Consumer Health Digest is a free weekly e-mail newsletter edited by William M. London, Ed.D., M.P.H., with help from Stephen Barrett, M.D., It summarizes scientific reports; legislative developments; enforcement actions; other news items; Web site evaluations; recommended and nonrecommended books; research tips; and other information relevant to consumer protection and consumer decision-making. The Digestâs primary focus is on health, but occasionally it includes non-health scams and practical tips. Items posted to this archive may be updated when relevant information becomes available. To subscribe, click here.
CA medical board revokes âholisticâdoctorâs medical license. The Medical Board of California has revoked the license of Robert Jay Rowen, M.D., over his conviction for felony tax evasion in January 2022. The website of the Robert Rowen, MD and Terri Su, MD Clinic has described this facility as:
. . . a patient-centered holistic medicine clinic in Santa Rosa, in the North Bay area, that focuses on treating you, not just your âdisease.â The clinic regularly treats patients who exhibit a wide range of medical symptoms, both chronic and acute. We also treat female incontinence and sexual issues, and male erectile dysfunction.
The website listed these âtherapeutic solutionsâ at the clinic: ozone, ultraviolet and oxidation therapies; ozone âdialysisâ; prolozone joint and soft-tissue therapy (localized ozone injections); neural therapy; platelet-rich plasma (PPP) therapy; hidden dental infections/disturbances affecting medical health; chelation to remove heavy metals; ocean IV therapy: biocean; hocatt ozone and carbonic acid sauna with simultaneous optional microcurrent electrical frequencies, pulsating electromagnetic fields (PEMF) and far infra-red therapies; energy healing devices; diet counseling; homeopathic medications; herbs and nutritional supplements; bio-identical natural hormone therapy; detox strategies; and essential oils. Quackwatch has a detailed account of Rowenâs wrongdoing. [Barrett S. Robert Jay Rowen, M.D., sentenced to prison (2022). Quackwatch, Sept 13, 2023]
Bogus âMiracle Mineral Solutionâ cure hucksters sentenced to prison. Following their conviction in a Miami, Florida federal court for conspiring to defraud the U.S. government, Mark Grenon and his sons have been sentenced. The group was convicted of selling an unapproved and misbranded drug called “Miracle Mineral Solutionâ (MMS) through a fake online church.
- Mark Grenon, 66, received a five-year prison sentence, must pay a fine of $5,000, and must pay $1,948 in restitution to victims of the familyâs scheme.
- Joseph Grenon, 36, received a five-year prison sentence with no fine, but received the same restitution order.
- Jonathan Grenon, 37, received a sentence of more than 12 years in prison, and received the same restitution order.
- Jordan Grenon, 29, received a sentence of more than 12 years in prison, must pay a fine of $2,500, and received the same restitution order.
Jonathan and Jordan were convicted of the main conspiracy charge plus a pair of contempt charges stemming from their violation of court orders to stop selling MMS. Contempt charges against Mark and Joseph were dismissed before trial as part of an extradition agreement with the government of Bogota, Colombia, where they were hiding when they were charged in 2020. [Weaver J. Using fake church, Florida clan sold bleach as âmiracleâ cure. Dad, 3 sons going to prison. Miami Herald, Oct 6, 2023]
In 2019, the FDA strongly urged consumers not to purchase or use MMS for any reason, explaining that drinking MMS was the same as drinking bleach and could cause dangerous side effects, including severe vomiting, diarrhea, and life-threatening low blood pressure.
Nattokinase hype scrutinized. McGill University science advocate Jonathan Jarry took a close look at the hype for nattokinase supplements and was not impressed. [Jarry J. Nattokinaseâs clot-busting promises sway scientists who should know better. McGill Office for Science and Society, Aug 4, 2023] His key messages are:
- Nattokinase is an enzyme secreted by bacteria when fermenting soybeans during the making of the traditional Japanese food known as natto.
- Nattokinase dietary supplements are claimed to help prevent and treat cardiovascular disease, although the studies done so far are not rigorous enough to support this claim.
- It is not known for certain what happens to nattokinase in the human body when taken by mouth.
- Anti-vaccine influencers are selling nattokinase supplements as a way to âdetoxâ from the spike protein contained in the COVID-19 vaccines, an idea that is not based on good science.
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