"Laser smoking cure latest snake oil: expert"

"My wife and I have recently tried to quit smoking.After reading of a miraculous reaction to a laser.We were impressed
We went to the website and gave our details to get a pdf info sheet.My wife then received a phone call promoting a testimonial on "A current affair" to be shown that evening.They also told us the cost could be paid for on a weekly basis and that she had had the treatment and it was fantastic.We jumped in thinking that after the show,they would be innundated and we would have to wait longer.
We had the treatment 3 days later and it consisted of a joint conversation of approx 1/2hour telling us that without the craving the laser therapy eliminated the only problem was our thought patterns.To correct our thought patterns we had to think through our desire to smoke knowing we now had no more cravings.We then had our individual laser treatments which consisted of 20mins having a hand held light device shone on ears,feet,knees,elbows and face.
The consultant who gave us the therapy and the talk said that he had stopped doing acupuncture for quitting smoking because it didn't work.
The principle of the treatment appears to be if you still want to smoke after the full treatment,they are prepared to talk you though any mental anguish you have on the premise you have no cravings.If you have continued struggles they will perform extra laser treatment (at additional cost)and then there would definitely be no craving leaving only your misguided thought patterns.You can call them any time for a pep talk.
This of course failed miserably after three days.My wife had called for help as she still wanted to have a cigarette but was told that she didn't have cravings but had a problem with the way she was thinking about not smoking.This seemed to me a very clever "catch 22".
Our doctor has prescribed (gov assisted) an antismoking medication. Laser treatment is nothing but cold turkey with a warm but expensive chat"
(this comment has been moderated)

"Thank you for sharing your experience. We hope you and your wife are successful in giving up smoking.

Media Doctor"

"Echinacea doesn't work, study finds"

"I am aware that this is an old article, but I do urge your reviewers to consider the importance of understanding the full variables associated with herbal medicines when assessing the articles. There was no mention in this article about dosage, nor what part of the plant was used (ie stem or flower or both), or even whether it was E.purpurea or E. angustifolia. This is a relatively new realm for health reporters, which carries with it a range of new pharmacognostic intricacies that journalists need to be aware of when reporting on herbal medicine research. This article would have lost more points for me, given its failure to report on the critical details about dosage, duration and the specifics of the product/s being tested on participants."

"Migraines cured in new LGH procedure"

"have suffered with migraine with aura for many years. I was diagnosed with Hemiplegic migraine recently. There is also a family history of stroke in my family (grandfather died from a stroke), My daughter also suffers from migraine with aura (now aged 15). Recently my daughter was diagnoised with a Patent Formane Ovale. I was wondering whether this could be a link to the migraine that she is suffereing. I have not been tested for a PFO but was wondering whether I should look into this. if there is a cure for migraine then I am desperate to find this out as like many suffers, migraines arehorrible things to live with. Would you please confirm whether you know of a doctor that would be willing to look into this for me. Many thanks, Nicola"

"Dear Nicola

Media Doctor does not provide medical advice. We recommendation you talk to your General Practitioner about these concerns.

Yours sincerely
Website Administrator"

"Sleep apnea test may soon be a snap"

"I have been on a CPAP machine now for only just 5 nights and already feel the benefit. I am still coming to terms wth the Psychological side of knowing this is my new friend and will have to take him with me where ever I go. I have a valuable Government car/job driving long distances having to take too many "power naps" over the years. These "power naps" became more and more often until I sought medical advice. The car had to be returned. I thought as I was sleepy all the time I was depressed as I couldnt concentrate at meetings and therefore didnt contribute as often. I stayed away from social gatherings because of my constant tiredness. I made up all the excuses under the sun why I couldn't go into work as I was so tired.
Thankfully once I was diagnosed and had the necessry sleep tests and monitoring etc. I now feel confident in knowing that I will be back to "normal" and less stressed, less tired and more porisive towards my own self and a different attitude towards life nd those around me.
What really surprised me was the number of people who have this condition and it does not have any bearing on your "size" but more the physical size of ones breathing passage. I have already started to lose weight and will also get fit once my energy levels return. I felt I had hit rock bottom and now only after less than a week know I am doing the right thing.
The support from close friends has been wonderful not to mention the understanding of my employer and immediate manager.
I would like to hear from other people's experiences here on this forum."

