The Unhealthy Alliance

Crusaders for "health freedom

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A special report by the
American Council on Science and Health
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American Council on Science and Health
1995 Broadway, 18th Roor
New Yofk, NY 10023
(212) 362-7044
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Alliance
Crusaders for "health freedom"t

1988, American Council on Science and Health
1995 Broadway, 18th Floor
New York, NY 10023
(212) 362-7044
This special report was written by Stephen Barrett, M.D., Scientific and editorial consultant to the American Council of Science and
Health (ACSH). Dr. Barrett, who practices psychiatry in Allentown, Pennsylvania, edits the Nutrition Forum newsletter and is co-
author/editor of 21 books including Vitamins and "Health" Foods: The Great Amrican Hustle. In 1984 he received the FDA
Commissioner's Special Citation Award for Public Service in fighting nutrition quackery.
ACSH gratefully acknowledges the comments and c0nttibutions of the following individuals who reviewed this report:
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Eric S. Berger, M.D. Fredrick J. Stare, M.D., Ph.D.
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American Council on Science and Health Harvard School of Public Health
F. J. Francis, Ph.D.
University of Massachusetts
Paul M. Hyman, Esq.
Washington, D.C.
Edward G. Remmers, Sc.D.
American Council on Science and Health
Stephen S. Sternberg, M.D.
Memorial Sloan-Kettering
Jack S. Weinstein, MD., J.D.
South Orange, N.J.
Elh:abeth M. Whelan, Sc.D., M.P.H.
American Council on Science and Health
The opinions expressed in ACSH publicatioos do not necessarily represent the views or all ACSH Directors and Advisors.
What is the American Council on Science and Health?
The American Council on Science and Health is a con-
sumer education organization concerned with issues re-
lated to food, nutrition, chemicals, pharmaceuticals, life-
style, the environment and health. ACSH is an independ-
ent, non-profit, trut-exempt association.
The nucleus of ACSH is a board of more than 200 physi-
cians, scientists, and policy advisors-experts in a wide
variety of fields who review the Council's reports and
participate in ACSH seminars, press conferences, media
communications and other educational activities.
With these goals in mind, ACSH produces a wide range of
publications including peer-reviewed reports; a bimonthly
newsletter covering current health issues; an infonnal
quarterly newsletter covering ACSH activities that in-
volve advisors, executives and staff; consumer infonna-
tion flyers; and proceedings from ACSH seminars and
conferences.
In addition, ACSH produces a nationally sYncticated radio
commentary series, hosts annual seminars and press con-
ferences and presents an annual award to an outstanding
scientists for his or her achievements. ACSH also directs
an in-house internship program for students in health
science fields and participateS inlegislative and regulatory
hearings, radio and television pro#'IRIS/public
and other forums; and ACSH's research findings receive
extensive coverage in the news media.
Individual memberships are available at $40 per year and
include all ACSH publications and future scientific re-
ports. Reduced rates ($15 per year) are offered to students,
senior citizens and libraries. Subscription to ACSH News
& Views only is available at $15.
Please make all checks payable to American Council on
Science and Health, and mail to: ACSH, 1995 Broadway,
18th floor, New York, NY 10023
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
Section Page
Introduction ............................................................................................. 3
National IIealth Federation ..................................................................... 3
NH:Fs board chainnan ............................... 4
Odler NH:F leaders ............................................................................. 6
NIIFs "Vitamin Bill" ....................................................................... 11
Promotion of laetrile .................................................................... 11
Opposition to fluoridation ................................................................. 12
Health Alternatives Legal Foundation ................................................... 13
American Quack Association ............................................................ 13
Coalition for Alternatives in Nutrition and Health Care ........................ 13
Overview ................................................................................................ 15
Appendix I: Glossary of questionable methods .. :: ................................ 15
Appendix Il: Antiquackery groups ......................................................... 16
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INTRODUCTION
The National Health Federation is an alliance of promoters and
followers who engage in lobbying campaigns and many other ac-
tivities. The Health Alternatives Legal Foundation, led by
attorneys, is working primarily through the courts. The Ameri-
can Quack Association is a mutual support network of "holistic"
practitioners. The Coalition for Alternatives in Nutrition and
Health Care is primarily involved in lobbying. All four groups
are antagonistic toward accepted medical practices and use the
words "alternative" and "freedom" to suit their own purposes.
Many of their leaders have been involved in questiooable health
activities, and some have even been convicted of crimes involv-
ing such methods.
-r'fHE NATIONAL HEALTH
FEDERATION (NHF)
The National Health Federation is
headquartered in Monrovia, California and
maintains a legislative office in Washing-
ton, D.C. Its members pay from $20 pel'
year for "regular" membership to a total of
$1,000 or more for "perpetual" member-
ship. NllF members receive occasional
mailings and a monthly magazine called
Health Freedom News (formerly called
Public Scrutiny and theNHF Blllletin).
According to the National Health Federa-
tion Handbook, any two members can start
a local chapter by adopting NHFs
constitution and bylaws. naining tempo-
rary officers alldteeeiving cie.ance from
NllF headquarters. Currendy NHF has 78
chapters in 29 states and about 20,000
members.
Since its formation. NHFs stated purpose
has been topromOlie "medom of choicle ..
by consumers. As expessed for years in
its Bulletin:
NHF opposes monopoly aNl o m p u l ~
sion in things related to health wltere
the safety and welfare of others are
not concerned. NHF does not oppose
nor approve any specific healing pro-
fession or their methods, but it does
oppose the efforts of any one group to
restrict the freedom of practice of
f!.ualified members of another profes-
sion, thus attempting to create a mo-
nopoly.
At first glance, this credo may seem
"democratic" and somehow related to
unfair business competition. What NHF
really means, however, is that goverm:nent
should not help scienlifically-based health
care to drive unproven methods out of the
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nwtetplace. NHF wants anyone who
claims to have an effective treatment or
product to be allowed to mskel it without
scientific proof that it works.
NHF promota questionable bealdl
methods and ... little intaest in medically
accepable types of ueaament. Health
Freedom News contains ads for question-
able treatments and products that are being
mmteted illegally. Nutritional fads,
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mylbs, and gimmicks are menlioned
favorably by NHF publications and
convention speakers. Worthless cancer
treabnents, particularly laetrile. have been
promoted in the same ways. Articles in
NH:F publications look with disfavor on
such proven public health measures as
pasteurization of milk, immunization,
water flumdation, and food irradiation.
Use of nutritimal supplements is encour-
aged by claims that mo&im food process-
ing depletes our food supply of its
nutrients. "Natural" and "organic"
products are promoted with suggestions
thal: our food supply is "poisoned."
Chiropractic, naturopathy and homeopathy
are regarded favorably. Books that
promote questionable health concepts are
given favorable reviews. Antiquackery
legislation is condemned. Underlying all
these messages is the idea that anyooe
who opposed NHF's ideas is part of a
"conspiracy" of govttnment, organized
medicine and big business against the little
consumer.
NHF is very aclive in the political arena.
fl pesents testimony to regulatory
agencies and sponsors legislation aimed at
keeping govenunent infelference with the
health food indmtry to a minimum. To
bolster the influence of its lobbyist, it assc'ssed $2,750 and served two years'
generates letter-writing campaigns that summary probation.
urge legislators and government officials
to support NHF positions. These cam- able and false nutritional information in In 1973, Donsbach was charged with nine
paigns typically include charges of perse- the world." more counts of illegal activity, including
cution, discrimination and conspiracy. misbranding of drugs; selling, holding for
NHF also files lawsuits against govern- NHF's board chairman or offering for sale, new drugs with-
ment agencies and helps defend people
Kurt W. Donsbach, D.C., N.D., D.Sc.,
out having the proper applications on file;
prosecuted for selling questionable
Ph.D., has been chairman ofNHF's board
and manufacturing drugs without a
"health" products or services. Not surpris-
of governors since 1975, when he replaced
license. After pleading "no contest" to
ingly, most of NHF' s leaders have been
Fred Hart. His other activities and
one 'Of the "new drug" charges, he was
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economically involved with the issues it
enterprises have been so numerous and
ordered to pay a small fine and was placed
has promoted.
complex that no one-including Donsbach
on two year,s' summary probation with the
himself-seems able to document all of
provision that be of all
NHF was founded in 1955 by Fred J. Hart,
them with certainty.
proprietaryjnlerest in Westpro Labs. In
who was president of the Electronic 1974, he was.found guilty of violating his
Medical Foundation, a company that
Donsbach (pronounced Dons-bah)
probation and was fined again.
marketed quack devices. In 1954, Hart
graduated in 1957 from Western States
and his foundation were ordered by a U.S.
Chiropractic College, iqPortland, Oregon,
Donsbach sold the company to RichLife,
District Court to stop distributing 13
and practiced as a chiropractor in Mon-
Inc., bf .}naheim, California, a subsidiary
devices with false claims that they could
tana, "specializing in treatment of arthritic
of Moxie Industries, of Atlanta, Georgia,
diagnose and treat hundreds of diseases
and rheumatoid disorders." FroM 1961 to
for $250,000. He was also promised
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and conditions. In 1962, Hart was fined
1965 he worked in "research development
$20,000 a year for occasionally conduct-
by the court for violating this order. Hart
and marketing" for Standard Process
ing seminars and operating the company's
died in 1976, but his widow still serves as
Laboratories (a division of Royal Lee's
booth at trade shows. The agreement also
NHF's executive secretary.
Vitamin Products Company) and the Lee
gave RichLife sole right to market Dr.
Foundation for Nutritional Research,
Donsbaeh Pak Vitamins, which RichLife
Royal S. Lee, D.D.S., a nonpracticing
headquartered in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
later described as "specialized formulas"
dentist who died in 1967, helped Hart to "help make your life less complicated,
found NHF and served on its board of
While Donsbach worked for Lee, he lived
more healthy." Among the products were
governors. Lee owned and operated the
in California, did literature research, and
Arth Pak, Athletic Pak, Dynamite Pak,
Vitamin Products Company, which sold
gave nutrition seminars (primarily to
Health and Beauty Pak and Stress Formula
food supplements, and the Lee Foundation
chiropractors) on how to determine
Pak.
for Nutritional Research, which distributed
nutritional deficiencies. In 1962, he
literature on nutrition and health. One of
acquired a doctor of naturopathy (N.D.)
