Popular “Wonder Drugs” May Cause Cancer 

Medicinal chemistry was my first passion. Flying my second. Both provide immense benefit, but have very little room for error. That’s why I triple check everything when it comes to swallowing a pill or shoving in the throttle to lift my family from the comfortable bonds of gravity. You should do the same.

Does The Family Really Need Lipitor and Aspirin? 

Some things won’t change in 2012. I’ll still be a bald, tattoo sporting chemist who sings rap music way too loud while driving. My kids will still know more about the benefits of individualism over collectivism than most adults. And many people will still believe that they need to lower their cholesterol with Lipitor (or any other cholesterol-lowering alternative) to save them from heart attack and stroke.

The myth is so prevalent that the American Academy of Pediatrics and the American Heart Association issued new guidelines set out to put children as young as 8 years old on cholesterol-lowering drugs (statins). Yet, there isn’t a single study to support the claim and considering the many side-effects of statins, childhood mortality figures would go through the roof!

10 Painkiller Facts Your Doctor Doesn’t Know About 

By now you know that the painkiller Vioxx is deadly. That wasn’t always the case.

Prior to its release, The New York Times told patients that, “Two large drug companies say they have developed a new class of drugs that can relieve pain and inflammation without the gastrointestinal side effects of current drugs.”

Michael Douglas Not Cured: Could He Train His Immune System to Kill Cancer? 

Hollywood celeb Michael Douglas has been pronounced tumor free. After a harrowing diagnosis of throat cancer, he underwent chemo and radiation. But, doctors are quick to say “he isn’t cured.” So am I.

Cancer cells are notorious for escaping eradication and it’s well known that chemo and radiation are overt failures when it comes to granting long term survival. But, if Michael learns to train his immune system to kill cancer, he could remain free from the biological superpower.

Cancer Cures and More: Three of The Most Ridiculous Things People Believe about Health 

Sometimes, I miss being a bench chemist.  The work was mentally rewarding.  But, even better, my lab insulated me from the myriad of characters who rant and rave online in an attempt to push the same crap: Something for nothing.

If they aren’t trying to scare the hell out of you with grim reports of the FDA stealing your vitamins, or insisting we’ll all perish from a vitamin D deficiency, Internet hucksters are constantly promising 1-minute cancer cures, superhuman powers with The Four Hour Body, or better athletic performance with “barefoot running.”