"Dear Carol

Thank you for your feedback. We hope your sleep continues to improve.

Media Doctor"

"Vaccine cuts HIV risk by one-third"

"Thank you for reviewing this story. However I must take issue with a couple of your comments, which (not for the first time) do suggest to me a certain disinclination to acknowledge either the restrictions that news reporting has to work within, or indeed its very purpose.
The restrictions obviously have to do with time. And the purpose of news reporting is to do just that, report news -- if necessary with the details that are available to hand at the time, even if they are incomplete or if questions remain that cannot immediately be answered. This is obviously entirely different to the requirements for publishing in a medical journal. That is not somehow a failing of news -- it simply reflects its different environment and purpose.
The first accounts of this story came through on the international wires at about 5pm, an hour before the deadline for a daily paper. It might well be the case that a "minimal Google search" returns more details about the study -- that is, it might well be the case now, nearly three weeks later. I would eat my hat if any such details could in fact be Googled within one hour of the first details becoming available, contrary to your assertion.
I could be wrong but from memory, it was known at the time that the results were pertinent to a particular subtype of HIV that is prevalent in Thailand, and not necessarily for strains circulating in Africa or other countries. However I would contest your view that this information was so vital that it should have been included in the story. I'm not sure this is often appreciated, but news stories are not concertinas that can expand to accommodate any point that might be deemed interesting or important. Stories have to fit within their box on a page, and often the hardest part is deciding which points should be cut. In this case the importance of the trial was not that this particular vaccine might be useable in one country or other, but that it might be possible to make a vaccine at all.
Regard"

"Packing a punch for blood pressure"

"What the Media Doctor is not telling us is the long term effects of hypertension medication on the human body, as it is standard practice that once you start on hypertension medication it is for the rest of your life, so is the cholesterol and the diabetes medication, that as time goes on more and more medication is added to the list just to take care of the side-effects of these medications. The physical damage caused by the long term use of medication is never taken into account as a cost factor, it seems that the cheapest and most expendable commodity is the human life. A relation of mine ended up having a kidney transplant due to the damage done by the long term use of hypertension medication.
I find it uncontionable that doctors not only do not advise their patients to look for alternatives to their conditions but most of the time when a patient presents their doctor with an alternative option they are advised against it. It's gone beyond a joke the arrogance of doctors harping on 'there is no hard evidence and no proof' and not undertaking to monitor a patient who chooses to go on an alternative supplement or remedy. Besides, until a few decades ago most of prescribed medication was and still is made from natural ingredients. LP"

"Dear LP

The aim of Media Doctor is to look at how well the media report health interventions.

We do not advocate any particular intervention and although our reviewers are mainly health based, we are not all doctors and some have no health background at all.

We do believe that people should be aware what level of evidence is available for any treatment - whether it is mainstream or alternative.

Most alternative treatments have active ingredients which is why they can be used as treatment. However, they can also be harmful under certain conductions, eg if too much is taken or if that ingredient interacts with other medication. Just because something is natural doesn't mean it can't be harmful - most poisons are also natural.

Tthe Therapeutic Goods Association (TGA) which looks at registration of medication in Australia, is calling for more and better information regarding alternative medicines to be made available to the public.

Best wishes

Media Doctor"

"The O'Neil Naltrexone Implant"

"Can anyone tell me if there is a doctor trialling LDN on autoimmune diseases like Crohn's disease? If there is how can I get in touch with them? Area of Melbourne."

"Dear Bruce

Media Doctor does not provide medical advice. We recommend you contact your GP for more information."

"A wrinkle cream that works"

"I'm 22 and I have recently noticed wrinkles around my eyes. Well... I'm kind of concerned... I don't know what to do. I went to buy an anti-wrinkle cream, but none of them said it was for young skin. I know the site http://www.beautyandhealthcare.org that guide for Anti Wrinkle Creams. Can you suggest me some other sites like this??"