Donsbach then became president of
the vitamin company's products was
degree from the now-defunct Hollywood
Metabolic Products, a company specializ-
Catalyn, a patent medicine composed of
College of Naturopathic Medicine and
ing in "orthomolecular concepts," which
milk sugar, wheat starch, wheat bran and
became licensed as a natumpath in
he sold in 1975. According to literature
other plant material. During the early
Oregon. After Lee became ill, Donsbach
from Metabolic Products, its garlic extract
1930s, a shipment of Catalyn was seized
lefl his employ and opened Nature's Way
could "prevent cellular deterioration," its
by the FDA and destroyed by court order
Health Food Store, in Wesuninster,
alfalfa product had "anti-toxin properties"
because it had been marketed with false
California, and Westpro Laboratories, in
which could help to overcome "-itis
claims of effectiveness against serious
Garden Grove, California, which repack-
diseases," and so on.
diseases. In 1945, Lee and his company
aged dietary supplements and a few drugs.
were ordered by the FDA to discontinue In 1975, Donsbach began producing Dr.
illegal claims for Catalyn and other
In 1970, undercover agents of the Fraud
Donsbach teltsyiJueverything you always
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products. In 1956, the Post Office
Division of the California Bureau of Food
wanted to know about .. ., a large series of
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Deparunent charged Lee's foundation
and Drug observed Donsbach representing
booklets on such topics as acne, arthritis,

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with fraudulent promotion of a book
to customers in his store that vitamins,
cataracts, ginseng, glandular extracts,
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called Diet Prevents Polio. The founda-
minerals and/or herbal tea were effective
heart disease, and metabolic eancer
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tion agreed to discontinue the challenged
against cancer, heart disease, emphysema
therapies. According to Donsbach, more -
claims. In 1962, Lee and the Vitamin
(a chronic lung disease) and many other
than eight million have been sold. The
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Products Company were convicted of booklets were published by the lnterna- 1j
ailments. Most of the ptoducts Donsbach
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misbranding 115 special dietary products
"prescribed" were packaged by Westpro
tional Institute of Natural Health Sci- ,.
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by making false claims for the treaunent
Labs. Charged with nine counts of illegal
by Donsbach-which
j of more than 500 diseases and conditions.
activity, Donsbach pleaded guilty in 1971
sold distribution rights to RichLife.
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Lee received a one-year suspended prison
to one count of practicing medicine
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term and was fined $7,000. In 1963, a
without a license and agreed to cease
In 1980, the District Attorney of Orange
prominent FDA official said Lee was
"nutritional consultation." He was
County charged RichLife with making

"probably the largest publisher of unreli- false and illegal claims for various
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products, including some originally
fonnuJated by Donsbach. In a court-
approved settlement, RichLife paid
$50,000 and agreed to stop making the
claims. In 1986, RichLife was charged
with violating this agreement and was
assessed $48,000 more in another court-
approved seuJement.
In 1984, Donsbach was sued by JzOb
Stake, of Urbana. Illinois. who claims that
he became ill and wu hospitali7.ed as a
result of ingesting large amounts of
vitamin A over a 2 lfl-year period. The
suit papers state that Stake began fating
the vitamin at age 16 because
recommended in Doosbach's bootlet on
acne. The case is sdD pending.
During the mid-1970s, Donsbach affiliated
with Union University, an unaccredited
school in Los Angeles, where he says he
acquired a master's degree in molecular
biology and a Ph.D. in nutrition. In a
deposition in the Stake case, he testified
that he also was awarded an honorary
doctor of science degree from Christian
University, an unaccredited school which
had operated in Los Angeles. However,
two reporters have said he told them that
his "D.Sc." was oblairied from a Midwest
Bible college.
In 1977, Union University formed a
Department of Nutrition, "with Kurt
Donsbach, Ph.D., Sc.D., as Dean of the
Department." RichLife then offered
scholarships to its retailers who wished to
further their education. Later Donsbach
launched and became president of his own
school, Donsbach University, which in
1979 was "authorized" by California to
grant degrees. This status had nothing to
do with accreditation or other ac8demic
recognition, but merely required the fding
of an affidavit which describes the
school's program and aMerts filing of an
affidavit the school's
program and asserts that it has at least
$50,000 in &Mets.
Donsbech University, which operaled
mainly by mail, initially offered courses
leading to B.S., M.S. and Ph.D. "degrees"
in nutrition at fees ranging from $1,495 to
$3,795, with a 20% discount for advance
payment Most of the "textbooks" required
for the ''buic curriculum" were books
written for the general public by promot-
ers of questionable nuuition practices,
including Donsbach, Carlton Fredericks,
Lendon Smith, and Robert Atkins. The
original "facuhy" had seven members,
including Donsbach, and Alan H. Nittler,
M.D. {who. according to NHF. "1osl his
medical license in 1915 becw he
utilized nutritional therapiesj. But ads for
the school promised "the finest quality
rmtrilicn education available anywhere.
Donsbach University also offered counes
in iridology. homeopathy. herbal dlerapy,
and chiropractic administration,
as well as a $495 .. mini-course" in
nutriticn for rewlers who wanted a
"Dietary Consultant" certificate.
In 1980, one of the schoots advisors,
Benjamin Colimore, was prosecuted by
the Los Angeles City Attorney for conduct
during the operation of a health food store
owned by him and his wife. Prosecution
was initiated after a customer complained
that the Colimores had diagnosed a bad
heart valve, pancreatic abscesses and
benign growths of her liver, intestine and
stomach-all based oo an analysis of her
hair-and prescribed two products from
the store. After pleading "no contest" to
one C01Dlt of practicing medicine without a
license, the Colimores were fined $2,000,
given a (,()-day suspended jail sentence,
and placed on probation for two years.
In 1979, Donsbach began publishing the
Journal of the International Academy of
Nutritional Consultants, with Dr. Nittler
as its editor. The first issue had a press run
of about 25,000 copies, most of which
were sent free-of-charge to chiropractors.
The second issue explained that Academy
members could be listed in a directory,
and that the Academy ''will .in no way
encourage or tolerate the practice of
medicine under the gilise of nutritional
consultation" and would establish a legal
fund to protect its members from "undue
and unfair harassment by bureaucracies or
agencies." Regular membership in the
Academy, open to anyone, cost $10 per
yeat (later taised to $11/year) an(fm-
cluded a subscription to its journal,
Professi<>nAd membership, which cost $50
per year, included a directory listing plus a
''beautiful certificate f<r your office."
Sustaining membership, which cost $150
per year, gave a 15% discount on advertis-
ing in the joUmal. Most of its 50 or so
sustaining members had commercial
interests in methods promoted by the
journal. In 1981, the journal was renamed
Health Express. Donsbach took over as
editor-in-chief, and efforts were made to
market it through health food s&ores and

One of the journal's many am was for
nutritional cassette tapes. made by
Donsbach, which could be otJtained by
writing to "Dr. Donshlcb'sTll>es .. at the
as his scboors. A retailer
who responded to the ad was sent two
price lists. not from the school. but from
Health Education Products, a company
apparently localed neimy. One lisl was for
Donsbach's "Health Library" (of boots
and lxdlets) and cassette tapes (which
includcJJappier Sex Ufe and Herbal
Medicine)!' The other was for food
supplement fonnulas such as Optimum
Nutrition, High Q, Anti-Oxidant Fonnula,
Stress Nutrition, Renew-F and Renew-M.
According to a catalog ofNutri-Books, the
largest distributor of books and related
products to health food stores, Dr.
Donsbach's Nutritional Tape Cassettes are
"like having Dr. Donsbach as your
personal physician right in yom own
home. Each ... gives pertinent infonnation
and direction to aid in diagnosis and
remedial action."
During 1983, the International Academy
of Nutritional Consultants merged with a
similar group to become the American
Association of Nutritional Consultants.
For a few months, Donsbach was listed as
chainnan of the group's national board of
cmmselors and later he was listed as a
contributing editor to its joumal, which
also incorporated Health Express. In 1983
and 1984, Donsbach was listed as pub-
lisher of the Journal of Ultramokcular
Medicine, a publication for homeopaths
who use computerized galvanometers to
diagnose disease. He has also published a
4-page newsletter called Herb-Letter.
In 1982,DooSbaCh formed and became
board chairman of Health Resources
Group, Inc., which sold supplement
products to health food stores through
HRG Enterprises (formerly called D&B
Enterprises) and a multilevel company
called Nutrition Motivation. HRG also
operated Preventive Medicine and
Nutrition Care Centers in Huntington
Beach and Monrovia, California, and a

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syndicated radio talk show called "Let's
Talk Health," which Donsbach hosted.
HR.G's products were promoted frequently
during the broadcasts, which were beamed
by satellite to about 20 small stations.
Listeners were invited to call in questions
on a toll-free number.
In 1984, Donsbach announced that he had
repurchased from RichLife the right to sell
products with his name, and HRG began
promoting such products as Orachel
(claimed to be effective against heart
disease), C-Thru (claimed to be effective
against cataracts) and Prosta-Pak (''nutti-
tional support for the prostate gland").
In June 1985, the FDA sent Dombach and
HRG a regulatory letter indicating that
claims made for Orachel made it an
unapproved new drug that was illegal to
market. A few months later, New York
State Attorney Genezal Robert Abrams
had Orachel seized from several retail
outlets in the New York City area and
filed suit to block further sale and distribu-
tion of the product throughout the state. It
turned out, however, that before either of
these actions were taken, Donsbach had
transferred ownership of HRG Enterprises
to a business associate. Marketing of
Orachel was stopped, but Ora-Flow, an
identical Donsbach product, is still being
marketed.
