21st Century Snake Oil?

Most people are familiar with “patent medicines” which refer to elixirs of questionable medical effectiveness. Patent medicine is particularly associated with the 19th century, where these elixirs were sold with myriad colorful names and even more colorful claims. The term “Snake Oil” originates with a topical preparation made from the Chinese Water Snake (Enhydris chinensis) used by Chinese laborers to treat joint pain. “Snake Oil” has become synonymous with all medicines of dubious authenticity and therapeutic effect.

It was interesting to note the indictment of Vincent Dammai, an assistant professor in the department of pathology and laboratory medicine at the Medical University of South Carolina, last week. He and others are accused of operating a ring that offered unauthorized stem cell treatments for cancer, Lou Gehrig’s disease, multiple sclerosis, and other autoimmune diseases. It appears this is not an isolated case. A month ago, the International Society for Stem Cell Research reported that it was "very concerned" that stem cell therapies are being sold around the world before they have been proven safe and effective. Is stem cell therapy destined to be the 21st century “snake oil?”