Action Alert! FDA is trying to outlaw natural medicine!

[Aunt Bytes]

this is insane! you won't believe it, but the fda is trying to regulate everything that makes any sort of health claim!

alert: fda attempting to regulate supplements, herbs and juices as "drugs"

http://www.organicconsumers.org/articles/article_4803.cfm

fda regulators using legal trickery to kill alternative procedures and products

http://www.democracyinaction.org/healthfreedomusa/campaign.jsp?campaign_key=7185&t=

the implications of this are widespread. all it will take to completely ban anything is proof that it has health benefits. that means that once the government "scientists" figure out that water "treats" dehydration, all bottled water will be regulated as a drug.

if you are one of those unfortunate souls who still believes that the united states government has your best interests at heart....i'm sorry to be the one to burst your bubble.

now "buck up", get out those pens and start writing those letters!

here's the letter that i pieced together from the article to send to my congressmen here in la. (that's lower alabama for ya'll that don't know!)

thanks!

reverend brenda shoop, bsn, rn

[oramar]

Actually, it is the pharmaceutical companies that are pressing goverment to outlaw this stuff. It cuts into their profits. Some of the claims they make like the fact that millions and millions of people are taking stuff that is untested are true. But let's face it they could care less about whether natural products hurt people, it is all about profit for them. Would you believe I am not concerned that it will come to having all those supplements pulled from the shelf. You see, as powerful as the drug companies are they are no match for the outraged voters that deluge congress with protest every time it starts to move to do it's masters bidding. I call the drug companies congress' master for reasons of which we are all aware.

[NPinWCH]

Let me start by saying I have more "alternitive" meds/herbs...in my house than FDA approved ones, BUT even I feel the herb/supplement industry needs more oversight. Many people believe everything they hear and read and there are too many companies without ethics out there putting whatever they want into their formularies.

Some put too much or too little of the active ingredient, some put something totally different in it. Some even add dangerous fillers or use ingredients from subpar suppliers. If you take 6 different brands of a "standardized" herb and have them compared they rarely match what the label says, but 6 different brands of ibuprofen will always have what the label says. Some of these supplements even have dangerous levels of all kinds of contaminants in them.

I also think the statement:

"That means that once the government "scientists" figure out that water "treats" dehydration, all bottled water will be regulated as a drug."

Is a bit over the top, we may as well add: Since citrus fruit treats scurvy it will need to be regulated as a drug, and since calories treat malnourishment/low body weight then all food in fact will be regulated as a drug.

I know you're just making a point, but something about that line just bothered me.

[pickledpepperRN]

Drug Lobby Second to None

How the pharmaceutical industry gets its way Drug in Washington

http://www.publicintegrity.org/rx/report.aspx?aid=723

Annual research and development spending by the pharmaceutical industry increased 147% between 1993 and 2004. In the same period, the number of new drug applications to the Food and Drug Administration grew by only 38% and has generally declined since 1999, according to a GAO report (Washington Post, Dec. 20, 2006).

In 2004, the world's 13 largest drug companies reported $62 billion in profits; the top 12 drug company executives collected $192.7 million in compensation (IHSP).

Close ties exist between the lawmakers and the industry. Billy Tauzin, who shepherded the 2003 Medicare bill through Congress, which specifically bars the government from negotiating drug discounts for the new Medicare prescription drug benefit, subsequently went to work for the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America at an estimated $2 million per year. (Krugman, New York Times, May 6, 2005)

Record spent by drug lobby on Medicare

Published April 3, 2007

WASHINGTON -- Drugmakers and their trade associations spent a record $155 million to lobby the U.S. government as legislation was debated to allow drug prices to be negotiated by Medicare, according to a watchdog group.

http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/chi-0704020395apr03,1,4196294.story

[DarciaMoonz, LPN]

Yeah, it's all about the Benjamins.It has Nothing to do with "we have your best interest at heart". They can say it's because of some of the S/E of the herbal supplements, but that is a load of crap. Most of the OTC and prescription medications we take have S/E that in some cases cause more harm than anything. Anything regulated by USP, USFDA, or whoever can be bad for you if you take more than you need. Heck, drinking to much water can be fatal. As long as people are aware of the good, bad, and ugly of anything they decide to ingest, and they use it properly, I don't see what the big deal is. Aren't most of the medications that are created a synthetic form of all or part of some plants, or mineral, or other chemical compound found in nature? Maybe this change is coming about because many people are turning to homeopathic treatments, which goes back to loss of profit by big pharmaceutical companies.

[pickledpepperRN]

My doctor told me that there is no regulation of the supplement industry. The vitamins, fish oil, and such may not even contain what is on the label.

If true wy doesn't the FDA at least ensure we get what we think we are buying?

Even food labels are regulated. The accuracy of calorie and saturated fat claims are sometimes tested.

[Aunt Bytes]

Yes, there are vitamin and herb companies with zero to no ethics.

That's where we come in as nurses. Just do some research yourself on these companies and let your patients know which ones to steer clear of.

And I do agree that some kind of regulation needs to occur with vitamins and supplements. But botanical herbs? Come on! Every herb can make a health claim. This action would regulate all herbs. Even simple herbs like oregano, rosemary, lavendar, etc, etc.

Also, under the new guidelines, you would need a prescription for a heating pad or even one of those head massagers everyone has now. They also added deodorant/anti-perspirants, makeup with SPF protection, and dandruff shampoo to the list!

Unless you are Big Pharma, the FDA is not your friend.

[oramar]

Yes, there are vitamin and herb companies with zero to no ethics.

That's where we come in as nurses. Just do some research yourself on these companies and let your patients know which ones to steer clear of.

And I do agree that some kind of regulation needs to occur with vitamins and supplements. But botanical herbs? Come on! Every herb can make a health claim. This action would regulate all herbs. Even simple herbs like oregano, rosemary, lavendar, etc, etc.

Also, under the new guidelines, you would need a prescription for a heating pad or even one of those head massagers everyone has now. They also added deodorant/anti-perspirants, makeup with SPF protection, and dandruff shampoo to the list!

Unless you are Big Pharma, the FDA is not your friend.

Good post, short enough to get to the point quickly while still containing all the facts. Wish I could write so well.