In July 1985, Abrams brought actions
against Donsbach, his University, and the
International Institute of Natural Health
Sciences, charging that they lacked legal
authorization to conduct busiDess within
New York State and that it was illegal tg
advertise unaccredited degrees to state
residents. Abrams also charged that the
Institute's Nutrient Deficiency Test was "a
scheme to defraud consumers" by induc-
ing them to buy dietary supplements to
correct supposed deficiencies
with the test.
This test was composed of 245 yes/DO
questions about symptoms. When the
answers are fed into a computer, a report
of supposed nutrient deficiencies and
medical conditions is printed out How-
ever, experts who have evaluated the
questions did not believe they provide a
basis for evaluating nutritional status.
Moreover, a scientist with the FDA's
Buffalo district office who analyzed the
test's computer program in connection
with prosecution of a Dons1)ach University
"graduate" found that no matter how the
questions were answered, the test reported
several "nutrient deficiencies" and almost
always recommended ari identical list of
vitamins, minerals and digestive enzymes.
The questionnaire also contained a section
with questions about the subject's food
intake during the past week. However, the
answers given did not affect the printout
of supposed deficiencies!
In 1986, Donsbach and the Institute agreed
to: 1) restrict the sale of its NUJrient
Deficiency Test to health care profession-
als legally authorized w-piactice within
New York State; 2) stop marketing in New
York State all current versions of its
nutrient deficiency questionnaire and
associated computer analysis services; 3)
place conspicuous disclaimers on future
versions of the questionnaire to indicate
that the test should not be used for the
diagnosis or treatment of any disease by
either consumers or professionals; and 4)
pay $1,000 in costs. Donsbach and the
University agreed to disclose in any direct
mailings to New York residents or in any
nationally distributed publication that the
school's degree programs are not regis-
tered with the New York Department of
Education and are not accredited by any
accrediting commission recognized by the
U.S. Department of Education. The
University also agreed to pay $500 to New
York State.
During 1986 and part of 1987, Donsbach
was .. therapy CQOrdinator" of the Bio-
Genesis Institute in Baja. Mexico, which
offered "chronic and acute care for
degenerative disorders." Included in its
scope were "aging rejuvenation, allergies,
arthritis, cancer, cataracts,
immune stimulation, and multi.pk sclero-
sis." The treaunents offered included oral
and intravenous chelation thttapy, laetrile.
live cell therapy, homeopathy, DMSO,
and colonic,s! Hydrogen peroxide was also
used intravmottsly. and in ear
drops, a nasal spray, a tooth gel, a pain
gel, breath drops and enemas. The cost of
treatment at IDstiture was.$795
for the 4 Day Executive Program, $2, 750
for the 11 Day Rejuvenation Program, and
$5,000 for the 24 Day Total Pro-
gram. But the Institute's information
packet included a 20% discount certificate
and stated that "there will be no charge if
your condition is unimproved by the time
you leave."
In 1987, Dombach University announced
that Donsbach had resigned as president
and board chairman and that the school
would be renamed International Univer-
sity for Nutrition Education. Donsbach
also began operating the newly-built
Hospital Santa Monica, in Baja, Mexico,
whose 21 Day Total Care Program is
similar to that advertised for the Biogene-
sis Institute. Brochures from Hospital
Santa Monica describe it as a 60-bed
multimillion dollar facility and st.8te that
payment in advance is required. Patients
insurance must)J!l!Y $5,000 with
cash or a tashier'scheck, while those with
satisfactory insurance must deposit
$2,500.
Donsbach has claimed that thousands of
people have enrolled in his university and
that more than 1,000 have graduated. As
his graduates began representing them-
selves to the public as nutrition profes-
sionals, the American Dietetic Association
began a drive for passage of state laws to
restrict use of the word ''nutritionist" to
qualified professionals with accredited
training. NHF is opposed to such legisla-
tion.
Donsbach's logo is "Health is Wealth."
Despite his apparently enormous gross
income, he filed for in March
1987, listing no assets and over $3 million
in debts claimed by more than 100
creditors.
Other NHF leaders
During NHF's early years, Andrew S.
Rosbenberger served as the group's
"nutrition chairinan" and spoke at NHF
conventions. For many years, he and his
brother a large chain of
health food stores called Nature Food
Centers. In 1938, their finn made an
agreement with the FI'C to stop making
therapeutic claims for more than 20

During the 1950s, the Post Office Depart-
ment filed a number of compJainfs against
the firm for making faJse thapeutic
claims for various products. In each case,
the company agreed to discontinue the
claims. In 1962, the Rosenberger brothers
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Walter Douglas Brodie, M.D., bas been
were fined $5,000 each and given 6-month convicted twice of failing to file income
suspended prison sentencm f<X" misbrand- tax returns. In 1977 be wm sentenced to
ing dietary products. Nature Food Centers determine whether it was brought in good six months in prison, and in 1987. be was
was fined $10,000. faith." {In other words, plaintiffs would fined $10,000 and sentenced to one year in
probably be held responsible for the prison and five years' probation. In a 1983
Clinton Miller bas been NHF's legislative defendants' legal bills.) leuer describing bow he bas prescribed
advocate since 1962 and bas also served as laetrile and other "alternative" cancer
NHF's executive director. Beforeccming' Robert Atkins, M.D., is author of Dr. treatments, be stated that be bad moved
to NHF be chailed the antiftuoridation Atkins' Diet Revolution, Dr. Atkins' his practice to Nevada after "political

committee of Utah, which helped make Superenergy Diet, and Dr. Atkins' Nutri- persecution" by the California State Board
Utah the least fluoridated state in the U.S. lion Breakthrough. He refers to himself of Medical Quality Assurance. which bad
In the 1960s and early 1970s he operated and like-minded colleagues as "the unsuccessfully attempted to discipline him
t Clinton's Wheat Shop (a health food pioneers of Nutrition medicine who risked several times.
store) in Bountiful, Utah, and Miller's their professional standing to develop the
Honey Company in Salt Lake City. During methodology that led to the Nutrition Kirkpatrick Dilling, NHF's general
this period the FDA took seven enforce- Breakthrough." Atkins condemns the counsel, is an attorney who specializes in
ment actions (two citations and five medical profession as "pill poppers," and the issues in which NHF has been in-
seizures) involving products marketed by drug pushers, but IKtdoes qot hesitate to volved. He has also been the attorney for
these companies. One was a seizure from recommend large doses of nutritional the c8n&r i=onttol Society, a group that
the wheat shop in 1962 of some "dried supplements for a wide variety of diseases promotes questionable methods of cancer
Swiss whey" which the FDA considered and conditions. treatmenL
misbranded when claimed as effective in
treating intestinal disorders. The whey was Atkins directs The Atkins Centers for H. Ray Evers, M.D., is a leading practi-
retmned when Miller agreed to change its Complementary Medicine in New Y ort. tioner of "chelation therapy" for a wide
labeling. In 1976, he was an unsuccessful City. Prospective patients are asked to list range of chronic diseases, but primarily
candidate for the U.S. Senate. their symptoms and health problems and for corooary artery disease. He claims to
to complete a 56-question Alkins Health have treated more than 20,000 patients and
NHF's 27-person board of governors bas Indicator Test which asks mainly about supervised more than 500,000 chelation
included the following people. Current symptoms of tension. An evaluation costs treatments since 1964. In 1976, at the
(1987) members are italicized: $380 for the initial visit plus $200 for FDA's request, a Louisiana federal judge
blood tests at an outside laboratory and prohibited Evers from using chelation
David Ajay was president of the Na- $125 for the follow-up visit with Dr. therapy in Louisiana. Testimony in the
tional Nutritional Foods Association Atkins. All patients undergo hair analysis, cue suggested that at least 14 patients had
(NNFA), a trade association representing chiropractic screening, glucose tolerance died from this therapy at Evers' hospital.
some 2,500 health food retailers, distn"bu- testing, and an electrocardiogram. An
tors and producers. In 1978, Ajay an- Atkins Psychodiagnostic Test Battery Evers subsequently set up practice in
nounced "Operation Counterattack," a ($150) and a Cytotoxic Food Sensitivities Montgomery, Alabama, despite
series of lawsuits against "detractors of Test ($180 or more) are strongly recorn- FDA efforts, an A1abema judge allowed
our industry Who have been calling us mended. A consultation with C&rlton him to continue the use of chelation
ripoffs." In 1979, he and two other NNFA Fredericks was $200. Vitamins prescribed therapy. Patients admitted to Evers' clinic
officials filed suit against Elizabeth M. as part of Atkins' .. Nuuitional Treatment signed a doctor-patient agreement which
Whelan, Sc.D., M.P.H., BxecUiiW Plan" are extra. read in part:
Director of the American Council on
Science and Health (ACSH) and Fredrick Norman J. Bassett was publisher of Let's I understand that the type of therapy
1. Stare, M.D., Ph.D., EmeriJus Professor Uve, a magazine that promotes question- given at the RAMAR CUNIC may
Ii<
of Nutrition. Harvanl School of Public able health not be in perfect agreement wilh the
Health and cliairlnM of ACSfriboard of so-called orthodox methods <f

directors. Even though Drs. Whelan and Jeffrey S. Bland, Ph.D., a funner treatment as appr-oved by the AMA,
i
Stare bad never mentioned Ajay qr the biochemistry pofessor, is the health food FDA.or HEW; I understand that
.._
others in their publications, the suit industry's most prolific interpeterof thl. .. therapy given here is the type
charged theni with "recklessly. mali- nutritioo-iela1ecl scienf.ific developments. thtll the Physician QRd I both agree is
ciously and knowingly disseminating false He appears frequently at trade shows, the correctfllhlre of medicine. (By the
and defalilatory remarks with respect to writes and edits books, publishes the use of nutrition, enzymes, physical
plaintiffs and the health food industry" magazine Complementary Medicine, tltenlpy, mag11etic medicine, use of
through books and published articles. In poduces audio and video tapes, and pyramids, etc., or any other modali-
1980 the suit was dismissed by a federal conducts courses for pofessionals. He has ties that may be used to benefit
judge who warned that "any further suit by also been a research associate at die Linus mankind) . J willingly request this
plaintiffs against critics of the health food Pauling lnstitutt of Medicine and bas type of therapy and will abit:k by the
industry should be scrutinized carefully to directed its nutrient analysis laboratory. results.
i
I'
I
i
''
In 1979, Evers moved bis practice to lhe
Bahamas. According to the January 1980
NHF Bulletin, he left the U.S. because he
was .. tired of FDA harassment," he faced
million-dollar lawsuits by survivors of two
of bis patients who died,. and he was
unable to obtain insurance coverage as a
result of these various legal actions.
