Those of us who knew LBI, Life Before Internet, recall the most famous travel book of our generation – Europe on $5 a Day. It appealed to students and backpackers who wanted to travel on the cheap. Even today, students studying or volunteering abroad are searching out bargains. Money is tight and saving a few bucks here and there can make the difference.

However, don’t let frugality overtake sound judgement.

Our friends at ProMED reported a study that many on-line pharmacies are selling fake medicines at discount prices. While most drug websites are safe, there are internet scammers out there who are pushing snake oil on travelers struggling to stay on budget. Budget travel should still mean safe travel. Read the rest of this entry »

Bioidentical hormones are extracted from animals or plants. The hormones are then changed to make them molecularly the same or identical to the hormones you find in the body. Bio hormones are sometimes used for hormone replacement therapy. Women who are experiencing premenopausal or menopausal symptoms are typically the candidates for bio hormone therapy. This occurs when they are no longer producing adequate amounts of estrogen and / or progesterone. Bioidentical hormone replacement is similar to conventional hormone replacement. Unfortunately bioidentical hormones are not widely studied in the United States. This is because pharmacy manufactures have little interest in bioidentical hormones because they cannot be patented. The reason for this is the FDA considers them natural and a natural substance cannot have a patent. The pharmacy companies instead turn to synthetic compounds to produce hormones that they can patent. Bio hormones have been studied in Europe and have been found to be safer then synthetic hormones.

There are risk and benefits associated with synthetic hormones and bio hormones. Unfortunately more long term studies need to be done on bioidentical hormones. Read the rest of this entry »