Do make this your #mustread I was interviewed as an international expert and my work on alternative medicines featured for @SciDevNet by @lolacometa on this very important global problem. Other experts featured include Mario Chávez (of Mexican College of Rheumatology), Fernando Bessone (liver toxicity, of LATIN-DILI) and María Victoria Urrea (of INVIMA). In this investigative health feature about so-called "natural" products across Latin America (with comparisons from India) — supplements and herbal remedies sold as natural, curative, or preventive, the central finding is that many of these products are not really natural at all: they are frequently adulterated with hidden pharmaceutical drugs, contaminated, or unlabeled, and they are causing real, sometimes fatal, harm to people who trust the word "natural" to mean "safe." The piece is anchored by a human tragedy: Patricia Vela's father in Mexico died after months of taking AK-Forte (secretly containing diclofenac, dexamethasone, and methocarbamol), which caused multi-organ damage. A second case involves a Peruvian woman left incontinent after coffee enemas promoted on social media caused severe inflammation of the rectum and anal canal. Regulation is weak and inconsistent - like India's Ayush. Because these aren't classified as medicines, pre-market safety and efficacy testing isn't required, good manufacturing practices are voluntary or loosely enforced, and pharmacovigilance is almost nonexistent. Be better informed and do not fall for alternative medicine claims. Please read: scidev.net/america-latina/sc…

Periodismo científico: en busca de calidad y ampliación de audiencias. 📅 30 de junio 🕙 10 h 📍 Fiocruz, Río de Janeiro Evento gratuito, sin inscripción previa. Organizan SciDev.Net, Casa de Oswaldo Cruz-Fiocruz, EurekAlert!/AAAS y ComCiência.