However, in 1980 he returned here and
opened lhe 90-bed Evers HeaJth Centa at
Sealy Springs. a 665-acie ,llineml bllh
resut in Cottonwood, Alabama. Accord-
ing to a chiropractic assOciate, Ewrs left
the Bahamas because be was unable to
obtain necessary work pmnits from lhe
Bahamian government.
Evers' letter of welcome to prospective
patients states that bis prstice has been
"limited to the diagnosis and llelllDe8I of
chronic degenerative c:tiseaaes.bJ the
nutritional, non-toxic, metabolic method
including chelation therapy. In
addition ... we have special regimes of
ueaunent fm lhe various 4iseaaes such
such as arthritis. ALS. MS. diabetes,
cancer, Paddnsm's disease, e&c." Since
1983, bis weekly rates We been from.
$2,400 to $2. 7SO f(ll' aoocanc patients
and $3,100 f(lrunca patients, widl one
week's payment required in advance. A
typical day at the clinic includes a visit
with Dr. Evers. spiaa1 manipulation by bis
chirop'actic associate, chdation therapy {3
hours). and other 1herapies such as
hyperbaric oxygm and colonic irrigation.
One of the diagnostic devices used at lhe
Even Health Cenfeds the AGcupatb 1000 ..
This is lhe galvanometer a
computer programmed to inteqntc
"elec'1:omagnetic energies emanating from
points corresponding to the body's various
organs and structures." Touching a probe
to various points in the bandsand feet
supposedly enables a teclmi<:ian to
die paaient"s,physical
problems lie by reeding Gia on dle
computtt screen. According to the clinic
brochure:
Once -your electromagnetic blueprint
has bu11 draw11 up ad pn1gM1&111ed
into the compfller, OW tecluticians ask
the complller to search it8 for
appropriate mallcal treatments . Jn
many cases the meditalitMs or olMr
treatmmts recOWl1Plalled will be
preventive ill 11t111n, duign:l to
correct potential problems IJejore IMy
result in actual-illnus." [Althougb
the brochure does not mealioo it. the
Accupatb 1000 is used to select ho-
meq>athic remedies, not conventional
drugs. The FDA cmsidezs the device
a .. significant heallh huald. j
In Decembes 1986, lhe Alabama Medical
Llcensure Commission revoked Evers'
medical license. but a circuit court judge
Slayed lhe revocaUoo it
in state court. Evers is also appealing a
suit challenging the basis of the licensing
law. According to an llUcJc in Alterna-
tives. the proceecUngs against Evers were
based on bis use of an llcllbal salve to treat
a 37-year-old woman who bad cancer and
died several mootbs later, preswnably of
her cancer. The revocalion was for
.. engaging in the practice of medicine in
such a mannel' as to endanger the health of
[the patient]," "using untruthful or
deceptive or improbable statements
concemillg the effects or resul&s of bis
propoaed ... "demonstrating
unprofessional conduct in the tteatrilent of
[the palient) ... The Commission also
concluded that constituted
.. gross malprac&ice.." His fee schedule
now states that he .no longer treats cancer
patients.
Michael Gerbu. M.D,. bad bis Califm
nia medical licenae revoked after hearbigs
before the Califomia Board of Medical
Quality Assurance in which he was
accused in 1984 of improperly administer-
ing to plQeP,ts. One patient was a 56-year-_
oldwoman widl trealable cancer who bad
allegedly died as a result of Gerber's
neglect while he lrea&ed her with herbs,
enzymes, ooft'ee enemas and chelation
thempy. The otberpalients were 3-year-
old twin boys with - ipfecQons far
which Gaber had JRSCrlbed 7(}.000 <a'
more Intemalional Units of vitamin A
daily andcoffeeenemas twiee daily f
several weeks. After his medical license
was revoked. Gerber acquired a homeo-
pltbic Jioew-1 bep1Jqaadl11eltaia
of clinics in Nevada.
Garry Gordm&. M.D., bas been president
of the American Aaldelny of MOOical
Preventics (eunendy . .ued the American
College of Advancement in Medicine), a
group of doctors wile do dlelalion
therapy. He has also been medical director
and board chainnan of Minera1ab {a large
COllPDClcial hair analysis laboratory) and
diftlCtQr of its subsidiary. Professional
Health Products. This company's "supple-
ment" poducts included Membron II {"fm
immediate and visible impovement and
relief f<X' your allergy and arthritis
patientsj and Cantioguard \'a unique,
adjunctive formula for use in prevention
and treabDellt of vascular diseasej. In
1985, Professional Health Products was
sold to Advaced Me<lical Nutrition, Inc.
(AMNI), but Oomon SIB)'eClon as techni-
cal and medieal consultant.
Bruce Halstead, M.D., was convicted in
1985 of 24 counts of cancer fraud and
granO fte!t for selling an babal tea called
ADS to Mil patients with cancer and other
serious diseases fur $125 to $150 pet
quart. Akhough J:Jalstead maintained that
ADS was a ''nutri&i<lnal supplement,"
analysis showed it to be 99.4% water and
a brownish mainly of
COlifOIUl found
in human feces). Halstead, who operated
the Halstead Preventive Medicine Clinic
in Colton, California. bas been a leading
promoter of laetrile, chelation tbelapy. and
many other questionable practices .
Following the trial, which lasted five
months,1.os.Angdes COQQly
District Attorney Hyatt Seligman called
him "a crook selling swamp water." He
was fined $10pOG and sentenced ID four
years in prison, but is still pac&icing w.hile
appealing Jria convic&ion . Aa:m:ting to an
article in Altematiwl. Hialstead main-
tained during bis trial that. be was the
target of a "Medical Ges&apo .. oot to
destroy health practitioners who deviate
from orthodox ami;er dlerapies such as
andchanotherapy.
.

Freedom of Choice in Medicine, which
promotes unproven methods of treatment
for cancer and other serious diseues.
Bruce Helvie bacl vitamin and mineral
products seized by die FDA be(:ause Ibey
were nuut$:d with false and misleading
claims for lhe of more than 25
Tho ieized
products.w'" destroyed by coosent decree
in 19(;().
John Hanauer, wbo died in 1976, had
been president of the National Association
!
j
of Naturopathic Physicians.
Bob Hoffman, who died in 1985,
published two bodybuilding magazines
(Strtngth and Health and AIJUCular
Development) and aold bodybuilding
equipment and food supplement products
through his t-OIDpUly, Y Barbell Co., of
York, PeDllS.ylVJmia. In
was charged with misbranding j&s Energol
Genn Oil Concentrate because literature
accompanying the oil claimed falsely dial
it could prevent or treat more than 120
diseases and conditions, including
epilepsy, gallstones and arthritis. The
material was desttoyed by consent decree.
In 1961, 15
were seized as misbranded. In 1968, a
larges number of products came Wider
attack by die government fm similar
reasons. In the coment decree that settled
the 1968 case, Hoffman and York Barbell
agreed to stop a long list of questionable
health claims for their products. In Im,
the FDA seized a shipment of three types
of York Barbell protein supplements.
charging that they were misbranded with
false and misleading bodybuilding claims.
A few months later, the seized products
were destroyed imder adefaaltdeaee. In
1974, the company was again charged
with misbranding Energol Ge.am Oil
Concentrate and protein supplements. The
wheat germ oil had been claimed to be of
special dietary value as a sourc.e of vigor
and energy. A variety of bodybuilding
claims bad been made for the protein
supplements. The seized products were
desttoyed under a consea.t deaee.
Despite his many brushes with the law,
Hoffman achieved coosidemble l!IOf'es-
sional prominence. During his athletic
career, first as an oarsman and then as a
weightlifter, he received OVC{ 600 tro-
phies, anctawards. He was the
Olympic weigbdiftingcoech1$m 1936 to
1968 and was a founding member of the
Presidenl's Council on Physical FiinesB
and Spmts. These activities helped mate
Hoffman a major factor in the growdl of
nutritional fads for athletes.
Max Huberman has been president of the
National Nutritional Foods Association
and a board member of the American
Natural Hygiene Society.
Victor Earl Irons, who was vice chair-
man of NHF's board of governors for
more than 20 years. Reeived a one-year
pison senteace in 1957 f<X' misbranding
Vit-Ra-Tox, a vitamin mixture sold door-
to-do<X'. In 1959.JbitJmPU of eight
poducts and accompanying literature
shipped by V .E. Irons, Inc., were de-
sttoyed under a consent deaee because
the products were being promoted with
false or misleading claims. Other seized
p-oducts were ordered destroyed in 1959
and 1960.
Irons claims that virtually everyone has a
"clogged colon." dial deposits of fecal
material and poisonous
gases" to "seep into your blood and poison
all your oqans and aissues," .,..i th8t "if
evecy person in this country took 2-3
home colonies a week, 95% of the doctors
would have to retire for lack of business."
Consistent with these ms, litenture from
V .E. Irons. Inc., of Natick, Mauachusetts,
states that "the most impol'fant procedure
toward fl"&Nning YCQ'. Health is the
COMPLETE and THOROUGH
of the colon, DO m8uer what or how long it
takes." This is the goal of the "Vit-Ra-Tox
Seven Day Cleansing Progmm." which
involves eating DO food, drinking a quart
<X' more of W8la' daily. using herbal
laxalives and variouS sappJement prod-
. ucts. and taldQI at least GDe strong black
coffee enema each day. Products for this
P'ogrBID cost $(JO, while those for main-
lellace after the seveadrdaf cost about
$100/month.
