Free Republic

If you’re looking to boost brain health, a common supplement that’s sold on Amazon and at stores like Walgreens, Walmart, and GNC could help fight symptoms of dementia and Alzheimer’s. Ginkgo biloba extract — known as the “brain herb” — stems from dried leaves of the ginkgo biloba tree, which is native to East Asia and one of the world’s oldest living tree species. Rooted in traditional Chinese medicine, the popular supplement may alleviate dementia symptoms by enhancing cognitive function and memory. “The extract from the ginkgo biloba tree may increase blood flow to the brain and improve brain functions...

Americans may love to eat junk, but we’re nearly as passionate about doing penance, with more than half of us scarfing down dietary supplements on a regular basis. From herbal remedies to energy boosters, vitamins and weight-loss pills, supplements form a massive global industry — one that’s expected to reach $200 billion in value by 2025, according to the AMA Journal of Ethics. Trouble is, it’s a largely “Wild West” scene — and that’s by design, believe it or not. The Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act of 1994 limits the ability of the Food and Drug Administration to regulate...

The director of research at a Massachusetts biotech firm has been accused searching online for deadly poisons and purchasing 800 castor bean seeds so he could extract the toxin ricin from them, federal prosecutors say. Dr. Ishtiaq Ali Saaem, 37, was charged on Tuesday with obstruction of justice after he allegedly lied to FBI agents when they were investigating why he was trying to acquire the deadly toxin. Authorities say Saaem had ordered 100 packets of castor beans, which each contained eight seeds, online.