Crackdown continues on Baja California clinics

[Guest guest]

Dear Dr Borman,

Would you please shed some light on this situation in the Tijuana area. It

appears that quackery watch

is gaining prestige . Thanks...

<http://www.ahealthyme.com/images/pixeltrans.gif>

<http://www.ahealthyme.com/images/inthenews.gif>

Crackdown continues on Baja California clinics

Anonymous

NCAHF Newsletter

Jul/Aug 2001

Since January Baja California health officials have closed 20 clinics that

offer " alternative " treatments to clients who come from the United States

and other countries, the San Diego UnionTribune reported. One of these

clinics was the San Clinic in Tijuana, which appears to be the same

clinic advertised by the Bonita, California-- based American Metabolic

Institute (http://www.amihealth.com). State investigators found that

chicken livers and tissue from guinea pigs had been mixed with the human

tissue of cancer patients at San Clinic and that derivatives of the

mixture were injected into the patients.

The state health department also banned " alternative " treatment businesses

at two Tijuana Clinics-one operated by BioPulse International the other by

Hulda -which reportedly reopened in July after being shut down in

February. A health official said that BioPulse paid a $220,000 fine and

that 's Century Nutrition contested its $166,000 fine. [ E,

Dibble S. Alternative Tijuana clinic shut down by Baja officials. San Diego

Union-- Tribune, July 27, 2001.]

For decades quackery has flourished in the Tijuana border area. The area

has been a mecca for desperate patients and medical renegades from the

United States and around the world. But under new rules, Mexican federal

immigration authorities will not grant visas to foreigners who want to

practice medicine without consulting health authorities. Foreigners who

want to practice medicine in Mexico will need to submit their credentials

for authorization. [Dibble S, Crabtree P. Baja agencies put restrictions on

alternative health clinics. San Diego Union-Tribune, June 21, 2001.]

BioPulse International's clinic offered " therapies " involving vaccines

derived from a patient's own urine and induction of insulin comas. Century

Nutrition offered a low-voltage " zapper " that Hulda claims kills

parasites, bacteria, and viruses. American Metabolic Institute (AMI)

promotes a wide range of dubious methods to address degenerative diseases.

Methods mentioned in AMI's advertising include: the HLB test (a microscopic

coagulation test said to detect degenerative diseases five to eight years

before symptoms are manifested), live cell analysis, lymphatic massage,

chelation, ozone/ oxygen therapy, laetrile, color therapy, acupressure,

fasting, colonies, vitamins, herbs, minerals, digestive enzymes, amino

acids, chiropractic, magnetic & frequency generator treatments, growth

hormones, DMSO, mercury amalgam filling removal, craniosacral therapy, and

homeopathic treatments.

Copyright National Council Against Health Fraud, Inc. Jul/Aug 2001