Bernard Jensen, D.C., is a Jeading
proponent of iridology, a system of
diagnosis based upon examinalion of the
eye. He fonnulatcd the and is
chairman of the healthMlvisory board of
Nova Nuttitional Ploducts. Inglewood,
Califi a JllQkileyel . . . &bat calls
onua.
itself "the ullimare in nuaritioml .tciencf "
Nova's products include Stress-Buster,
Immune Forte, and :Endurance Pb15. He
also was
of Vitality Intemationa(.a Seattle-based
multilevel ,inarketing C09JP8DY whose
poducts included a "life extension
f<X'mula" called New Youth.
Terence Lemerond is president of
Enzymat: 'Ibcnpy, Inc., of Orem Bay,
Wisconsin. which sells mere than 100
''nutritional f<X'muJas" containing vita-
mins, minerals, herbs, amino acids and/or
glandulllr tissue intended for the treatment
of health problems. lliegal therapeutic
claims for many of. these products have
been made in advertisements, seminars,
newsletters. "confidential reports,"
testimonial messages. and ''research
bulletins" given to health food retailers for
distribution to their customers. A recent
"professional price list" distributed to
health food stores lists the name and
number of SO formulas, each of which has
a corresponding "research report" cootain-
ing therapeutic cJaims that cannot be made
legally on J>'Oduct labels. In 1986 the
company's public relations fmn issued a
news releue claiming that Enzymatic
Therapy's Llv-a-tox "helps relieve liver
congespon." Company publications state
that SUl<lied nutrition fm- 20
. years and was a nutritional consultant for
nine years.
Andrew RL. McNau.ghlon has been a
cenb'al figure in the worldwi proi;notion
of laetrile. In 1977, he was placed on two
years' }X'Obation. aft.el' pleading guilty to a
criminal charge of conspiracy to facilitate
the transportation of smuggJed laetrile. He
bad a prior conviction in Canada f<X" a
stock fraud.
Robert S. Mendelsohn, M.D., was
NHF's president from 1981 to 1982. He
speaks frequeot1y 8l their conventions and
produces a newsleuer and a syndicated
newspaper column, both called The
People's Doctor. Although he has taught
at several medical schools ind been
chairman of the Illinois state lace.sing
board. Mendelschn considel's hioise1f a
"medical apposes, waler
flll<X'icJa,tion. immuni7.Blion. and licensing
of rultriuonists. One of this books charges
that "Modem Medicine's treatments for
disease are seldom effective, 8!Dd they're
often mom dangerous than the diseases
they're designed to treat"; that "around
ninety percent of surgery is" a waste of
time, MCJ life"; and dial
. are so kQely run that
murder i$. evon a clear and prepit
danger."
Mendelesolm is also president of the New
a tax-exempt
organization formed in the late 1970s to
support "innovative forms of medical
education of the public. and the medical
profession." At a meeting sponsored by
this group in 1984, he said:
Doctors complain that quacks keep
patients away from orthodox medi-
cine. I cheer! Since all the treatments,
both orthodox and alternative.for
cancer, coronary heart disease,
hypertension, stroU, and arthritis,
are equally waproven, why would a
sane person choose treatment that
can lcill the patient?
During the past two years, Mendelsohn
has appeared in ads by Natumlly Vitamin
SuppJements of Scottsdale, Arizona,
advocating daily use of Bio-Strath, a
product descn"bed as an herb and yeast
mixture containing "10 B-vitarnins, 19
minenls, 18 amino acids and important
active enzymes." (There are only eight B-
vitamins.) According to Mendelsohn,
Biostrath "can help people who experience
daily tiredness, fatigue and difficult
concentration ... may stimulale the inmnme
system. And may actually help us to
assimilate more natural fuel from the
foods we eat." These claims are illegal in
advertising and labeling. In 1986, the
National Nutritional Foods Association
gave Mendelsohn its annual Rachel
Carson Memorial Award for this "con-
cerns for the potection of the Amttican
consumer and health freedoms."
Betty Lee Morales, who died in 1987,
was president of the Cancer Control
Society. She published two newsletters,
owned a health food store, and was co-
owner of Eden Ranch, the company which
marketed Betty Lee Morales Signawre
Brand food suppJements. Promotional
material from Eden Ranch suggests that
Americans who do not use food supple-
ments run a significant risk of developing
deficiency mseases. Among its many
suppJement products are Lipottopic Plus,
to relieve and Nia-Flex, to
relieve stiff joints.
Dwing her career, Mrs. M<nles also
provided "nutritional consultations" by
telephone and by mail. In 1976. the
Lehigh Valley Committt.e Agaimt Health
Fraud (L VCAHF) tested the quality of her
advice after answering an ad in Let's Live
magazine for Eden Ranch products. The
reply contained a 2-page he8hh question-
naire which LVCAHF returned. indicating
that the writer, "age 61," was in good
health except that:
-
For several years I have had (on and
off) pain and swelling in the joints of
my fingers and weS. During tire past
few months, I have had attacks of
blUTred vision. Sometimes my eyes
ache and I see halos arolllUl lights at
night. Your suggestions would be
most welcome.
The arthritis symptomS, whiJe not specific,
were compan'ble with a diagnosis of gout,
a type of arthritis that can sometimes
benefit from a special diet. The eye
symptams were tatco from a textbook
description of glaucoma, a condition that
could soon lead to b1indiieaS if not
medically treated. Mrs. Mcxales' reply
contained a disclaimer that her advice was
f<r.
public education .. .and to assist indi-
viduals to coopuate with the doctors
<f their choice in bMilding better
health .. Jn tire event that tire informa-
tion is used witltofll the supervision or
approval <fa doctor, that is prescrib-
ing/or yourself, which is your
constitutional right, but we assume no
responsibility.
Her''highlypersonalil.ednuttition
program" consisted of "detoxification"
with a special dietaiid enemas, plus 15
different food supplements that could be
purchased from Eden Ranch or a health
food store. Based on an enclosed price list,
the supplements would cost more 1han $40
per They se of no medically
recognized benefit for either arthritis or
visual difficulty. Mrs.McnJes did not
appear to recogni7.e that the writer's
symptoms might be serious or require
urgent medical attention.
Roy F. Paxton beaded a firm which
marketed Millrue through agents, health
food stores. and ads in an NHF publiCa-
tion: In addition, Paxton consulted
personally with prospective customers,
diagnosing
Millrue for such diseasees as cancer,
arthritis and diabetes. In 1958, he and his
company were fined a total of $1,200 f
false and misleading labeling claims for
Milbue. When they persisted in selling the
JX'Oduct and promoting it through an NHF
publicatiOn, the FDA again brought
prosecution for misbranding. In 1963-the
year that Paxton's term as NHF governor
expired-he and the company were fined
a total of $4,000 and he was sentenced to
three yeattin prison.
Donald F. Pickett is board chairman of
Neo-Life Cmporation, a multiJevel
marketing company that sells food
supplements.
James R. Privitera. Jr . M.D., was
convicted in 1975 and sentenced to six
months in prison for COriSpiring to
prescribe ancf distribute laetrile. In 1980,
after the appeals process ended, he served
SS days in jaiL Then, because he had been
prescn'bing unapproved substances
(includiqg laetriJe, cakium pangamate and
DMSO) fot the treatment of cancer, the
Califmiia Board of Medical Quality
Assurance suspended his medical license
for four months and placed him on 10
years' probation 1Dlder Board supervision.
During the probationaty period, Dr.
Privitera was 'p"Ohibited from .baking any
representation that he is able to cure
cancer through nutrition." He was also
f oroidden to tell a patient he has cancer
unless the diagnosis has been confirmed in
writing by an appropriate board-certified
specialist
Privitera has founded two companies
which market devices for doing "live cell
analysis," a procedure in which blood
obtained from a patient's finger is placed
under a dark-field microscope to which a
teJevision monitor has been attached so
that both the practitioner and the patient
can examine cells and particles in the
blood. Proponents clahn that this method
can be used to detect "multiple vitamin
and mmcm*ficiencies, toxicity, tenden-
cies towanfitllergie:JWCliop -
circutation,
rosis." However, the test has little or no
value in diagnosing such conditions.
John N. Ritcha:son, N.D., is auth<r of
The Vitamin and Health Encyclopedia
(1986) and Tire Uttle Herb Encyclopedia
(1982), bofh of which recommend
vitamins, minerals and/or herbs for mCYe
than 1S61lealth problems. The books state
that Ritchason has a Ph.D. from Donsbach
University and is a naturopath, iridologist,
herbalist, Touch-for-Health Insttuctor, and
Registered Healthologist.
1
I
Maureen Kennedy Sala.man, NHF's
president since 1982, hosts a radio talk
show and has been very active in promot-
ing questionable cancer remedies. In 1977,
her husband, Frank, was convicted of
conspiracy to smuggle laetrile into the
United States. Her 1983 book, Nutrition:
The Cancer Answer, claims that "the
American Cancer Society advocates
treating cancer rather than preventiitg it"
Miriam Spaulding is a leading distributor
for Neo-Life Corporation.
Emory Thurston, who died in 1981, was
an active promoter of laetrile and dis-
played pamphlets he edited at a booth at
NHF conventions. At a 1973 convention,
when approached by an agent of the
California Bureau of Food and Drug who
said she had cancer of the uterus, Thurston
said he could supply her with laetrile. He
instructed the agent to contact him at his
office at the Institute for Nutritional
Research in Hollywood. She did During
his next meeting, Thurston sold laetrile to
the agent and advised her not to have
surgery. After additional evidence against
Thurston was gathered. he was convicted,
fined, and placed on probation for two
years.
Paul J. Virgin, who has served as NHF
treasurer, was public relations director of
the Alta-Dena Dairy, the leading producer
of certified raw (unpasteurized) milk. This
dairy has been implicated as a source of
Salmonella infection in raw milk consum-
ers in California.
