[EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: >I'm sure you've heard Parksie crow about the scientific studies showing >that herbal and energy medicine are inefective. IMHO, that just goes to >show you that you can prove anything that you want to. Especially if the >scientific establishment is paying you to do it.
While I hate to agree with Park about anything, recent reports that echinacea is ineffective seem to be based on careful research. # Unfortunately the tests conducted used less than the recommended doses and were not used as a homeopathic drug, 4 to 7 days on, 4 to 7 days off. They were used as any other Modern Drug with repetitious doses at regular intervals over an extended period of time. I think he also has a valid point that unregulated herbal remedies are a threat to public health. This is because everyone knows that some herbs are powerful drugs. Even Park would readily agree that poison ivy causes rashes, marijuana intoxicates, and the bark of the willow tree yields one of the most powerful and effective drugs ever discovered: asprin, used to treat fever, blood clotting and to prevent heart attacks. Unregulated herbal fen-phen caused widespread, serious damage to people's hearts, including 30 fatalities. As temalloy points out, conventional drugs also sometimes cause deleterious and unexpected side effects. That is why they must be carefully tested before use, and monitored continuously. I do not see why that same principle does not apply to herbal medicines. If they are effective (as some are, no doubt), they should be regulated. Many important drugs were originally discovered in herbs, trees and animals, and there are probably thousands more waiting to be discovered. This is yet another reason why we must preserve biodiversity and wilderness areas. Many drugs, including asprin, were originally discovered in nature but later synthesized. This gives better control over dosage and contents, and in some cases it helps preserves rare species. The endangered Pacific Yew was the original source of the cancer drug taxol. It took many trees to supply taxol, but fortunately the drug has now been synthesized. - Jed # The problem with identifying the "key" active ingredient for the purpose of synthetic production is that you don't know what role all the other chemicals in the original medicinal herb play. In many Homeopathic remedies even non-active chemicals in the herbal medicine play an important (catalytic) role in support of the active ingredient. It is a shame that the majority of people alive today in the "western world" have forgotten how to use herbal/homeopathic type remedies which now days come under the title of "old wives tales", alternative medicine or crackpot medicine! John Rudiger Perth WA Ph:- 08 9232 7150 Fax:- 08 9232 7155 Opportunity awaits the prepared mind.