"Media Doctor does not provide health advice. We suggest you ask your GP for more information."

"Botox offers hope to stroke patients"

"YES DEAR DOCTOR I REALLY WANT TO KNOW WHETHER BOTOX CAN REALLY CURE FINGER SPASTICITY DUE TO HAEMORHAGIC STROKE.
THANKS.
YOURS TRULY
STEVEN HENRY"
(this comment has been moderated)

"Dear Mr Henry
Media Doctor is a website designed to improve health news reporting in the general media. We do not provide medical advice and suggest you contact your GP for more information."

"Thalidomide makes comeback as cancer drug"

"My husband has adrenal cancer and Cushing's Syndrome. All the medical approaches to date have not worked and Adrenal Cancer is considered incurable!! He is now about to try Thalidomide as it has been documented as able to reduce or slow the cancer and when used with Mitotane has been shown to manage the disease and prolong life.
We find however that we must pay for this treatment as his cancer , which is extremely rare (1 in 2,000,000 worldwide) is not approved for govenment subsidised Thalidomide.
Hardly seems fair."

"Contraceptive pill linked to depression"

"I am absolutely blown away by all these comments. At age 22 I had been on Levlen for about 3 years before I took myself off it. I realised it was making me depressed. I only noticed because when I had my period I was in a happier mood. It just clicked one day and I felt so much better afterwards. Im now 26 and have been on Estelle for exactly a year. Strangely enough I have just realised ive been battling with a horrible case of depression for exactly the same length of time.

I have tried 2 different therapists for councelling but it didnt help so I saw a GP in January this year about other options and was prescribed Loxamine (Paroxetine) anti depressants after Amitryp didnt work for me. At first I felt worse and ended up in hospital twice with panic attacks. After this I was I was prescribed an anti anxiety pill called Ativan to help with the initial effects of the Loxamine. I have just thrown my entire bottle of Ativan down the toilet after finding out that it should not be given to people with severe depression and thoughts of suicide.I was really angry when I found that out because my doctor was given my notes from the hospital one of the nights I went in after a panic attack and which said that id thought about hurting myself.

Ive been on and off with my boyfriend because I keep getting angry and upset at him for nothing which is doing my head in because hes my best friend and a great partner. Like a lot of people on this page im also super paranoid and suspicious of his every move! I am suprised and so thankful hes still with me after all the crap ive put him through in the last year.

After finding out about the Ativan causing depression I did more research on the other medications i'm on and found this page. I am going to stop taking my contraceptive pill because the more of this page I read the more I beleive thats what my problem is. Ill post again on this page in a few weeks time for an update!"

"Anti-addiction pill Champix in suicide alert"

"My 44 year old son committed suicide on June 2nd. He had been taking champix for 7 weeks. There must be some medical organisation compiling statistics about this problem. This product must be banned.
Who should I report his death to?"

"Dear Yvonne
Our sympathies for your loss. We are unable to provide advice on this matter. We suggest you contact your GP for more information.
Yours sincerely
Media Doctor"

"Botox found to ease pelvic pain"

"My partner has a chronic eye twitch/spasm, lasting 12 months so far, the symptoms are starting to move down his face, he finally got an appointment to see a neurosurgeon (who wasn't at the appointment! and a GP seen him) they rang him today and said he will need to go to a private clinic for botox injection (he went through the public system) my question is, how much will this injection cost, and will it work? and is it covered by medicare or not, we are not wealthy by any means, but he needs this thing to be fixed, its driving him mad!"

"Dear Nikki

We suggest your partner speaks to his GP about any concerns you and he have.

Regards

Media Doctor"

"'Fake' acupuncture helps relieve back pain"

"This was not "well conducted research".

All treatment arms of this study still received standard care. That the fake acupuncture, non-specific acupuncture and personalised acupuncture regimed had no statistical difference in their effects demonstrated that the observed effect was nothing more than placebo in action.