Floyd Weston is a former insurance
executive who said in an interview in
NHF's Public Scrutiny that he had
organized a group of businessmen in 1975
"to conduct a wcrldwide search for the
answer to good health." One of his
1U1"electrodiagnosis"
oo'me theory thaf tbere is
"an electric wiring system in the body-
each organ having a wire that goe$to a
standard location in the ban& and feet."
Weston claimed such devices can "verify
the exact condition of individual organs
throughout the body," "differentiate
between acute, chronic or degenerative
stages," and "discover these pathologic
processes when regular clinical diagnoses
cannot detect them." Treatment is then
administered with homeopathic remedies,
vitamins and/or minerals.
-
Articles in the Las Vegas Review-Journal
indicate that in 1979 Weston set up Health
Management Corporation (HMC), in Las
Vegas, Nevada, With subsidiaries to
operate a homeopathic clinic (The Nevada
Clinic) and to market electrodiagnostic
devices and homeopathic remedies.
Weston opened The Nevada Clinic in
1980 with F. Fuller Royal, M.D., the
leading American practitioner of electrodi-
agnosis, who later became chairman of
Nevada's homeop8thic licensing board.
But in 1983 they parted company, and in
1984, Royal became sole owner. Home-
opathy, Inc., another,HMC pubsidiary,
distn'buted homeopathic remedies from
1984 through 1986 until the state revoked
its corporate charter for failure to pay
annual fees. HMC has also marketed
remedies through two multilevel compa-
nies. In 1986, Weston became president,of
the U.S. Homeopathic Association after
purchasing the rights to its name and logo.
He told the reporter that
bringing to Nevada therapies not practiced
elsewhere in the United States can answer
the state's need for economic diversifica-
tion.
Sid Williams, i$ a prominent
chimpracUr who fouDded two chiropractic
colleges and has been president of the
International Chiropractors Association,
the second-largest chiropractic group in
the United States. Williams also operates
practice-building seminars in whk:h
chiropract<n are taught how to persuade
all comers to have monthly spinal exami-
nations. During the late 1970s, ads for the
seminars claimed that its top instructors
saw 200 to 400 patient8daity.
Jonathan Wriglit, M.D., is a physician
who specializes in ''nutritional therapy"
and writes articles for health food publica-
tions. He is also president of the American
Quack Association.
NHF's "Vitamin Bill"
NHF's most notable campaign occurred
during the 1970s with a bill to weaken
FDA jurisdiction over vitamins. In 1972,
after lengthy study, the ageilcy bad
proposed that food products be labeled so
that ingredients, nutrient content and other
information would be displayed in a
standard format. These provisions became
regulations with little controversy and are
still used today. But the FDA proposal
also said that labeling could neither state
nor imply that a balanced diet of ordinary
fooc;ls cannot supply adequate amounts of
nutrients.
Because this struck at the heart of health
food industry propaganda, NHF filed
lawsuits and proposed legislation to
remove FDA jurisdiction O-'er vitamins.
Crying, ''Fight for your freedom to take
vitamins," NHF organized its members
and allies into utiprecedented political
activity. Article after article mging
support of the anti-FDA bill appeared in
the NHF Bulletin, in various health food
industry lnaJazines, and in chiropractic
journals. Letter-writing kits were distrib-
uted by by health food
stores and in special NHF mailings. At a
Congressional hearing on this issue,
several Congressmen reported that they
had received more mail about vitamins
than about Watergate.
In 1976, as a result of this pressure,
Congress passed the Proxmire Amend-
ment to the Federal Food. Drug, and
Cosmetic AcL Though not as restrictive as
NHF's proposal, this law prevents the
FDA from regulating food supplements
unless they are inherently dangerous or are
marketed with illegal claims that they can
prevent or treat disease.
NHF has also promoted ''Medical Free-
dom of Choice" and "Food are not Drugs"
bills. Federal laws now require that all
new drugs be proven both safe and
effective before they are marketed. NHF's
proposed bills, which would remove the
efficacy requirement, would open the door
to any supposed "remedy" that doesn't kill
people on-the-spot.
Promotion of laetrile
Because laetrlteJ3cksFDA approval, it is
illegal to market in.interstate commerce.
In 1977, a federal court set up an "affida-
vit" system under which personal supplies
of laetrile could be legally imported into
the United States by cancer patients
certified by a physician as "terminal." The
plaintiff in the case was Glen Rutherford,
a Kansas seed salesman who believed that
laetrile was needed to keep him alive.
Although the U.S. Supreme Court ruled
against Rutherford in 1979, the affidavit
system was not dismantled until 1987.
During the appeals process. llutherfotd
became an NHF governot, Kirkpatrick
Dilling became one of his lawyers, and
NHF took care of his attorney fees.
From 1978 to 1982, NHF published Public
Scrutiny, a monthly newspaper (later
converted to a magazine) whose primary
focus was on lae1ri1e and "mecabolic
therapy." Most of its original staff
members were ptomOters of
laetrile, and three of its .ivisers had been
cOIMcted of 1aetrile-re1ated crimes. Each
issue of Public Scrutiny contained a full-
page ad from the Lattrile Information
Center, a company near 1he :Mexican
border which would arrange for legal
importation. Mexican clinics and ochet
sellers of laetrile also advertised regularly
in Public Scrutiny.
After NHF governor James Privitera,
M.D . was charged with a laetrile-related
offense, appeals in Public Scrutiny raised
more than $5,000 to help defend him; and
after he was convicted, NHF generated
more than 10,000 form letters asking
California governor Jerry Brown to pstdon
him. NHF also gave $5,000 toward the
legal expenses of the parents of Chad
Green, a 3-year-old boy widt leukemia,
and an NHF govemot served as a lawyer
for the parents.
Chad attracted natic;nwide attentiart when
his frunily moved to Mtttko to defy a
Massachusetts court order that the boy
receive proper therapy and step getting
laetrile. The October 1979 issue of Public
Scrutiny described how Chad was thriv-
ing, how his father was studying for a
career us a
11
ttuttitl01t eortsultant," and how
Chad's mother had stopped his cheniother-
apy withOOt telling the Mexican ctinic
doctor. A few days ilfltt the rtewspaper
was distributed, tlW bely dled. Chad's
parents continued to promote 1aetrile and
chlim t1uu he died because ht "lost the will
to live ... ttowevet. the autopsy showed
recuttettt leuketttla. and was
found hi liver littd 8tJleen.
NHF lliso wisted the jMtettts of .toey
Hofbauet, llit 8-yeat-old bOy With _
ttodgkih
1
s disea!le, ll form of cancer
usually cllt8ble in its early stages. In 1977,
New Y otlc Stiltt litithmties libttght custody
of Joey because his parel'ltS chose laetrile
over effective treatment for die boy. With
NlDi auotney Dilling repre-
senting die parents, the court ruled that
they were "ooncemed and k>viog" and
"RO( negleclfol" in rejecting orthodox
treaimeM. After 18 months of Jaeuile and
megavitamin treatment ftom Michael
Schachttt. M.D. (a New Y otk psychiatrist
who occasionaJ1y lectures at NHP conven-
tions), Joey was moved to tfte Bahamas
for another type of questionable treaUnent.
He died in 1980 with lungs fall of tumors.
A bill to e:ic.empt laetrile ftoM FDA
jurisdiction was by Publlc
Scnai1rl s actvbor. physician-
Congressman Latry McDonald (t>-GA). In
1979, a malpractice suit against him by
survivors of a patient he treated with
laetrile wm settled for $30.(JOO. NHF's
efforts to exempt 1aetrile petered out after
McDonald was killed in the crash of the
KOh*'I plane shot down by the
in 1983.
Opposition to fluoridation
Adjusting commwiity drinking water to
about one part fluoride to one million parts
of water is a safe, simple and inexpensive
way to help prevent tooth decay. Although
NHF' s leaders claim to be interested in
IX'Cventing disease by "proper nutrition,,.
they are rigidly to fluoridation.
Over the years, NflF has assembled a
great many docwnents which it claims are
"proof' .that fluoridation is dangerous
(which it is not). Close examination of
these docuinerits, however, shows that
they contain reports of poorly designed
"experiments/' twisted accounts of actual
events, statements by respected scientists
taken out of context to change their
meaning, statistics and
othet forms of faulty reasonin1. Gi\len
ettough publicity. however. these items
have convinced many commUititles that
fluoridation is too risky.
ln January 1972, NHP'irartiCd $16,CXX) for
a tluorlda,tign .study to die Center for
Science hi the (CS:Pt). a
group led by tonne.. &SsOCtatei or Ralph
Nader. to help ratseJbis mooey, a special
mailing to NHF members announced that
a clinically controlled test was being
conducted by "FRIENDS of indisputable,
scientific reputation.,. The mailing also
ctaimed truu tfle information would arm
NffF with "unawailabfe, up-to-date,
scientific data to help def eat fluoridation."
When CSPI learned about rhis message, it
protested, stating lflat die study would be a
scientific re\tiew o( available knowledge
and drar is outcome was certainly not ftxed
against fluoridation. NHF apologized,
claiming thal the fondraiser had been
maited "without being cie.ed by appro-
priate offJcialt' ... *saious
mttt abcM the nature of the study. NHF
members were never told of dJeSe errors,
however. Nor were they informed when
the study concluded that "the known
benefitt of fluoridation far outweigh any
risks whicb may be involved."
In 1974, NHF announced that opposing
fluoridation would be its number two
priority and that a biochemist named John
Yiamouyiannis had been hired IQ '1>reak
the back"' of ffooridation. Yiamouyiannis
soon began issuing reports based on
misinterpreted government statistics,
claiming that fluoridation causes cancer.
He was joined in this effort by Dean Burk,
a retired National Cancer Institute
employee who is also a leading promoter
of laetrile. In 1978, after Consumer
Rtpotts criticized their work severely,
Yiamouyiannis filed suit for libel. The suit
was dismissed a few months later by a
federal court judge. A pMel of
the U.S. Court of Appeals subsequently
upheld the dismissal, commenting that the
Consumer Reports article .. exemplifies the
very highest order of responsible journal-
ism." A further appeal to the U.S. Su-
preme C:ourt was also unsuccessful.
