A “cleansing” ceremony involving the poisonous skin of an Amazonian frog is believed to be the cause of death for a wellness coach — mere months after he beat cancer. After recovering from Burkitt lymphoma, an aggressive type of blood cancer, Kristian Trend became immersed in holistic wellness. But his participation in a dangerous “detox” … Read more
Time to crack down? The plant that’s been hailed as a potential treatment for opioid use disorder has also been behind a staggering 6,500% increase in poison center calls nationwide over the last decade and a half. Kratom trees are native to parts of Southeast Asia, and their leaves have grabbed the attention of the … Read more
The root of the problem? Marketed to the sober-curious as a squeaky-clean swap for alcohol, one drink additive is the culprit behind a massive spike in poison reports between 2011 and 2025, according to a new study out of the University of Virginia. Kava, a tropical plant native to the Pacific Islands, has been used … Read more
You might want to leaf this drug alone. A new study found that calls to the nation’s poison centers about a natural supplement marketed as an energy booster, mood lifter and pain reliever have soared more than 1,200% over the past decade. Hospitalizations, and even some deaths, have climbed in tandem, leaving health experts sounding … Read more
The Food and Drug Administration has expanded its warning about weight loss supplements that contain a toxin that can trigger neurologic, gastrointestinal and cardiovascular problems and even death. The agency determined that an additional product labeled as tejocote (Crataegus mexicana) root or Brazil seed has yellow oleander (Thevetia peruviana) instead of the ingredients on its … Read more
New year, same old liver? After all those holiday indulgences, many people feel the need to hit the “reset” button with a detox or cleanse for a fresh-start fix. These practices date back thousands of years — think Cleopatra’s sour donkey milk baths to preserve beauty and youthfulness, Dr. John Harvey Kellogg’s yogurt enemas to … Read more
Ethan Hawke called celebrity a “poison” for a young actor’s brain. The actor, 55, sat down for “The Joe Rogan Experience” to talk about his start in Hollywood as a young man, as well as to reflect on the psychological effect of becoming famous at a young age. “I think celebrity is like a tiny … Read more
The British government recently added eight countries to its list of travel warnings related to the risk of methanol poisoning from tainted alcohol. The United Kingdom’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) has warned that tourists visiting Ecuador, Japan, Kenya, Mexico, Nigeria, Peru, Russia and Uganda may face a risk of methanol poisoning from counterfeit or contaminated … Read more
Consulting AI for medical advice can quite literally be a pain in the butt, as one millennial learned the hard way. The unidentified man tried to crudely strangle a gruesome growth on his anus, becoming one of several victims of AI-powered health guidance gone terribly wrong in the process. Many documented cases confirm that generative … Read more
Consulting AI for medical advice can have deadly consequences. A 60-year-old man was hospitalized with severe psychiatric symptoms — plus some physical ones too, including intense thirst and coordination issues — after asking ChatGPT for tips on how to improve his diet. What he thought was a healthy swap ended in a toxic reaction so … Read more
There could be an undetectable poison lurking in your vacation cocktail. A Canadian woman is warning social media users after she lost her eyesight from sipping a stealthily toxic cocktail overseas — and she says she’s one of the lucky ones. In December, seven tourists were hospitalized in Fiji after drinking tainted booze at a … Read more
Seedy oil — or seedy advice? On a recent episode of The Joe Rogan Experience, wellness guru and biohacker Gary Brecka didn’t mince words in a rant against seed oils, warning that every time you cook with one, you’re dosing yourself with a “micropoison.” He slammed seed oils as a “chemical nightmare” that trigger an … Read more
Rick Harrison found hope in the Trump administration after losing his son, Adam, to a fentanyl overdose one year ago. The “Pawn Stars” boss praised President Donald Trump for taking steps to shut down the border and prevent criminal activity. Two days after Trump took his second oath of office, the president issued an executive order suspending … Read more
Back away from the medicine cabinet. The US Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) just announced a recall of more than 2,300 bottles of a popular allergy medication due to a serious child poisoning risk. Consumers who purchased the affected product can contact Arsell for a full refund. ColleenMichaels – stock.adobe.com The problem isn’t with the … Read more
It’s an octopus-eat-octopus world. Scientists have discovered that mating, male blue-lined octopuses will inject a powerful, incapacitating neurotoxin into the hearts of female octopuses — to avoid being eaten by them when the sea deed is done. Females are typically twice the size of males and will commonly chow down on their sexual partners after … Read more
‘Tis the season for chocolate lovers to go nuts. Americans collectively shelled out nearly $7 billion for holiday confections in 2023, with sales expected to grow slightly this year. Unfortunately, overindulging in chocolate can lead to weight gain, tooth decay and an increased risk of heart disease, Type 2 diabetes and high cholesterol. But could … Read more
Grandma’s usually a safe space for grandkids — but a hidden danger lurking in her purse could send them to the hospital. “Granny’s purse syndrome” is responsible for up to a fifth of accidental child poisonings, and one pediatric emergency medicine doctor is warning people how to keep their children safe this holiday season and … Read more
Doctors have revealed a common treatment to slow the effects of methanol poisoning. It comes after six people died following a mass methanol poisoning in Laos, including Melbourne teenagers Bianca Jones and Holly Bowles. Methanol – which is a chemical building block for hundreds of everyday products, including plastics, paints, car parts and construction materials – … Read more
It could be the kiss of death. Mistletoe is beloved by millions of Americans during the holiday season, with lovers locking lips beneath the festive and flirtatious flora. But before you deck your halls, consider the threat the decoration poses to your pets. “Mistletoe berries are super toxic — they can cause a heart attack … Read more
This plant will be the bane of your existence. A poisonous plant called “baneberry” is prompting warnings from park rangers who are urging the public not to consume the toxic vegetation. “Is that plant looking at me?” the National Park Service wrote on Facebook this week alongside a photo of a white baneberry plant, whose … Read more