When
DSHEA (Dietary Supplement Health Education Act) was passed by 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 world. Before DSHEA we were unable to get them, much less even educate ourselves about them. This was because 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, common cold, etc. Some companies hype products as miraculous cures. It kind of reminds me of some of shall we call them less than upstanding martial arts teachers who claim that they were taught a secret style by some hermit monk from mountains. Yeah. Right.
That being said, it makes no sense to not allow good products on to 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 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 passage of DSHEA some of 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 education on vitamins and herbs as to what they could do for us. It was Prohibition all over again. Only instead of alcohol, "Evil" was natural products.
With passage of DSHEA in USA, FDA is still regulating supplements. Contrary to what is reported in mainstream press, and by FDA. There really are safety rules in place. Supplements are regulated. So are foods you eat. Drugs are more regulated than dietary supplements. Supposedly, they are proven safe before being distributed to consumers. If that is 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 herbal product was same price? What if 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.
