Earlier this month I wrote about the drug industry's efforts to pathologize everyday human experiences such as occasional impotence or shyness by giving them serious-sounding names (erectile dysfunction and social anxiety disorder, respectively), and then push pills to combat these "illnesses."
Now, the "drugs for everything" approach has reached a new high - or low - with news that Allergan Inc. (the company that gave us Botox) has received FDA approval to market a topical drug trade-named Latisse that will increase the length, thickness and darkness of eyelashes.
The active ingredient, bimatoprost, was originally developed to treat glaucoma, but Allergan estimates that global peak sales for a rebranded eyelash-enhancing version could top $500 million a year.
In my view, using a glaucoma drug this way is unwise. The eye is a sensitive mechanism, and applying a pharmaceutical to the eyelid for a subtle cosmetic enhancement is a classic example of an unfavorable risk/reward ratio. True, side effects were moderate during a 16-week study: four of 137 patients dropped out because of mild or moderate eczema, dry eye, eye inflammation or dermatitis. But what might happen after years or decades of applications?
Further, the company's Web site points out that Latisse may cause darkening of the eyelid skin that may be irreversible, and (though the company says this was not seen in clinical studies) may also cause irreversible brown pigmentation of the colored part of the eye, effects that at least some users may not want. Finally, a 30-day supply will reportedly cost $120, not cheap for such a dubious product.
I hope that drugs like this one represent the last gasp of an out-of-control pharmaceutical industry, and that the incoming administration will staff the FDA with officials who understand that not all human imperfections are "diseases" that can or should be addressed with drugs.
Getting Your Supplements Just Got Simpler
Introducing Dr. Weil’s Condition Specific Vitamin Packs, available exclusively in the DrWeil.com Marketplace. One click is all it takes to get some of our most popular formulas. Buy them now, or visit Dr. Weil’s Vitamin Advisor for your free, personalized supplement recommendation!
B12 for Canker Sores
Canker sores, otherwise known as mouth ulcers or aphthous ulcers, are painful sores that form on the inside of the lips, cheeks or under the tongue. Most heal without treatment within a week to 10 days, but until now, there’s been no treatment that reliably prevents them or relieves the pain they cause. Vitamin B12 may do the trick. Doctors in Israel report that taking 1,000 micrograms of vitamin B12 by mouth at bedtime significantly reduced the pain canker sores cause and the length of time they last. Better yet, by the end of the six month study, 74 percent of the patients who received B12 were no longer developing canker sores (compared to 32 percent of those who used a placebo). A total of 58 patients participated in the study at Ben-Gurion University of the Negev. Overall, the patients who took the B12 reported less pain, fewer canker sores and shorter outbreaks during the study. Patients in the control group said that pain from their sores decreased during the first half of the study but worsened during the second half. The findings were reported in the January/February 2009 issue of The Journal of the American Board of Family Medicine.
Improving Your Heart Health
February is Heart Health Month. Get sound advice, guidance, and reliable information on a healthy heart - including information on diet and lifestyle - at Dr. Weil on Healthy Aging. Start your 14-day free trial today!
Blowing Your Nose Can Make a Cold Worse
You wouldn’t think so, and if you can’t blow your nose, how can you help eliminate mucus and relieve stuffiness? Research has shown that nose blowing can spread the infection and the germs that cause colds into the sinuses and make matters worse. Clinicians at the University of Virginia and at the University of Aarhus in Denmark found that nose blowing during a cold creates enormous pressure and can propel infectious mucus into the sinuses. The investigators confirmed that this happens by putting a contrast dye into the noses of some of their study participants and looking at their sinuses via CT scans after the subjects sneezed. They found that only voluntarily blowing the nose created enough pressure to force mucus into the sinuses - coughing and sneezing had no such effect. So if you can’t blow, what can you do about uncomfortable stuffiness or a drippy nose? You might try a decongestant for the stuffiness. And if you really feel you have to blow your nose, do so one nostril at a time - a technique that cuts down on the pressure.
Optimize Your Health
Dr. Weil's Optimum Health Plan provides information on nutrition, health conditions, and fitness, with helpful tools and guidance to help you optimize your health. Visit today and get a free recipe!
Apple Oat-Bran Muffins
Commercially baked muffins have become as large as small birthday cakes and loaded with calories and fat. These muffins, on the other hand, are delicious and loaded with fiber and heart-friendly oat bran. They may truly be the breakfast of champions. You may use Granny Smith or Gravenstein apples, but feel free to try your favorite green apple. You can freeze what you don't consume right away for a later date.
View Recipe
Healthy Aging Tip
Courtesy of Dr. Weil on Healthy Aging
Cheap, Healthy Eats: Canned Fruits and Vegetables. Because fruits and vegetables are usually canned soon after they are picked, many of their nutrients are maintained. Some types of processing - heat processing of sweet corn, for example - boost antioxidant activity, and canned or bottled tomatoes may be a better source of absorbable lycopene than fresh tomatoes. Look for brands made from organically grown produce and choose canned fruit that is packed in its own natural juices or water, rather than in heavy syrups, which add unnecessary calories and sugar.
Featured Discussion:
“Are the Obamas setting a good exercise example?” asks Liz P.
Apparently our new President and First Lady are "exercise addicts"…Maybe, in the light of soaring obesity and diabetes rates … we will begin to re-think our approach to diet, exercise and the trend of thinking "less is more" in regards to physical exercise…(Do you have) plans to alter or enhance fitness training for 2009?
Sponsor
Weil Juvenon For Healthy Aging
As we grow older, a variety of factors can damage the ability of our cells to generate energy, which in turn can lower overall health and vitality. Help improve your cellular health with Weil Juvenon Healthy Aging Support.
What’s New
Natural Products Expo West 2009
Anaheim March 6-9, 2009
The Role of Food and Supplements in the Health Care of the Future
Dr. Weil will speak about health care and disease prevention at Natural Products Expo West this year. As the US health care system collapses from escalating costs, we will be forced to shift our priorities to disease prevention and health promotion instead of intervention. Practitioners and patients will increasingly demand high-quality foods and supplements to maintain optimum health and treat common disease conditions.
6th Annual Nutrition & Health Conference
Chicago, May 10-13, 2009
Expanding on the growing success of previous Nutrition and Health conferences, the 2009 meeting, co-directed by Dr. Andrew Weil, will assemble an outstanding faculty of internationally-known scientific researchers, skilled clinicians, innovative chefs, and best-selling authors whose work focuses on the interface between nutrition and healthful living. The course provides essential information for health professionals who address issues of food and nutrition in their clinical practices, including the latest research findings, practical recommendations for clinical care, and challenging discussions of public policy.
FEATURED PRODUCTS
Newsletters
