Wednesday, March 21, 2018

PRP--The new snake oil?


I love these old-timey ads for elixirs and oils that claim to treat everything from constipation to headaches to stiff joints to "female troubles."  Sadly, traveling snake oil salesmen are not a thing of the past.  Nowadays, the internet and social media are replete with modern day snake oil salesmen ready to take your money.  Hardly a day goes by that I don't see a doctor advertise natural treatments for arthritis, tendonitis, incontinence, sexual pleasure, aging, etc.  These ads usually offer a free-consultation, and then you will undoubtedly be told that you should definitely get not one but several injection of PRP (platelet rich plasma) to cure whatever it is that ails you.  You will probably also be sold on hormone replacement therapy or some other panacea.  Be aware that these modern day snake oil salesmen can rarely substantiate the claims they make, and virtually none of the treatments they offer are FDA approved, with questionable safety and efficacy.