Please consider revising your rating and commentary on this study (particularly on "evidence")

Some commentary:
http://thebackpainblog.org/acupuncture-needles-no-better- than-toothpicks/
http://www.sciencebasedmedicine.org/?p=492
http://www.theness.com/neurologicablog/?p=535
http://skeptico.blogs.com/skeptico/2009/05/acupuncture-still-doesnt-work.html
http://scienceblogs.com/insolence/2009/05/another_acupuncture_study_misi nterpreted.php"

"Thanks Michael for your comment. However, I believe you are confusing our
ratings. We don't rate the actual research, but how well the article
reported the research. In our view the article did not report the level of
evidence satisfactorily, therefore it was rated 'Not Satisfactory'. We did not comment that it was "well conducted research". Media Doctor aims to show how clearly the news article is relaying health information to the public, not how well the research is conducted.
One of the reviewers comments were that he "has taken pains to limit criticism to the story rather than to the trial on which it is based, or to the interpretation of results made by those who conducted the trial." It seems we are on the same page with this one.
Regards
Media Doctor"

"Acupuncture works - even without needles"

"This was not "well conducted research".

All treatment arms of this study still received standard care. That the fake acupuncture, non-specific acupuncture and personalised acupuncture regimed had no statistical difference in their effects demonstrated that the observed effect was nothing more than placebo in action.

Please consider revising your rating and commentary on this study (particularly on "evidence")

Some commentary:
http://thebackpainblog.org/acupuncture-needles-no-better- than-toothpicks/
http://www.sciencebasedmedicine.org/?p=492
http://www.theness.com/neurologicablog/?p=535
http://skeptico.blogs.com/skeptico/2009/05/acupuncture-still-doesnt-work.html
http://scienceblogs.com/insolence/2009/05/another_acupuncture_study_misi nterpreted.php"

"Dear Michael
Thank you for your feedback. We can see the inconsistency between how this and the other similar story were rated. We will modify accordingly.

Media Doctor"

"Losing weight by fasting"

"Have you tried it?
Experience is the only real evidence, and if you dont have the balls to do it, than why bother commenting?
Have you ever had an illness that all the doctors said was either in your head or only curable through surgury ie collitis, Krones disease or irritable bowel disease?
I fasted for 10 days on nothing but water. Was not hungry and now afterwards have never felt better in my life. I intend to fast again every few years as my system feels so clear.
I now suffer no symptoms of irritabe bowel disease."

"RU486 pill targets breast cancer, PMT"

"It might be reasonable to also note that the drug does have anti-cancer properties and this more recent case report clearly outlines:

Anticancer Res. 2009 May;29(5):1611-3.
Mifepristone may halt progression of extensively metastatic human adenocarcinoma of the colon - case report.

BACKGROUND: Mifepristone, a progesterone receptor antagonist has been found to improve the length and quality of life in various spontaneous murine cancer models including tumors without progesterone receptors theoretically by inhibiting an immunomodulatory protein that suppresses natural killer cell function in the tumor microenvironment. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Mifepristone 200 mg per day by mouth was given to two patients with stage 4 colon cancer with extensive metastases. RESULTS: Both patients not only survived far longer than expected but had marked improvement in their quality of life similar to mice. Though the metastatic lesions did not disappear, no new ones appeared for a long time and the ones present did not grow. The drug was extremely well tolerated. CONCLUSION: The use of progesterone receptor antagonists may present a novel immunotherapy to help fight cancer. A larger controlled study is needed."

"Fish oil helps ADHD kids"

"i am very happy to hear that fish oil works for adhd.my son has adhd and i would like to know if seven seas can work for adhd and he is four years old."

"Scientists to trial world first coeliac vaccine"

"Very good news indeed.....and will this also mean that other gluten prone conditions will also be improved? I am not a coeliac, but I am gluten intolerant and so look forward to being able to digest foods containing gluten once again."

"Viagra improves urinary symptoms"

"If able to improve urinary problems associated with benign prostatic hyperplasia - could it be possible that viagra induced blood flow to the region would assist pelvic floor contractions in cases of post radical prostatectomy incontinence?"