Category: Herbs & Supplements
Liver Failure From Alternative Medicines
One of the persistent themes we confront at SBM is the evolving double-standard in clinical medicine. On the one hand, in mainstream medicine there is a push for higher standards of science and evidence and more effective regulation. At the same time proponents of “alternative medicine” are constantly seeking ways to water down scientific standards and loosen regulations. This is sold to...
Implausible Apple Cider Vinegar Weight Loss Study Retracted
When a trial has results that defy basic biology, it's reasonable to be skeptical.
Detox 2026: What Big Wellness Wants You to Believe
Detox trends come and go. Modern “detox” claims, from microplastics to microbiome resets are marketing, not science.
The FDA under MAHA control: Weakening the quack Miranda warning on supplements
The FDA sent a letter to the supplement industry assuring that it would make it easier for them to hide disclaimers (which we like to call "quack Miranda warnings") about unproven health claims for supplements. What does this tell us about MAHA?
Creatine Supplements for Brain Function
There is a long history of supplements marketed to enhance memory, focus, overall cognitive function, and brain health. None of them are backed by quality scientific evidence, and they seem to go through the typical conveyor belt of claims – by the time one claim is collapsing, such as ginkgo biloba, the industry is happy to move on to the next. The...
Surgeon General nominee Dr. Casey Means and functional medicine: Legitimizing quackery
Surgeon general nominee Dr. Casey Means is an advocate of "functional medicine." She, MAHA, and a new "board certification" will falsely legitimize quackery.
The Growing Problem of Supplement–Drug Interactions in Seniors
Many people take supplements alongside prescription drugs without realizing the risks.
What do mRNA vaccines, Synthroid, and pharmaceuticals have in common (according to MAHA)?
If you want to understand why Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has halted $500 million in funding for mRNA vaccine development, look no further than Synthroid and herbal medicines.
GLP-1 Patch Scams: The Science Doesn’t Support the Hype
GLP-1 drugs work; GLP-1 patches don’t
Your terrain, your fault? Germ Theory Denial 2025
Terrain theory is making a comeback, offering the illusion that illness is always preventable, and blaming the sick for being sick.