Big Pharma,” which is totally untrue, and yet *they* are most often the ones raking in the dough selling untested supplements and products from their office or online portal.
Standing ovation here!!👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻 Thank you!! Well written and easy to understand. Will be saving this to forward on to friends who keep falling under the spell of "natural" being better than proven, studied practice. Also, as a menopausal woman pharmacist, I've been using your detailed information in my practice and personally. Thank you for putting all that information out there for us.
Thank you! Especially when it comes to menopause and wimen‘s health in general it seems that „natural“ is better gets said a lot. So, „natural“ endometriosis is better than priven therapies that actually work. Ditto with hormone replacement, i hear the term „natural“ so many times it makes me crazy..as if anything that comes in a bottle, pill or injectable pelketis „natural“…
Yeah, I once said to a patient: arsenic is natural too. She got it...
All I can say is Keep it Up!!! Thank you!!!👏👏
Outstanding issue of The Vejenda as usual!! Fabulous information, so well researched, and I value Dr. Gunter's opinion so much!! Thanks!!
"Many women are desperate because of real gaps that exist in medicine. These gaps are exploited in the name of profit." This statement is so true. My GP did not have the knowledge to help me with the menopause transition and referred me to a gynecologist, but because that was during the height of the pandemic lockdowns, she had trouble finding a specialist who would even accept the referral. I ended up first with a naturopath and then (when I left her because she insisted progesterone cream would protect my uterus) with a nurse practitioner in a private practice who refused to prescribe an estrogen product that wasn't compounded. It was many months before I was able to see a menopause specialist. I think women develop distrust in medicine because they are so often ignored, dismissed, under served, or even harmed by doctors who lack the knowledge to properly treat them.
I was so lucky to find an ob/gyn who specializes in menopause after 3 hits and misses. And this is in a major hospital system in Atlanta. I’ve recommended this doctor to all of my friends. The misinformation I got from other doctors in the practice was sad. They all specialize in obstetrics when literally 100% of women will go through menopause if they live long enough and significantly less than that will have babies. More research for half of society, please!
Wonderfully stated, thank you! The honest science based knowledge you provide is incredibly valuable. It’s empowering and has made a significant difference in my life. I’m 49 yrs-old and have been much better able to advocate for myself and sort out the science from the BS because of your books and articles, especially those related to the menopause transition and HRT. Grateful.
👏🏻🙏🏻
Great article that I will definitely share. And, as a previous recipient of docetaxel, I now have what my kids call a fun fact to share. Thanks again.
HEAR HEAR!