Here is a list of the top four myths surrounding the health and medical benefits of sharks and the facts behind the myths that pharmacy technicians can share with their friends, family, co-workers and fellow shark enthusiasts.

1. Shark cartilage helps cure cancer: This is one of the most recent myths about the health benefits of sharks, and it started with the 1992 publication of the book Sharks Don’t Get Cancer by I. William Lane. According to the book, sharks have powerful immune systems that protect them from cancer, viruses and many other kinds of human diseases. Humans can take a piece of that immune system by taking shark cartilage. The cartilage is often extracted from the heads and fins of sharks and sold as a dietary supplement under the names Carticin, Cartilade™, BeneFin™, Neovastat (AE-941). Researchers are still looking into the possible health benefits, if any, of shark cartilage, but little to no evidence exists that shark cartilage has any effect on cancer. Also, modern studies have proven that sharks actually do get cancer like everyone else.




2. Shark fin soup increases virility and is full of nutrition: Shark fin soup is a dish served in Asian countries, but no scientific studies have proven that it has any significant health benefits.  In fact, the Environmental Protection Agency has issued advisories for consumers to avoid eating shark due to the fact that it can contain high levels of mercury.




3. Shark liver oil will protect against any disease: Shark liver oil has been used for centuries as a folk remedy to treat wounds. In fact, some formulations of Preparation H contain shark liver oil. Some proponents claim that shark liver oil is rich in vitamins, omega fatty acids and alkylglycerols (all of which are believed to help boost the immune system) and will protect against any disease from the common cold to Alzheimer’s disease to cancer. While shark liver oil does have some common uses,  researchers have yet to find a definitive link between shark liver oil and increased immune function.




4. Capsaicin works as a shark repellant: As many pharmacy technicians know, capsaicin is often used in topical creams to relieve arthritis and other pains, but it is also the chemical that gives chili peppers their spice. For this reason, capsaicin was featured on a special Shark Week edition of Mythbusters. The myth was that Kuna people of Panama used the capsaicin that gives chili peppers their spice as a shark repellant. The Mythbusters put the myth to the test by filling balloons with a special mix of water and habanero pepper juice and attaching the balloons to a bait box inside a shark swimming pool. Unfortunately, the capsaicin did nothing to make the bait any less desirable to the sharks.

Have you heard a myth about the health benefits of sharks or other animals? Share some of the most interesting myths you’ve heard about animals and medicine with NPTA on Facebook, Twitter or the comments section of this blog!

As many of you know, I also serve as the Publisher of Today’s Technician magazine (the first magazine ever developed specifically for pharmacy technicians…). When we launched the publication in 2000, I had no clue about publishing a magazine and after 10 years I still learn from each issue that goes to press.

One of the ways that I have evolved as a publisher is to read and review a ton of magazines….seriously, just ask my assistant, Laura. I scour magazines from all sectors, interests and niches, but it is always a bonus to review magazines that are dedicated to topics that I am passionate about – like sharks.

Shark Diver magazine is one of the roughly 60 magazines I subscribe to and/or review. It is dedicated to a niche group of individuals (including myself) not unlike Today’s Technician. Eli Martinez, the editor at Shark Diver magazine has recently embarked on a project of blogging about “the making of the magazine.” I certainly connect with a lot of Eli’s comments, such as:

The mag is finally out of my hands and into the printers dirty mittens. Ya! This issue turned into one of the longest issues I have ever worked on. I took my time with each layout, making sure it looked good, but damn. I am just glad it is out of my hands now, and I now all I have to worry about is my back and forth emails and calls between me and the printer. Of course now I sit and worry about color and editing mistakes, and so on. Its a never ending thing. But at least I am done with this mag and I can somewhat rest for a day or two before it starts all over again.
(April 22, 2009 – http://sharkdivermag.com/makingthemag.html)

If you are interested in getting a sneak peek into the life and mind of a niche magazine editor/publisher….or you want to learn a little more about why on earth people like myself enjoy diving with sharks, check out the blog at http://sharkdivermag.com/makingthemag.html