In 1980,
founded another group whose structure
and activities were similar. Although NHF
remains opposed to fluotidation, it has had
little political involvement Yia-
mouyiannis depatttd.
-rHEALTH ALTERNATIVES
LEGAL FOUNDATION (HALF)
The Health Alternatives Legal Foundation,
105 N. Foster St, Dothan, AL 36303, is
described in its literature as a "nonprofit
public interest law center." It was fonned
in 1986 to defend "alternative" health care
practitioners and to initiate antitiust
litigation challenging medical practice
laws.
HALF's newsletter, Alternatives, de-
scribes the group's philosophy and reports
news (mostly legal troubles) involving
promoters of unproven methods. Accord-
ing to the newsletter, "Powerful elements
of organizedallopathic medicine, led by
the American Medical Association, have
been waging an expensive, well-orches-
trated political and economic campaign
designed to stifle competition from
alternative health care providers. This
campaign has been advanced by advocates
of the medical establishment who, for
financial or philosophical reasons,
seek ... to eliminate the ability of alterna-
tive health care providers to practice in the
American marketplace. Maverick doctors,
chiropractors, osteopaths, homeopaths,
acupuncturists, naturopaths, podiatrists,
nutritionists, midwives and eclectic
physicians have felt the full brunt of this
organized attack."
HALF's brochure states that "alternative
health care practitioners deserve proper
recognition by state legislators, regulation
by review boards of their own peers, and
reimbursement for services from health
insurance companies. Our attorneys
defend individual health practitioners
against charges of operating outside the
scope of standard medical practice."
HALF's executive director is attorney
Michael S. Evers, of Dothan, Alabama,
whose father, H. Ray Evers, M.D., is
discussed previously in this report. Evers
also operates Project Cure, which collects
funds and distributes publications and
form letters. According to Evers, Project
Cure has more than 160,000 contributors
on its mailing list. So far it has cam-
paigned for "alternative" cancer methods
and against food irradiation and nutrition-
ist licensing.
The chainnan of HALF' s board of
-
directors is attorney William H. Moore of
Savannah, Georgia. In 1984 Moore
attempted to intervene in Glen
Rutherford's laetrile case with an action
designed to stop virtually all interference
with "unorthodox" methods, but he
withdrew when Rutherford and NHF
objected. HALF's 9-person board also
includes Evers, Floyd Weston, Catherine
Frompovitch (CANAH's president), and
Audrey Goldman, executive director of
the Association for Cardiovascular
Therapies (ACT), a group that promotes
chelation therapy.
_,-AMERICAN QUAc;K
ASSOCIATION (AQA)
The American Quack Association, P.O.
Box 550, Oviedo, FL 33765, has about
300 members, most of whom are health
professionals. Founded in 1985, its main
purposes appear to be providing emotional
support to its members, poking fun at their
critics, and stimulating positive public
feelings toward unorthodox practitioners.
Noting that "Discrimination, legal
investigation, persecution, prosecution,
and even imprisonment have variously
been the fate of those few physicians and
others who have publicly counseled
alternative means of health care," AQA's
"Articles of Health Freedom" demand that
''No law or regulations shall be made
prohibiting the right of people to freely
assemble for healing of>8Jly type." They
also oppose "any penalty whatsoever
against anyone employing any form of
treatment for cancer or any other disease
for him or herself or others, except in
cases of fraud, deception or the use of
force."
AQA's vice president is Roy Kupsinel,
M.D., a "holistic" practitioner in Ovieda,
Florida. Kupsinel edits and publishes
Health Consciousness, a bimonthly
magazine which contains articles on
cosmic philosophy, conservative causes,
and the "persecution" of unorthodox
practitioners. It also contains ads for
unproven products and services. Its last
few pages are printed upside down as the
Journal of the American Quack Associa-
tion, edited by AQA president Jonathan V.
Wright, M.D., of Kent, Washington.
AQA's logo depicts a stressed but smiling
duck flying through the "Q" of AQA.
Dues are $6.00 a year. According to
Kupsinel:
Quack usually has a negative conno-
tation. My idea is to take something
that is negative and turn it into a
positive, combining it with a sense of
humor. We usually do get a laugh out
of it. It stands for QUAiity (QUA)
Care (C) with Kindness (K). So you
have the name "Quack" in Quality
Care With Kindness, and that's what
we physician members of the AQA
render. But we also have lay mem-
bers too."
In a recent issue of Health Consciousness,
Kupsinel described how he was expelled
from 'hi's cpunty and state medical socie-
ties during the 1970s. Later he began
treating large numbers of patients for
hypoglycemia [a condition that scientific
practitioners believe is rare]. He also
stated that he has suffered from many of
the other conditions he claims to treat.
-rCOALITION FOR
ALTERNATIVES IN NUTRITION
AND HEALTHCARE (CANAH)
The Coalition for Alternatives in Nutrition
and Healthcare, P.O. Box B-12, Rich-
landtown, PA 18955, is a nonprofit
corporation established in 1984 "to
educate the public in nutrition and
alternative healthcare ... through lobbying,
public awareness presentations, and timely
presentations." CANAH's founder,
president and "legislative advocate" is
Catherine J. Frompovitch, Ph.D., who
practices "nutritional consultation" in
Richlandtown. Her "Ph.D." is from
Columbia Pacific University, an unac-
credited correspondence school. Before
she acquired it, her publications described
her has "a practicing natural nutritionist
who has a Doctor of Science in Diet and
Nutrition [and] a.QpctorofNaturopathy."
Ms. FrompovitCh-als6 operates CJ.
Frompovitch Publications, and edits
CANAH's Health Rights Advocate, a
comprehensive quarterly report on
political developments. Advertisements
are now being solicited for this publica-
tion.
Two years ago CANAH reportedly had
400 members, but no current figure has
been publicly released. No officer ocher
than Ms. Frompovitch has been identified
in the group's publications, but the 28-
person advisory board listed on its
letterhead includes Jeffrey Bland, Bruce
Halstead, Roy Kupsinel, Robert Mendel-
sohn, William Moore, Michael Schachter,
and:
Daniel Clark, MD., a Florida physician
whose license was revoked in 1985 for
unprofessional practice. Subsequently, he
was convicted of practicing medicine
without a license and sentenced to IS
years' probation. The convictioo has been
upheld by a Florida District Court of
Appeals, but tho sentence bas been
suspended while furdaer appeals are
litigated.
Richard Crews, MD., President of
Columbia Pacific University.
Earl Mindell, R.Pb., PhD., autha' of
Earl Mindelf s Vitamin Bibk and nwner-
ous other publications prolDOting ques-
tionable uses of food supplements. His
"Ph.D." is &om the University of Beverly
Hills, an unaccredited achool. He helped
found the Great Earth chain of health food
stores, which is now the nation's second
largest
Richard Passwate.r, Ph.D., audlor of
numerous publications promoting ques-
tionable uses of food supplements. His
"Ph.D." is &om Bemadean University, an
unaccredited diploma mill had
government authori7.ation to issue degrees.
Carl Pfeiffer, M.D., PhD., directm of the
Princeton Brain Bio Center, Skillman.
New Jersey, which offers "nutritional"
treatment fm "the schizophrenias and
biochemical deficiencies associated with
aging, alcoholism, allergies, arthritis.
autism, epilepsy, hypertension, hypoglyce-
mia, migraine, dqllession. leaming
disability, retardation, mental and meaa-
bolic disordtts, skin problems, and
hyperactivity."
Barbara Reed, PhD., a former pmbBtion
officer who is now deVOlled to prom.odng
her theory that criminal behavior can be
attributed to poor diet and conected by
dietary reform. is from
Donsbacb University.
Lendon Smith, M.D., a prominent author
- and pediatrician who was placed on
p-obation by his $late boatd of me.dical
examiners from 1973 to 1981 for ''inap-
popriate presatl>ing of drugs" to heroin
addicts. In 1987 he swrencbecf his
medical license radler lban face chargeJ
that be bad signed documents audoizing
insurance payments for patients he had not
seen.
CANAH's activilics have included
support for an unproven cancer treatment
(immunoaugmen&ative therapX) and
opposition to food irradialion, water
fluoridation. licensing of nutritionists, and
other antiquacte.ry legislatjon. Regular
membership costs S1D )Ja''year. News
articles and invitations to join have
appeared in many hea1lh food industry
publicalions. CANAH wants individuals
denied access tom inst.nnee coverage for
"altemative bealtbcare" to file antitrust
suits and odaer legal actions to "protect
their rights."
CANAH's main goat' is enacunent of a
"Healthcare Rights Amendment" that
would forbid Congress from restricting
"any individual's right to choose and to
p:actice the type of healthcare they shall
elect fm themselves or their children fm
the prevention or treilmem of any disease,
injury. illness m ailmont of the body or the
mind." A flyer promoting the amendment
states:
Vested interest groups, certain
individuals and tratk associadons,
tlte AmeriaM Medical Association in
particular, have launched kgal pro-
ceduru against mt!dical doctors who
employ in their practice such modali-
ties as natll1'al lllltrition, chelalion
IMrapy, vilamilllmineral supplemen-
tation and other JNMll8 commonly
referred to as alwltllliw! 1-ltltcare
modalida which may not be ill
agrmtllt witla ortllodox mediciM.
PracdtiotwOlld padot aJiM have
bea bt'ougJu llP bl/ore the bars of
justice and peer Mliew WitA lweto-
fore IUlblown medical ilu/llisilion-like
tecluWplt!I. WE THE PEOPLE
believe tlU is llllCOn.rtillllit>nal, """
we therefore propose tltis amendment.
