Medicinal cannabis is on everyone’s lips nowadays. Yet there is much confusion about how to use or prescribe medicinal cannabis, as well as the legalities around dispensing and distributing this product. Now a Cannabis Panel Discussion by leaders in the field will demystify this current and important topic at the 2nd Conference for Integrative Medicine at the Lord Charles … [Read more...]
Your right to choose natural health products is under threat
Be warned …your favourite herbal, homeopathic and nutritional products will soon either be banned or become unaffordable, unless you say ‘NO!‘ This will later expand to include natural skincare products and African Traditional Medicines. The current regulatory regime imposed on traditional & natural health products stems from controversial ‘Complementary Medicine … [Read more...]
Pushing the edges to a new frontier of medicine
The medical world and patients alike are searching for new solutions to chronic diseases that will not only mask symptoms but lead to full recovery. The place to find these answers is at the second SA Congress of Integrative Medicine from 17 – 18 November at the Lord Charles Hotel in Somerset West. “At this stage of Integrative medicine (IM), each one of us is still a … [Read more...]
How to stop pesticide spraying in your area
The spraying of agricultural chemicals is widespread, not just on farmlands, vineyards and fruit orchards, but also in towns, public parks and gardens, playgrounds, schools, sports fields and on verges. These notes may help you, should you find yourself exposed to spray drift. There are a few laws in South Africa that protect people and the environment: Fertilizers, farm … [Read more...]
Should healing CBDs become a schedule 4 prescription drug?
On the 28th of July the Medicines Control Council, in consultation with the Minister of Health gazetted a regulatory notice scheduling various substances in terms of section 22A(2) of the Medicines and Related Substances Act (Act No. 101 of 1965). One of the substances hidden at the bottom of page 27 of the gazette was Cannabidiol, or more commonly known as CBD. All … [Read more...]
Like, share and win – competition to help tortoise get perspective
You know the story of tortoise who rested at the dam when eagle landed next to him? “Look at these magnificent reeds and all this water,” he said. “This is all there is.” Eagle ascended into the heavens bearing tortoise in his claws. Tortoise saw the whole dam, he saw the animals running across the plains, then he saw the curve of the earth. Eagle put tortoise down in the … [Read more...]
Chronic disease remains chronic with drugs
In August 2010 the New York Times ran a front page story entitled ‘Years later, No Magic Bullet Against Alzheimer’s Disease’. Of course they meant that there is no magic drug or surgical approach that makes a real difference. The same statement could be applied to most chronic disease today. Chronic disease remains chronic with drugs. They may work symptomatically but that is … [Read more...]
Research reveals mammograms may do more harm than good
Millions of women are wrongly diagnosed with ‘breast cancer’ concluded the National Cancer Institute (NCI) commission last year, thanks to over-diagnosis via mammograms. This is because what is known as ‘early stage cancers’ such as ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) should not be regarded as cancers, but benign or indolent growths. In an attempt to quantify the benefits and … [Read more...]
How to care for breasts naturally this Pink October
Most women have no idea that simply not wearing a bra can have a major impact on the likelihood of developing breast cancer - one of the major killers of women in the western world. It is also one of the most over-diagnosed and over-treated conditions. A new study from Brazil, published in May 2016 in the journal Advances in Oncology Research and Treatments, explains that … [Read more...]
Women and babies thrive by ditching disposables
When my daughter was small I overheard a conversation between her and a friend, who asked her what karma was. “Well,” she said,” it’s like this. You know the planet is round? So if you do anything to anyone that badness or goodness goes right around the planet, then hits you from behind.” How true. And so it is with anything we try to toss. “Disposable” anything is not cool, … [Read more...]
Health for all demands switch from intervention to prevention
Despite the best efforts of our National Department of Health to reduce the burden of disease in South Africa, many of today’s most common diseases including cancer, heart disease, diabetes and other diseases of lifestyle continue to rise sharply in numbers. Just the number of those diagnosed with type 2 diabetes continues to rise unabated, despite increasing disease management … [Read more...]
A new threat to traditional and natural health products
A newly adopted African Union Model Law on Medical Products Regulation and the establishment of an African Medicines Agency threatens to undermine the sovereignty of all African Nation-States in their regulation of medicines. This scheme, drafted behind closed doors, will significantly boost Big Pharma’s market-share on the continent, and will ensnare Traditional & Natural … [Read more...]
Zuma signs away our access to natural health
It has happened. President Jacob Zuma has signed the Medicines and Related Substances Amendment Bill 6 of 2014 into law in terms of section 84(2) of the Constitution. This new Act creates a new legal framework for the Medicines Control Council (MCC) to be scrapped, and for the establishment of a new South African Health Products [sic] Regulatory Authority (SAHPRA), similar … [Read more...]
