Your significant other might be interested in the fact that a National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM) has been established in the National Institutes of Health to explore alternative medicine. Our government funds some research into holistic medicine, and the FDA has begun regulating some practices. For example, the FDA regulates the use of acupuncture needles and you can read on the NCCAM website (http://nccam.nih.gov/) that acupuncture has been found to be of some benefit and further research is being done.

I, too, have found that some holistic practices and products (herbs, supplements, various remedies) have been useful and some haven’t. Sometimes conventional medicine has been helpful and sometimes it hasn’t. I think it’s best to take the best of both worlds. It does take time to research, ask questions and it requires that you think for yourself.

I have had bad stomach pain/constant nausea for the past 4 years, all dating back to when I started law school. I saw many doctors with no help (gave me the purple pill and sent me on my way). About 5 months ago I purchased some probiotics and anti fungal pills from a local provider. Ever since, I have infrequent pain about once monthly, whereas before, I was having daily stomach pain and nausea.

I am currently having a hard time discussing this issue with my significant other. He is a firm believer that holistic medicine is “quack science” and that the reason I feel better when I take these medicines is due in large part to the placebo effect it has on me and my thinking. I think I feel so strongly about this due to the fact that these pills have helped me so much, and I feel so much better than I did before I took them.

I often wonder myself, as the question is posed to me many times by my sig other, why holistic medicines do not seek FDA approval. My significant other swears FDA does not approve holistic meds and vitamins and such because they do not work. Any knowledge/advice on this subject?

My personal feelings are very similar to yours. I use herbs and supplements and other “natural” means to address my health issues, and would only use medication in an extreme situation. Actually, I’d rather use things like yoga, exercise, healthful diet, meditation and so on than even rely on supplements, although I do use some supplements and herbs. Nevertheless, the right to use supplements, herbs and all forms of “alternative” medicine is extremely important to me.

When the FDA says something is safe, I don’t rely on that judgment. There’s no such thing as a completely safe drug as far as I’m concerned, and yet sometimes they save lives so I wouldn’t throw them out either. I imagine it isn’t easy to really ascertain the so-called safety of a drug and ultimately one has to assess risk vs. benefit. I feel it’s really important for people to have access to information about the risks of any drug or treatment.

I also don’t feel confident in the FDA’s ability to regulate alternative approaches. I’m very passionate about health freedom and the right to choose. I think the only way we can help people to make good choices is to provide knowledge of alternatives and we can’t rely on the government to do that.

Probably the single thing that makes it difficult for people to make informed choices about drugs is promotion of drugs by the pharmaceutical industry. One of our biggest problems is the huge profits that can be made in our health care system which tend to undermine its integrity.

This is such a complex issue. Thank you for adding your thoughts and furthering the conversation.

I just don’t get a warm fuzzy from this, look how many dangerous drugs the FDA allows on the market, but we think they will do a good job with this?

Shouldn’t they get better regulating what they already regulate before they take on more?

Educate the user is a better phrase, for an educated consumer is rarely tricked by the shysters, hucksters and fleecers.

I support organizations like consumerlabs.com, and the independent evaluation of supplement content. I believe in controlled scientific studies for the evaluation of supplements. And I think harsh penalties should be imparted upon those who knowingly sell substances which harm a consumer.

Personally I would also like to see a sanctioned certification for those who call themselves qualified to dispense supplements and herbals. A Naturopath is much more qualified to create an herbal remedy for a client than a MD who has had a weekend course in herbal therapy.

But I do realize how hard it is to put something like that in place. It’s just a wish….

So I leave you with one last thought. If we want the industry to be trusted, it has to be trustworthy.

And Judy’s comments are also well heeded, for the Codex does restrict a great many things. And the great question as to WHY this is occuring now? There is a great deal of insight to be gotten in the book “Natural Causes: Death, Lies and Politics in America’s Vitamin and Herbal Supplement Industry” by Dan Hurley. It also addresses some of the issues which brought about certain governments’ willingness to consider harsh controls.

While drug companies are bashed, the herbal/vitamin industry has taken on the marketing practices of the drug companies and compounded them with questionable ethics, all in the pursuit of the almight dollar, both here and in this country.

And the FDA has less power than you are led to believe. Those who have monetary gain will do everything they can to manipulate the belief of the masses to create the money making environment, rather than one that has the client’s best interest at heart.

If the Codex ever becomes enforced in this country, then don’t blame the FDA, but rather look to those who have made billions off the herb/supplement industry and start looking under the rocks which hide their activities. You are guaranteed to find huge bugs scattering when they see the light of scrutiny. They are the masters of disinformation, which is deliberately placed misinformation. (Misinformation being mistaken information).

And if these enforcements do come, the industry will pocket their profits and whistle off into the sunset uncaring of those who gave them those profits.

Those who are practicing responsibly in the holistic arts need to stand up and fight for better controls to eradicate the shysters, hucksters and fleecers. If we don’t then something like the Codex will be forced down our throats.