CANAH's logo depicts a hummingbird
because is has "the freedom of choice and
can go from flower to flower to salisfy its
needs." The group's brochure quotes the
famed philosopher/ethicist JobltStuart
Mill (1806-1873) as though he would
support its abns: '"rbe only freedom
which deserves the name, is that of
pursuing our own good in our own way, so
long as we do not auempt ...
others of theirs, or impede their effilfs to
obtain iL Each is the poper guardian of
his own health, whether bodily, or mental
or spiritual. Mankind are pat gainers by
suffering eadl other t;<> .seems good
to to
live as seems good to the rest." llowever.
Mill m:ogni7.ed that wbac 'tbele is a
definite damage, or definite risk of
damage, either to an individual or to the
publiG.the case is taken out of the
liberty and placed in that of
morality or law."
Under current laws, federal and state
governments can set licensing standards
for health practitioaen. instilute public
health ...... and oudaw
are dangerous or ineffective. In the Ruth-
ed<rd case cited previou.1ly, the U.S.
Supreme Court ruled that "selection of a
particular tteaunent. m at least a medica-
tion, is within the area of governmental
interest in proteCting public health."
CANAH's amendment would temove all
resttictioos:
Govemmelat agencies could no longer
remove W1pl"OVeD or dangerous remedies
from the markerplace so long as a single
consumer objects
Anyone-licensed or DOl-COUld engage
in any practice JabelCd HJJealtb caie" so
long as a single consumer wishes it to
coaPnue
cOUrts could not potect childrm from
.. ...
health care, e"Veil if such neglect will iesult
in their death
Individuals called dangerously psychotic
by psychiatrists could not be compelled to
undergo tmmnent if anyone objected
Compulsory immuni1Mim would end
Community water fluoridalion would
end if a single person in the community
objects.
Promoted in the name of "freedom,"
CANAH's health care rights amendment
would end protection of consumers from
quackery and health fraud.
1
j
-r0vERVIEW
During the past century scientists have
developed rules for determining what
methods are effective in preventing and
treating disease. At the same time, Jaws
have been developed to protect the public
from methods that are ineffective, un-
proven, or promoted with misinformation.
NHF, HALF, AQA and CANAH are
antagonistic to accepted scientific methods
as well as current consumer protection
laws. Instead of supporting the rules of
science and Jaw, they want to destroy
them. They want the right to market
methods without the responsibility of
ensuring that they are effective. In my
opinion, the "freedom" they espouse
would be nothing more than a hunting
license for quacks.
Despite their shortcomings, these groups
comprise a significant political force.
They are well organized and are working
hard. They have friends in Congress and
can generate large letter-writing cam-
paigns which create the illusion that they
represent a large constituency. They have
won some significant court and legislative
battles. They intend to win more.
APPENDIX I: GLOSSARY OF
QUESTIONABLE METHODS
Acupuncture: A system of treatment
which purports to baJance the body's "life
force" by inserting needles into or beneath
the skin at one more points where imagi-
nary horiwntal and vertical lines meet on
the surface of the body. These points are
said to represent various internal organs.
Although acupuncture can sometimes
relieve pain, there is no evidence that it
can influence the course of any organic
disease.
Autointoxication: The theory (still
promoted by Victor Earl Irons) that, as a
result of intestinal stasis, intestinal
contents putrefy, toxins are fanned and
absorbed, which causes chronic poisoning
of the body. This the.ory was popular
around the turn of the century but was
abandoned by the scientific commmrity
during the 1930s. No such "toxins" have
ever been found, and careful observati<lns
have shown that individuals in good health
can vary greatly in bowel habits.
-
Chelation therapy: The administration of
a man-made amino acid called EDTA into
the veins. Proponents claim this can
restore atherosclerotic arteries to normal
by removing calcium deposits or other
mechanisms. In a recent review of
available literature, the American Ht'Ml
Association found no scientific evidence
to demonstrate any benefit from chelation
therapy.
Chiropractic: A system of health care
based on the theory that most'diseases are
the result of "nerve interference" caused
by spinal misalignments correctable by
spinal manipulation. Although chiroprac-
tors are sometimes helpfu\, many of them
encourage everyone they see to have their
spines adjusted frequently for "preventive
maintenance."
Clinical ecology: Treaunent based on the
theory that multiple symptoms are
triggered by hypersensitivity to common
foods and chemicals. The American
Academy of Alleigy 8nd Immunology
regards its concepts as speculative and
unproven.
Colonic irrigation: A ''high colonic"
enema performed by passing a rubber tube
into the rectum of up to 20
or 30 inches. Warm water is pumped in
and out through the tube, a few pints at a
time, typically using 20 or more gallons.
Some practitioners add herbs, coffee or
other substances to the water. Fatal
infections have been ttansmiued with
contaminated equipmenL
Cytotoxic testing: A test in which
"allergy" is diagnosed-by examining a
patient's white blood cells under a
microscope to see how they react to dried
food exlr8Cts. This method is not reliable.
Electrodiagnosis: Use of a device that
supposedly defennines the condition of
intemal organs by memming their
"electroniagnetic energy balance." One
such device is the Accupath 1000, a
computerized galvanometer used to help
select and prepare homeopathic remedies.
To use the device, the doctor probes
"acupuncture points" on the patient's
hands and feet and interprets numbers on a
computer screen.
"Holistic" Approach: A slogan used
mainly by unscientific practitioners.
Orthodox practitioners regard holistic
medicine as treatment of the "whole
person," with due attention to emotional
factors as well as the person's life-style.
Bt most practitioners who call them-
selves "holistic" use unscientific methods
of diagnosis and treatment
Homeopathy: A system of treatment
based on the idea that the symptoms of
disease can be cmed by infinitesimal
amounts of substances that can prcxluce
similar symptoms in healthy people.
According to homeopathic theory, the
more dilute the remedy the more powerful
therapeutic effect.
IridOMn; A system of diagnosis based
on the idea that each area of the body is
represented by a corresponding area in the
iris (pupil) of the eye. Practitioners claim
to diagnose imbalances that can be treated
with vitamins, minerals, herbs and similar
products.
Laetrile: The trade name for amygdalen,
a cyanide-containing compound abundant
in the pits of apricots and various other
plants. At various times, promoters have
claimed it could cure, control, and/or
relieve the discomfort of cancer. How-
ever, a clinical test on 178 cancer patients
at the Mayo Clinic and three other cancer
centers found that not one was cured,
stabilized, or relieved of any cancer-
reJated symptoms.
Naturopathy: A system of treatment
based on the belief that the cause of
disease is based on violation of nature's
Jaws. Naturopaths believe that diseases
are the body's effort to purify itself, and
that cures result from increasing the
patient's vital force by ridding the body of
toxins. Naturopathic treatments can
include "natural food" diets, vitamins.
herbs, tissue minerals, cell salts, manipula-
tion, massage, exercise, diathermy,
colonic enemas, acupuncture, and home-
opathy. Like chiropractors, many
naturopaths believe that virtually all
diseases are within the scope of their
practice.
Questionable method: A method or
product with one or m<Ie of the following
characteristics: 1) its rationale or underly-
ing theory is conttadicted by accepted
,j
"
,,
i ,,
I
!
i'
I<
I
,. ,....,._.
scientific beliefs; 2) tLhas not been
demonstrated effective by well designed
studies; 3) its use involves fraud Or
deception; or 4) it is being marketed.
illegally;. Dietary supplements claimed to
be 'effective against disease (except
deficiency disease) may not be marketed
in interstate commerce unless they are d
generally recognized by experts as safe
and effettive for their intended use.
Intended use can be determined by
-
1987, in response lO a court order, the
FDA ordered that millc and milk products
in final form,jor huml\Jl consump-
tion iri interstate ci:>mmerce
The sale of raw millc has been ba11ned in
27 states, but is still permitte4 within the
rest, including Califormia, where the
largest supplier is located.
statements in labeling, advertising, or
other communication to prospective
buyers.
Raw milk: Mille in its natural siate.
'''Public health authorities advocate pas-
teurization to destroy any disease-
producihg bacteria may be present In
APPENDIX II: ANTI-QUACKERY GROUPS
The National Council Against Health Fraud,Jnc., P.O.
B'dx )276, I.Oma Linda, CA 92354, has more than 2,500
members and has chapters in 13 states. Organized in 1977 as
the Southern California Council Against Health Fraud, the
group beCame national in 1984. Its purposes are to: 1)
conduct studies and investigations to evaluate claims made for
health products and services; 2) educate the public, profes-
sionals, legislators, business people, organizations and
agencies about untruths and deceptions; 3) provide a center
for communication between individuals and organizations
concerned about health misinformation, fraud and quackery;
4) support sound consumer heallh laws and oppose legislation
which undermines consumer rights; and 5) encourage legal
actions against law violators.
. ,
The Committee for the Scientific Investigation of Claims
of the Paranormal, Box 229, Buffalo, NY 14215, was ,
founded in 1976 to encourage critical investigation of para-
normal and fringe-science claims. It is composed of promi-
nent scientists, educators and journalists and is assisted by
more than 50 scientists,educators and journalists and is
assisted by more than 50 scientific and technical consultants.
It
I
:Its chairman is Paul Kurtz, Ph.D., professor of philosophy at
Sta,te University of New York at Buffalo. h publishes a
qdarterly scientific journal, Tiie Skeptical Inquirer, and
maintains subcommittees on astrblogy, -education, paranormal
health claims, parapsychology, and UFOs. Groups similar to
CSICOP exist in 27 areas of the United States and in 16
foreign countries.
The American Council on Science and 1995
Broadway, 18th floor, New York, NY, 10023, was founded in
1978 to provide scientifically balanced evaluations of issues'
involving food, chemicals, the environment, lifestyle, and
health. Its executive director is Elizabeth M. Whelan, Sc.D.,
M.P.H .
ACSH has more than 200 prominent scientific and policy
advisors. It produces peer-reviewed reports, the syndicated
radio program Health Digest, and will soon begin publishing a
quarterly magazine bearing the same name. It also hosts
seminars and press conferences and serves as a clearinghouse
for the news media as well as the public. Memberstlip is $40
for individuals and $1,000 for institutions.