Is Your Ability to Buy Dietary Supplements In Jeopardy?

[Mr.X]

Is Your Ability to Buy Dietary Supplements, Herbal Preparations, and Tonics in Jeopardy in the USA?


Author: Allen Weber

When the DSHEA (Dietary Supplement Health Education Act) was
passed by the USA Congress in 1994 it was a boon to all of us
consumers. Finally, we all could buy herbals that had long
histories of safe and effective use throughout the world. Before
the DSHEA we were unable to get them, much less even educate
ourselves about them. This was because the FDA was stopping
education on them, and their actual manufacture supposedly for
"Our" protection.

Certainly, there are slime in every business who prey on
unsuspecting consumers who have not really educated themselves.
We as consumers have to understand that there is no "Magic
bullet" that will instantly reverse years and years of abuse of
our systems.

There is no magic pill that will instantly cure cancer,
diabetes, high blood pressure, the common cold, etc. Some
companies hype products as miraculous cures. It kind of reminds
me of some of the shall we call them less than upstanding
martial arts teachers who claim that they were taught a secret
style by some hermit monk from the mountains. Yeah. Right.

That being said, it makes no sense to not allow good products on
to the market.

The idea is to have supplements that can help you to live a
better life. Can keep you healthy, prevent illness. And when you
are feeling sick (dis-eased) can help make you feel better. They
can be used to regulate your blood pressure, help you to relax,
help you to sleep when you have to much on your mind. Something
you can take to help fight off the beginnings of a cold, etc.
Basically, help keep your body in perfect balance and health so
you do not have to worry about ever getting sick.

Before the passage of the DSHEA some of the wonderful products
being blocked included, Traditional Chinese herbal medicines,
Ayurvedic medicines, and traditional folk medicines. So, rather
than being able to easily get herbal remedies, we were forced to
buy less effective drugs manufactured by pharmaceutical
companies. We were forced to buy synthetic vitamins. We could
not get the education on vitamins and herbs as to what they
could do for us. It was Prohibition all over again. Only instead
of alcohol, the "Evil" was natural products.

With the passage of the DSHEA in the USA, the FDA is still
regulating supplements. Contrary to what is reported in
mainstream press, and by the FDA. There really are safety rules
in place. Supplements are regulated. So are the foods you eat.
Drugs are more regulated than dietary supplements. Supposedly,
they are proven safe before being distributed to consumers. If
that is the case, why is it that almost every month there is
another recall of some drug due to unforeseen side effects and
dangers? Why is it that once a drug is approved for use, many
doctors start to prescribe it for uses it was not approved for?
Yes this really happens.

If you could get an all natural product made specifically to
treat your condition by a qualified, highly trained herbalist,
would you prefer that, or would you prefer taking a laboratory
produced drug that is synthesized from who knows what?

What if the herbal product was the same price? What if the
herbal product was 10 times cheaper?

The drug companies certainly do not like consumers to be
educated on products that would take away their profits.

Do you know that even though certain herbs have been proven to
fight off cancers and destroy them, you will never learn about
them? This is because even with the passage of the DSHEA, the
FDA is suppressing this type information claiming that there
"are not enough safety studies" even if it has been studied in
most other modern countries around the world. Is that
"Protecting" you? Or is it protecting the profits of drug
manufacturers?

Do you know that as recently as a few years ago, no manufacturer
of calcium products could claim that taking calcium would help
fight off osteoporosis? Thanks to the DSHEA you can learn that
calcium can help.

So now you have a small understanding of what benefits you get
from the DSHEA. Here is the problem.

Now there are some Senators and Representatives who want to take
away the rights of consumers like you and me to use the products
of our choice. They want to limit the choices we have in how we
are treated. They want us to be forced to use high priced
poisonous pharmaceuticals rather than herbs. They do not want us
educated as to what herbs do, how they can benefit us and keep
us healthy.

This attack is being launched by Big Dick (Richard) Durbin
(democrat of Illinois). The question is why. Is he really that
well versed in every treatment so that he can tell you what is
good for you and what is not? Is he really that educated in how
all of the supplements, vitamins, herbs, and preparations really
work? Or is it the usual. Politics and high level big money
political contributions to his campaign at work.

While his idea is commendable - insuring that supplements are
safe. Wouldn't it be a better idea to force a supplement
manufacturer to prove that the supplement does what they claim
it does?

Wouldn't it be better to allow...no in fact force the supplement
manufacturer to have a lot of educational material available to
consumers so they can educate themselves. Material including
possible adverse reactions. Known and reported incompatible
products (i.e. don't take this with aspirin, etc.) Safe dosages,
and unsafe dosages, as well as how much is to much..How much can
you safely take during a 24 hour period. Information like that.
I'm sure that this type of information would be more helpful
than some bureaucrat deciding what you can and can not know
about a particular product. Even if that bureaucrat has the best
of intentions.

Imagine not being able to buy the herbal product of your choice
because some politician and bureaucrat want to "Protect" you.
Imagine not being able to find information on adverse effects
and beneficial effects of a particular herb, or herbal
combination, or dietary supplement? It is about to happen here
in the USA.

If you really want to keep the ability to educate yourself on
alternative medicine, the proper use of vitamins, herbs, etc,
and have the choice to use them, then get in touch with your
Senator and ask them to defeat Big Dick Durbin's "Dietary
Supplement Safety Act" (Senate Bill 722).

It's for your own good.

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About the author:
By Allen Weber Copyright June 10, 2003 JAJA Group, Inc.-
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