Tag: safety

An Evidence-Driven Critique of the Allegedly Reassuring Study on Aluminum-Adjuvanted Vaccines

Yesterday, U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. published a sharp and comprehensive critique of the recent study by Andersson et al., which was published in the Annals of Internal Medicine. The study made headlines for claiming that aluminum-adjuvanted vaccines administered in early childhood are not associated with increased risks of autoimmune, allergic, or neurodevelopmental disorders.

Kennedy did not mince words. He described the study as “so deeply flawed it functions not as science but as a deceitful propaganda stunt by the pharmaceutical industry.” Among the many questionable features he identified, one stood out to me in particular. Kennedy wrote:

“These sleights of hand magnify the potential for allowing the authors to reach their absurd suggestion that higher aluminum exposure is somehow protective against asthma, allergies, and neurodevelopmental disorders, including autism.”

This sentence stopped me in my tracks because I had noticed the exact same thing. While Kennedy voiced this concern from the standpoint of public health advocacy, I approached the same issue from an academic and data-driven perspective. What I found not only aligns with his observation but adds further empirical grounding to it. In fact, this very point was at the heart of a formal comment I submitted to the Annals of Internal Medicine. The authors of the study responded — but, in my view, did not adequately address the core contradiction. In this short article, I lay out the full story, supported by the data, to show why this implausible pattern of protective effects cannot be ignored.

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RFK Jr. Announces Ban Mercury-Based Thimerosal from All Flu Vaccines Which Can Cause “Mild to Severe Mental Retardation” in Unborn Children 

U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. announced what may be one of the most important health policy decisions in decades: a full federal ban on the use of mercury-based preservative thimerosal in vaccines.

Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. issued a sweeping executive order on July 23, 2025, mandating vaccine manufacturers to eliminate the mercury‑based preservative thimerosal from all influenza vaccine formulations sold in the United States.

Kennedy justified the move by citing long-held claims that prenatal exposure to even tiny doses of ethyl­mercury in multi‑dose vials can lead to “mild to severe mental retardation” in unborn children.

According to The Conversation:

RFK Jr. has long linked thimerosal to autism – a connection that extensive scientific research has thoroughly debunked.

Thimerosal is an organic chemical containing mercury, used as a preservative in vaccines since the 1930s. Its effect comes from the mercury that disrupts the function of enzymes in microbes, such as bacteria and fungi. This prevents contamination of vaccines while they are stored in vials. Mercury, however, is also well-known as a potent toxin acting on cells the brain.

Much of mercury’s toxicity to brain cells stems from the same attributes that make thimerosal such a useful preservative. It disrupts the basic biological function of cells by changing the structure of proteins and enzymes.

In the brain, this can lead neurons to become excessively active, can impair the way they use energy, it can increase inflammation and lead to the death of neurons. While mercury poisoning can damage brain function in adults, babies are even more vulnerable.

Kennedy revealed that flu shots laced with this toxic compound were still being administered to pregnant women and children up until last week.

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“Not As Safe As We Think”: Lidocaine Deaths Nearly Triple Over Past Decade

Poisonings and deaths linked to the common local anesthetic lidocaine have nearly tripled in the United States over the past decade, with fatal overdoses increasingly occurring outside hospitals, where untrained staff administer the supposedly “safe” anesthetic, a new analysis shows.

Over-the-counter topical lidocaine products, which typically contain up to 4 percent to 5 percent lidocaine, are primarily used for temporary relief of pain, itching, and burning sensations. The pain reliever is available in various forms, including creams, ointments, gels, sprays, patches, and foaming soaps. However, in medical settings, it can pose risks that many people may not be aware of.

“Lidocaine is not as safe as we think,” Dr. Michael Fettiplace, study author and assistant professor at the University of Illinois Chicago College of Medicine, told The Epoch Times.

Increase Seen from 2011 to 2022

A recent study, published in Regional Anesthesia & Pain Medicine, reveals a trend hidden within America’s medical system. While overall poisonings from local anesthetics dropped 23 percent after 2010—when medical organizations issued new safety guidelines—lidocaine cases bucked the trend.

Among the risks associated with the drug, lidocaine can cause systemic toxicity when introduced into the bloodstream at high levels. This condition, known as local anesthetic systemic toxicity, primarily affects the central nervous system and cardiovascular system, potentially leading to seizures, arrhythmias, and even cardiac arrest.

