Smoking is associated with a 50% lower incidence of Parkinson’s disease (PD) when compared to nonsmokers, but the mechanism is still unknown. Though there are many chemicals in tobacco that could theoretically be involved, several studies suggest that nicotine not only has a protective effect on the brain cells involved in PD but may also [...]
This was the email response given by an FDA official when asked why the FDA can’t offer more substantive criticisms than simply, “We think it’s bad, so don’t do it. That is, until we find a way for Big Tobacco to buy the licensing rights and charge you all a licensing fee!” I think it [...]
The objective of the study was to evaluate the relation between smoking and incidence of psoriasis in a women. The study found that women who smoked at one time in the past and those women who were classified as “current smokers” were at increased risk for developing psoriasis. However, the risk was greater for those [...]
Forbes.com has a recent piece titled: “E-Cigarettes Should Be Promoted, Not Banned” Written by Tim Worstall, the article references the ecig article in The Guardian and the “Nudge Unit” (now that’s a great name for a… unit) employed by the government to, apparently, utilize electronic cigarettes in their efforts to help smokers manage nicotine addiction. [...]
2 nurse images in a row? How’d that happen? This one was just too good. Anyway…A study from the UCLA School of Nursing reveals the tragic consequences of smoking on the nursing profession. The study was published in the journal Nursing Research outlines smoking trends and death rates among U.S. nurses and highlights the importance [...]
A study from researchers at University Hospital Cardiff Wales in the UK suggests that Crohn’s disease may very well be treated by, get this – nicotine enemas. That’s right, you heard it here first. Nicotine, as it turns out, has some positive benefits as an anti-inflammatory, particularly within the gut. Ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease [...]
The LA times has a write up covering Blu Cig’s new initiative that will enbable Blu Cig users to find — other Blu Cig users — nearby. That’s kind of interesting, and we agree here that some people may be interested in this sort of random connection-making. (Me, I’m a misanthropic loner, no way would [...]
The Washington Post has a new article touting the arrival of eCigs in Hollywood. Interesting. They even feature a shot of the Blu ecig pack as the lead image. Do celebrities know something the FDA doesn’t? Apparently Mr. DiCaprio, Ms. Lohan, and well, the cool kids, are vaping it up. The article is pretty much [...]
Curcumin, the compound found in turmeric that gives curry its orange-yellow color, may block nicotine-induced cancers of the head and neck. A study recently reported at the 2009 annual meeting of the American Academy of Otolaryngology in San Diego, found that curcumin was able to block the activation of an important pathway in the promotion [...]
“Great Smoking Myths” Allen Carr was a 30 year smoker, describing himself as one of “the worst nicotine addicts there has ever been”. Not a casual smoker, but an all-day every day smoker. He eventually was able to quit, and came up with his myths of smoking cessation. Allen Carr’s Smoking Myths Smokers Myth #1: [...]
Dr. Michael Siegel of Boston University writes eloquently and convincingly about the absurdity of most allegedly anti-smoking groups’ position on electronic cigarettes. Dr. Siegel points out that nearly all of them claim or imply that they recommend that smokers KEEP SMOKING CIGARETTES than migrate their nicotine usage to other less harmful means. This flies in [...]
Flinstones and Winston Cigarettes, this is a from roughly 1960-61. Winston was one of the sponsors of the first few years of the Flintstones. TImes change …
Zyban is a prescription medication designed to help smokers quit more easily than without the drug. It comes in a pill form. It does not contain nicotine Zyban’s history is interesting. Smokers who happened to be users of the anti-depression medication Wellbutrin (bupropion hydrochloride) often reported a lessening in the desire for cigarettes. Through further [...]
While it is true that Freud once said, “sometimes a cigar is just a cigar.” However, when it comes to phallic symbols, it’s hard to beat a cig. NIH is running a clinical trial of the drug efficacy study of Naltrexone in Women’s Smoking Cessation. Here’s what the abstract of the test says: Women may [...]
While both sides await the shakeout on e-cigarettes, the products are on the market (kits with the e-cigarette and nicotine cartridges generally sell for $70 to $150). And contrary to the old adage, what you don’t know can hurt you. Among the reasons to be wary of what you read on Ecigarettes: — Most e-cigarettes are made in [...]
Here’s what Tom’s of Maine Toothpastes and Deodorants has to say: Tom’s of Maine uses Propylene Glycol “Propylene glycol is considered a safe and appropriate ingredient not just for cosmetic products, but also for ingested products like food and pharmaceuticals. It is on the US Food and Drug Administration’s list of ingredients which are Generally [...]
A report claims to have smoked out secret contracts between Big Tobacco and old-time Hollywood, where movie stars received big bucks to endorse cigarettes. Researchers at the Tobacco Control journal reveal that many of the biggest names of Hollwyood’s golden age – including Clark Gable, Henry Fonda, and Lauren Bacall – took money to endorse [...]
What the heck is propylene glycol? Propylene glycol is used as a ‘humectant’ which means it maintains moisture levels in food products, cosmetics and tobacco products. Humectants are what make hair conditioning products work as well as create the ‘moisterizing’ effects of many common cosmetics and consumer products we take for granted such as: make [...]
You got to hand it to Big Tobacco. They may called a lot of things but “stupid” is not one of them. A recent Associated Press Article highlights antics Big Tobacco took to circumvent federal tobacco taxes. Shrewd marketing on behalf of Big Tobacco helped them avoid paying hundreds of millions of dollars in tobacco [...]
Very interesting. But ask yourself this – as taxes on cigarettes mount and governments come to rely on these taxes to manage their budgets, what is the likelihood that smoking cessation will honestly be pursued? Whenever a government is funded on the act of smoking it will do what it can to keep that funding [...]
