Category: Medical devices
Trump administration announces some COVID-19 tests can skip FDA review, providing new opportunities for dubious lab tests
The Trump administration unexpectedly announced that the FDA will no longer regulate some lab tests, including those for COVID-19. In addition to potentially allowing unreliable COVID tests on the market, the decision creates an opening for more bogus CAM tests.
Visual Stress
The Opticalm Clinic claims to diagnose and treat visual stress with colored lenses and other aids. Visual stress is a poorly defined, questionable condition and Opticalm's claims are not backed by scientific evidence.
TENS for Pain Relief: Does It Work?
TENS units are used to relieve pain and for other indications. The evidence is not impressive.
Juvent: Space Age Technology to Achieve Total Health?
Juvent is a small vibrating platform that is advertised to provide all kinds of health benefits for everyone by just standing on it for 10 minutes a day. They have no convincing evidence and the price is exorbitant.
FTC settles false advertising suit against low-level light therapy marketer with $22 million judgment
Per a settlement with the FTC, the marketers of Willow Curve, a low-level light therapy device costing hundreds of dollars, will have to stop making deceptive claims that the device treats chronic, severe pain and associated inflammation. Any health claims made for the device must be supported by "competent and reliable scientific evidence".
Blue light blocking glasses: How much of the hype is science-based?
Blue light from our electronics is said to be harmful, and "blue blocking" glasses are touted as a panacea to numerous health issues. Is there any evidence to substantiate these claims?
Cold Caps Combat Hair Loss from Chemotherapy
Hair loss from chemotherapy can be prevented with cold caps, but scalp hypothermia has some downsides and may not be acceptable to all patients.
BioCharger’s Claims Are Too Silly to Take Seriously
The BioCharger is a subtle energy device based on fantasy, not science. At $15,000, pretty expensive for a placebo.
Nurse Practitioner Pushes Dubious Aesthetic Treatments
Nurse practitioner aggressively advertises a plethora of aesthetic treatments, some of which are dubious. It's legal, but is it ethical?
Zapping a Cold with Copper
Will an overpriced piece of copper prevent or treat the common cold? The science is not there.