Fettiplace’s team had documented increasing toxicity cases in medical literature, but underestimated how often those cases proved fatal. “We identified a rise in mortality events associated with lidocaine, which was unexpected,” he said. “In retrospect, it is not surprising.”

The study analyzed more than 200,000 poisoning cases reported to U.S. poison control centers between 1983 and 2022, including 74 deaths from local anesthetics.

While deaths from other anesthetics declined, the proportion of fatalities linked to lidocaine rose from 67 percent in 2010 to 82 percent in recent years. Overall, 0.1 percent of lidocaine poisoning cases resulted in death, compared with 0.01 percent for other local anesthetics.

In absolute numbers, reports of lidocaine poisoning jumped more than 50 percent, from 1,600 cases in 2016 to 2,500 in 2021.

Many of the deaths occurred after the patient overdosed on lidocaine themselves or received an overdose in outpatient settings.

One case described a 70-year-old man going into cardiac arrest and dying after being administered a 2 percent lidocaine solution. He had undergone an outpatient cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan, and instead of having the MRI dye flushed with normal saline, he was given lidocaine instead.

While poisonings occurred across all age and gender demographics, cases occurred most frequently at home, Fettiplace noted.

The study described one case in which a man inhaled imported lidocaine powder from China to treat his gastroesophageal reflux disease and became unconscious.

“Undoubtedly, there is underreporting,” Fettiplace said. “I cannot predict an upper limit of the increase.”

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FDA’s Mercury Cover-Up – – Poison In Our Teeth

 In a shocking betrayal of public trust, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has suppressed vital information about Mercury dental amalgam, misleadingly called “silver fillings,” which contain 50% mercury—one of the most toxic non-radioactive substances known.

The FDA refuses to mandate that dentists disclose this danger to patients, while dental boards, influenced by the American Dental Association (ADA)—a trade organization, not a public health authority—punish dentists who reject Mercury use and prioritize safe removal with rigorous informed consent, threatening their licenses. This double-standard is an outrage, leaving millions – – including South Florida’s families, military personnel and veterans – – unaware of the neurotoxin in their mouths.

A groundbreaking 2025 mini-review by Anita Vazquez Tibau, your author, and Blanche D. Grube, DMD, Will the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Follow the European Union’s Mercury Dental Amalgam Ban? A Mini-Review, exposes this scandal and demands reform. A new citizen petition calls for immediate action, and Floridians can join the fight by submitting comments at http://www.regulations.gov.

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Colorado Cops Punished for Helping ICE, As Sanctuary State Law Takes Priority Over Public Safety

Colorado authorities have suspended several police officers for sharing immigration status information with ICE. This politically driven decision undermines the ability of local cops to work with federal agencies to enforce immigration laws, putting communities at greater risk and sending a troubling message that breaking the law may be tolerated if politically convenient.

Three Mesa County Sheriff’s Department personnel—a pair of deputies and a sergeant—were suspended without pay for breaching Colorado’s sanctuary state law, which bans sharing information with federal immigration authorities. Sheriff Todd Rowell took this disciplinary action after conducting an internal investigation into the circumstances that led to the recent ICE arrest of 19-year-old Utah nursing student Caroline Dias-Goncalves.

Dias-Goncalves, originally from Brazil, was stopped by Deputy Alexander Zwinck on June 5 for allegedly tailgating a semi-truck. After issuing a warning, Zwinck let her go. However, within 20 minutes, ICE agents apprehended her over an expired visa.

It was later revealed that Deputy Zwinck shared details about Dias-Goncalves’ whereabouts and vehicle in a group chat that included ICE officials. Zwinck was assigned to a multi-agency drug task force involving local, state, and federal law enforcement. Following her arrest, Dias-Goncalves was detained by immigration authorities for 15 days before being granted bond.

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Air Force command pauses M18 pistol use after airman’s death at Wyoming base

The U.S. Air Force Global Strike Command has paused the use of a handgun following the death of a Security Forces airman at a base in Wyoming.

The use of the M18 pistol, a variant of another gun that has been the target of lawsuits over unintentional discharge allegations, was paused Monday “until further notice” following the “tragic incident” Sunday at F.E. Warren Air Force Base in Cheyenne, the command said in a statement. Security Forces airmen at all command bases “will conduct 100% inspections of the M18 handguns to identify any immediate safety concerns,” it said.

