Yes, Even US Chiropractors Offer Routine X-Rays

Remember back in mid-December when we talked about a study from Australia that criticized chiropractors in that country for offering what the study’s authors deemed unnecessary services? Well, the practice of offering services like x-rays is not just happening “somewhere else” and today I have an example that’s popped up in my own back yard.

Bright and early this morning I got an offer from one of those big group shopping clubs for a chiropractic visit. For $39—nearly a 90% savings—I can get 30 minutes of massage and a computerized nerve scan. Sounds like a pretty good deal if you’re into that kind of thing, right? But included in that is an x-ray.

There’s no mention of any consult in which it will be determined if an x-ray is even necessary or any mention of whether any of the $39 will be refunded if it’s ultimately determined not to be necessary. No, the ad simply says “with digital x-rays”. That suggests to me that x-rays are simply part of the package and why the original value is put at $365. (It was too early in the morning to call the clinic to ask.)

The package is being offered by Adam Kres and his Natural Chiropractic in Memphis. You can see the offer for yourself here if you’re a Living Social member.

HerbalExtractsPlus.com Ordered To Remove Claims

A couple of months ago agents with the US Food and Drug Administration, or FDA, paid a visit to Everett Farr’s website, www.herbalextractsplus.com and found therapeutic claims that the agency says go too far in respect to what sellers of herbal remedies can promise about their products. Today the FDA made public a copy of that letter.

Three products cross the FDA’s line, according to the official warning letter. Those are Farr’s:

• Cholesterol Reduction Support,
• Support for High Blood Pressure and his
• Kidney and Bladder Support.

The Cholesterol Reduction Support supplement allegedly promised up herbs that reduce the risk of heart disease by lowering cholesterol and regulating blood pressure. The product is also made with the spice turmeric which Farr’s site claims is used “for the treatment of arthritis…” The Support for High Blood Pressure made similar claims about reducing heart disease.

HerbalExtractsPlus.com’s Kidney and Bladder Support product is made with several botanicals that the site claimed can kill the bacteria that cause urinary tract infections—like cranberry, carrot and corn silk. Its hydrangea supposedly also aids an enlarged prostate.

The FDA says that none of the products has been officially recognized as safe or effective for any of those conditions. That means that, as far as the agency is concerned, Farr and HerbalExtractsPlus.com are marketing new and unapproved drugs. But even if the remedies were recognized as legit treatments for those conditions they would still in violation of FDA regs because they’re being hawked for conditions that the average person simply can’t diagnose or successfully treat at home.

HerbalExtractsPlus.com was given the normal 15 working days to remove the violating claims or face further FDA action. As of my visit to the site this morning I found none of the claims I looked for. I did, however, find claims that came—at least in my opinion—awfully close to those cited in the FDA’s warning letter. It will be interesting to see what, if anything, the agency does about those.

Source:

FDA. (2011). Herbal Extracts Plus, LLC 1/3/12. (WARNING LETTER). Accessible at fda.gov/ICECI/EnforcementActions/WarningLetters/ucm285654.htm.

Yes, It's ANOTHER Green Valley Recall

Late last evening Green Valley Food Corp announced another update to its recall involving its sprouts. This time it’s their “Let’s Grow Healthy Together” mung bean sprouts. As was the case with the last update/expansion, this one is over fears that there could be Listeria contamination.

These 2 UPCs are covered by this recall:

• 714722208087
• 815098001071

These sprouts come, says the company, in red or clear polypropylene bags. The packages are 8-ounce packs. They were sold to distributors in Texas and further distributed to restaurants and supermarkets from there.

This brings the total number of cases of recalled Green Vally Food items to 35,159, according to the press release. Green Vally Food Corp is still characterizing the recall as “cautionary” and insisting that no “confirmed” cases of Salmonella or Listeria infections have been documented.

If you have these recalled sprouts—which have use-by dates up to January 17th, you’re advised to throw them out.

You can see the entire list of recalled Green Vally Food Corp foods here.