Waiting List For Herbs

Macleans reports Canada Health Food Directorate has approved 522 of 8180 applications for certification since its inception 2 years ago. All alternative health care products must be licensed by June 2006. There are 30,000 applications in the pipeline.

How do you spell boondoggle? The Health Food Directorate, arbitrarily created by Health Canada monitors the alternative medicine industry. It creates and applies standards similar to those applied to drugs, manufactured from synthetically created chemicals.

Alternative products are not drugs. They are food, plants, or minerals, which have medicinal properties established by practice as opposed to patent.

"Edmonton-based CV Technologies Inc. has a hit with its COLD-fX capsules, made from an extract of chemicals found in North American ginseng. ... For a new natural product like COLD-fX, scientific support is required to show that it does what it's supposed to and is safe to use -- similar to what's demanded for the approval of non-natural drugs and prescription medicines. "

Ginseng is not a chemical. Blending natural ingredients does not make them chemicals.

Compare alternative product policy regulation to this Health Canada advisory . Regulations that create waiting lists and statutory bias are impediments to good health.

Knee TV - update

A couple of clarifications are required from yesterday's Knee TV post. Dale Alton, from AMMS, says the extremity MRI is focused on foot- ankle-knee- hand- wrist and elbow. Also, internet distribution of the images will come via local internet providers, not Alberta Teleheath.



"The term Telehealth is used to describe the delivery of health services, educational programs, or collaboration in research using interactive video, audio, and computer technologies. It allows instantaneous consultation, physical examination, study of x-rays and laboratory findings, supervision of treatment or educational discussions among participants in diverse locations." Alberta Telehealth

Joint TV

Imagine, 'Knee TV' watching your own MRI, with instant commentary, from a radiologist 300 kilometers away



Knee TV' isn't going to generate 'Survivor' type ratings. However, if you've got a 'joint' or some other extremity, in need of repair, there's a leading edge Alberta solution designed to get you back in the game, quickly.Alberta public policy, in health care and communication, has intersected two image technologies-- digital image distribution and medical imaging.

The health care policy is Alberta's third way. Internet distribution comes via Alberta Telehealth Consider it a heath care dividend, for your portion of the $400 million invested in Alberta Supernet. The medical imaging technology comes from Advanced Medical Mobile Services, an Edmonton based medical imaging company.

AMMS is testing its' extremity MRI machine, at the NorMed Rehab centre, in Sherwood Park. Extremity MRI technology focuses on body parts: knees, shoulders, elbows, ankles.


The service isn't licensed yet. Capital Health is sorting out some issues. When it is, here's how you'll be able to use it. You'll need a medical referral. Your doctor or physiotherapist can provide that. Once you have it, you'll be able to book an appointment directly, or through Alberta Health. The direct service will be available on demand. It costs $395 for a single joint MRI.

"This will change physiotherapy procedures", says Audrey Bjornstadt, owner of NorMed Rehab. Currently, the first couple of sessions of physiotherapy are typically assessment and program development. " With this, we'll be able to condense rehab time", Bjornstadt says.

Imagine, what "Knee TV" may do for your health and well being. Looks good to me.