The airman killed was Brayden Lovan, 21, of the 90th Security Forces Squadron, 90th Missile Wing at the base, where he began his first active-duty assignment in November 2023, base officials said Thursday.

Details of what happened are not being released pending an investigation, said Lt. Raegan Lockhart, public affairs officer for the 90th Missile Wing. How long the investigation might take isn’t known, Lockhart added.

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DIABETES SHOCKER: JAMA published mind-blowing study conducted on diabetes drug that skyrockets patient’s risk of heart attack by 13%

Got heart problems? It’s probably one of two things, or both: Your diabetes medication or the Covid clot shot(s) you got. Do the research and you’ll see the science is there.

Millions of Americans rely on affordable diabetes medications to control blood sugar, but a major new study from Mass General Brigham has uncovered troubling findings about one of the most widely prescribed diabetes drugs in the U.S. – glipizide. According to research published in JAMA Network Open, glipizide is associated with a 13 percent higher risk of major cardiovascular events compared to newer alternatives, posing significant concerns for the long-term heart health of patients with Type 2 diabetes.

  • Popular diabetes drug glipizide linked to higher heart risk: A large-scale study of nearly 50,000 patients found that glipizide, a commonly prescribed sulfonylurea for Type 2 diabetes, is associated with a 13 percent higher risk of major cardiovascular events compared to DPP-4 inhibitors.
  • Not all sulfonylureas are equal: While glipizide showed the highest cardiovascular risk (9.1 percent over five years), other sulfonylureas like glimepiride (8.6 percent) and glyburide (8.4 percent) had smaller, less statistically significant risks — challenging the idea that all drugs in this class are interchangeable.
  • Real-world data strengthens findings: Researchers used electronic health records and insurance data from 10 U.S. sites to assess cardiovascular outcomes like heart attacks, strokes and heart failure, making this one of the most comprehensive studies of its kind.
  • Heart risks may stem from drug effects beyond the pancreas: Although glipizide primarily targets blood sugar, it may also impact heart receptors, potentially weakening the heart’s ability to protect itself under stress — though the exact mechanism remains unclear.

Popular diabetes drug linked to 13% higher heart attack risk in major study

The study, led by Dr. Alexander Turchin of Brigham and Women’s Hospital, analyzed data from 48,165 patients with type 2 diabetes and moderate cardiovascular risk. All participants were on metformin as their base therapy and were tracked over a five-year period.

Patients were grouped based on the second medication they began using: glipizide, glimepiride, glyburide (all sulfonylureas) or DPP-4 inhibitors (a newer drug class). The research drew from real-world health records and insurance claims data through the BESTMED consortium, making its findings broadly applicable.

Key findings include:

  • Patients on glipizide had a 9.1 percent five-year risk of major cardiovascular events, compared to 8.1 percent for those on DPP-4 inhibitors.
  • This amounts to a 13 percent relative increase in risk, including higher rates of heart attacks, strokes, heart failure hospitalizations, and cardiovascular deaths.
  • Glimepiride (8.6 percent) and glyburide (8.4 percent) also showed increased heart risk, but to a lesser and statistically less significant extent.

Dr. Turchin emphasized that a 13 percent relative risk increase is considered clinically significant, especially in a patient population already vulnerable to heart disease. These findings challenge the long-held medical assumption that all sulfonylureas function similarly and carry equal risk. Glipizide, while effective and inexpensive, may be more harmful to heart health than previously recognized.

Although the exact mechanisms behind glipizide’s elevated heart risk remain unclear, researchers suspect the drug may interfere with cardiac receptors and the heart’s protective responses during periods of reduced blood flow. Interestingly, glipizide doesn’t appear to affect these receptors more aggressively than other drugs in its class, making the specific cause of the increased risk still unknown.

This discovery reinforces the need for personalized medicine and informed decision-making between doctors and patients. Cost and familiarity should not be the sole factors in selecting a diabetes medication, especially when cardiovascular health is on the line.

In addition to medication, patients can reduce both blood sugar and heart risks through natural strategies, such as:

  • Eating whole foods that don’t spike blood sugar (e.g., vegetables, lean proteins, nuts).
  • Supplementing with nutrients like magnesium, fish oil, and alpha-lipoic acid.
  • Staying active, even through simple routines like daily walks.
  • Managing stress, which plays a crucial role in both blood sugar control and heart function.
  • Reducing inflammation using anti-inflammatory foods like turmeric and ginger.

