Allen
that is such a sad story.
Let me make clear that I absolutely value (and swear by) conventional Western medicine for many things. I get my yearly mammo, routine paps, and I definitely go for any serious infections/illnesses. Where I think alternative medicine can help (along with a proper diet and exercise) is with either low level things, or higher level chronic complaints to which Western medicine offers pharmaceuticals that often have poor success rates, and great risk.
I have found that taking very specific compounds, which have been in testing in Japan and Europe, and have an extreme degree of safety (I won't take herbals that say "take for limited time" or have any other health warning) has been very rewarding for me- but I would never, but never, suggest alternative medicine as a first line of defense. On the other hand, I wouldn't want to see the backstop of herbal medicine too highly regulated by the FDA which, imo, has interests at odds with the public in this area.
I DO think herbals need to be pure- just as any food needs to be what it says it is. I don't know what you do about danger though. Most of the herbals I have looked at have been studied in the EU or Japan. There have been tests on everything I take, and the herbal medicines have been found to be effective. I think any person going to an herbalist or using herbals themself needs to take some responsibility looking the stuff up. I won't take prescribed drugs without looking them up either. Doctors tend to dispense those like candy, and frequently the side effects just aren't worth the risk of taking the drug, especially for chronic conditions.
It's a fine balance- but I do think in the US the power tends to tip toward big pharma, and that worries me a bit. That's all I was trying to communicate- and I do understand the risks you mention, and agree with you that herbals are not, and should not be, the first line of defense for a critical problem. |
