Herbal or Verbal? We’ve said it before but it’s more true than we knew – herbal medicines often don’t contain what they claim. New research looking at “DNA barcoding” found widespread fraud in herbal medicines. How Do We Know? Researchers at the University of Guelph in Ontario did a blind DNA test on 44 herbal […]
Will Lazy Cakes come back from the dead? (10/21/11)
Tough Times for Vampires It’s been difficult recently for vampires. October 9th was World Vampire Day. Only two days following this celebratory occasion, Toronto vampires filming the latest “Resident Evil” were struck by a construction accident, with multiple injuries and broken bones. Yet we all know that are vampires are very resilient. One potential vampire […]
Safe to drink? With the FDA moving on Lazy Cakes, what’s up with relaxation drinks? (8/3/11)
Generally Recognized as Safe When drugs as marketed to foods, people get hurt. That’s what the FDA concluded about Lazy Cakes, a melatonin laced brownie sold as “adults only” but marketed to kids and teens. Michael Roosevelt of the FDA send a warning letter last week to HBB, maker of Lazy Cakes, declaring the “relaxation […]
Relaxation Drinks – cause for anxiety? (7/29/11)
Immediate and Ultimate Relaxation? Any idea what’s in that can you’re drinking? In a wired up nation worried about multiple wars, fiscal collapse, disappearing jobs, hurricanes and floods, global climate change and the Casey Anthony trial results, it’s no surprise that people want to relax. Into that “perceived need” have jumped “relaxation drinks,” presently numbering […]
Banned in Arkansas – Lazy Cakes are off the shelves (5/23/11)
Regulators Begin Actions on Drugs as Foods Lazy Cakes, a brownie filled with now 7.8 mg of melatonin, unknown amounts of valerian root and other “herbal” drugs, was banned last week by the Arkansas Department of Health. It also facing a ban in Fall River and New Bedford, Massachusetts. When I wrote about Lazy Cakes […]