Ultimately, this study is a wake-up call to reexamine common diabetes treatments. For patients and physicians alike, balancing effective glucose control with cardiovascular safety is vital for long-term health.

Tune your internet dial to NaturalMedicine.news for more tips on how to use natural remedies for preventative medicine and for healing, instead of succumbing to Big Pharma products, like dangerous diabetes drugs, that cause, spread and exacerbate disease and disorder, including heart attacks.

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Antidepressants During Pregnancy Raise Risk of Birth Defects, Doctors Tell FDA

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) needs to do a better job of warning pregnant women that taking SSRIs, a type of antidepressant, may harm them and their developing baby, doctors told the agency Monday.

The FDA hosted an expert panel of developmental biologists, psychiatrists, epidemiologists, obstetricians and mental health experts who discussed selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) and pregnancy. The agency livestreamed the two-hour conversation on YouTube and X.

SSRIs have been “implicated in different studies to be involved in postpartum hemorrhage, pulmonary hypertension and cognitive downstream effects in the baby, as well as cardiac birth defects,” said FDA Commissioner Marty Makary, who opened the event.

Nearly 1 in 4 middle-aged women and up to 5% of pregnant women are on an antidepressant, Makary said.

“Antidepressants like SSRIs can be an effective treatment for depression, but we have to stop and also look at the big picture,” he said. “The more antidepressants we prescribe, the more depression there is. … We have to start talking about root causes.”

SSRIs in particular warrant scrutiny as serotonin “may play a crucial role in the development of organs of a baby in utero,” he said.

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EPA Defends Plan to Gut Key Office Studying Health Risks of Pesticides and Other Toxins

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) will move forward with plans to gut the agency’s office that studies how air pollution, drinking water contamination and toxic chemicals, including glyphosate, affect human health, the agency announced Friday.

As part of its “reduction in force,” which reportedly will cut $748.8 million from the agency’s budget, the EPA is eliminating the Office of Research and Development (ORD).

ORD is strictly a scientific research organization. It has no regulatory responsibilities, which means it isn’t subject to industry influence in the same way as other sectors of the EPA.

As a result, ORD often reaches different conclusions than other EPA research groups, according to Bill Freese, science director at the Center for Food Safety.

The office’s findings underlie many of the policies and regulations issued by the agency. Its research is often used to justify stricter rules, prompting opposition from pesticide and chemical manufacturers and other industries — and even from other sections within the agency that are allegedly captured by the chemical industry.

For example, ORD identified glyphosate as a carcinogen when the EPA’s pesticide wing argued it was safe.

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Most Dangerous City In Germany Is The One With The Most Migrants

The highest crime rate of any German city is Bremen, and it just so happens that this city state also has the highest share of residents with an immigration background, at least compared to other states.

“Data from the Federal Criminal Police Office (BKA) now show that, relative to population, no major German city has a higher crime rate. 15,424 crimes per 100,000 inhabitants are the highest, ahead of Frankfurt am Main (14,600) and Berlin (14,252),” writes Weser Kurier.

The Free Democrats (FDP) recently labeled the city the “most dangerous city in Germany.”

Bremen clearly ranks first in terms of robberies, with 194 cases per 100,000 inhabitants.

In second place is Frankfurt am Main with 14,600 registered crimes per 100,000 inhabitants. Frankfurt was in first place last year.

In third is Berlin with 14,252 registered crimes per 100,000 inhabitants.

Bremen also tops the charts with theft statistics, with shoplifting and theft from vehicles also extremely high.

However, it should be noted that all of this data is for 2024, and already Bremen is seeing a decrease in some crimes this year, including a 20 percent drop in robbery so far in 2025. Critics also contend that Bremen’s crime rate, while still extremely high, is not actually the highest due to a backlog of cases being included in the 2024 statistics. Even if that backlog is removed, Bremen remains at the top of the list for a broad range of crimes.

No matter which way the data is analyzed, the share of migrants involved in crimes in Bremen still remains incredibly high.

In fact, non-German suspects are responsible for 73 percent of all crime in Bremen in 2024, compared to 57 percent in 2023.

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