Urgent!Eu about to ban many herbs

[john wings]

please sign the petition in this link if you are concerned;two days to go before they do so.
http://www.avaaz.org/en/eu_herbal_medicine_ban/97.php?cl_tta_sign=9e47bfc52d873587e77fdbd85b9c7d8a

 

[sapper1]

I'll worry about it when I see the inspectors in my garden.

 

[Deck]

I'll worry about it when I see the inspectors in my garden.

Absolutely right!

 

[Graham_S]

This would be the ban that says that if you want to sell herbal medicine, it has to do what you say it does?

 

[Wayland]

Sounds about right.

 

[demographic]

This would be the ban that says that if you want to sell herbal medicine, it has to do what you say it does?

That would be a disaster, the poor honest hardworking people who make homoeopathic medicines might go out of business...


Mind, thinking about it, they might be OK as their remedies so diluted that they most likely don't contain any "active ingredient" anyway.

 

[Graham_S]

As far as I can see, they don't.
They rely on "the memory of water"
Apparently the water can remember all about the remedy that was in it, but not about its trip through the sewage treatment plant...

 

[British Red]

For the avoidance of doubt, the EU are not planning on banning any herbs, nor does the legislation concerned ban any herbs.

 

[Mikey P]

All this is doing is bringing the sale of 'herbal medicines' under the same labelling regs as food. You can't make medicinal claims unless you have proof that it works. And proof is clinical trials, same deal for any other medicinal product, not anecdotal evidence.

The idea is so that consumers are not misled. Nothing wrong with that. Level playing field.

 

[mrcharly]

erm:

The EU Directive erects high barriers to any herbal remedy that hasn't been on the market for 30 years -- including virtually all Chinese, Ayurvedic, and African traditional medicine. It's a draconian move that helps drug companies and ignores thousands of years of medical knowledge.

'30 years' and 'thousands of years'
I'd suggest that if the herb has been used for thousands of years, it's a pretty safe bet that it's been on sale for more than 30.

 

[demographic]

The idea is so that consumers are not misled. Nothing wrong with that. Level playing field.

Exactly. Sounds fine to me and snakeoil salesmen should have to justify their claims about the products they sell.

 

[kINGPIN]

Agreed. they have been getting away with misleading people for years.

 

[Corso]

its all fair points but its ironic noone seems to have the same attitude re the drug companies.

everyone shouts when an NHS trust/NICE say they cant aford a drug that demonstrates a marginal increase in life expectancy in a small proportion of trial patients (i.e most cancer drugs) and doesn't bat an eyelid when said drug company offers the drug for 10k a pop.

a few modest herbalists however get it in the neck because of the odd snakeoil salesman claims their 'cure' works - a claim that only lasts so lang anyway....

 

[Andy BB]

The difference is in the research. Its one thing to go through all the hoops to ensure that we - the patients - get a product that is safe (ish..) to use, compared to someone filling up a bottle from the tap and selling it for 10 quid a go.....................................................................................

Actually, since every atom in existence came from big-bang times, some 14 billion years ago, I feel a business opportunity coming on.

"Big Bang" water - guaranteed to be the most ancient of remedies - all facts confirmed by every reputable scientist in the world, from Einstein to Steven Hawking................

 

[British Red]

its all fair points but its ironic noone seems to have the same attitude re the drug companies.

everyone shouts when an NHS trust/NICE say they cant aford a drug that demonstrates a marginal increase in life expectancy in a small proportion of trial patients (i.e most cancer drugs) and doesn't bat an eyelid when said drug company offers the drug for 10k a pop.

a few modest herbalists however get it in the neck because of the odd snakeoil salesman claims their 'cure' works - a claim that only lasts so lang anyway....

Herbs will still be out there. Herbal preparations may still be sold...as foodstuffs, cosmetics etc. Provided no medical claims (that have not been substantiated) are made, no problem

 

[Corso]

I realise that mate i was just venting on the irony of people accepting the drug companies without question.....

 

[Mikey P]

I see your point but, if there is nothing to hide and a product has genuine merit, it will pass trials and be available.

I have no issue as such against 'natural remedies' - let's face it, penicillin is a naturally occurring mould, willow bark contains aspirin, etc. Indeed, many drugs companies are combing the jungles for the next new wonder drug.

It is also worth noting that the cost of developing and trialling new drugs is phenomenol. In which case, if a product is good enough, a manufacturer will be able to to persuade a larger company to sponsor them through the trials.

It may not seem fair but it's the safest method we have at the moment.

 

[sapper1]

You can't put a price on the placebo effect of some herbal remedies.If someone believes that something does them good and they feel better for taking it then surely that's a good thing whether it actually does anything or not.
Unless it's actually dangerous of course.

 

[rik_uk3]

All this is doing is bringing the sale of 'herbal medicines' under the same labelling regs as food. You can't make medicinal claims unless you have proof that it works. And proof is clinical trials, same deal for any other medicinal product, not anecdotal evidence.

The idea is so that consumers are not misled. Nothing wrong with that. Level playing field.

Well that should remove about 99.99% or all these quack remedies. This is about as far as I go for a herbal remedy, won't help your cold but it tastes nice
http://www.drinksmixer.com/drink5382.html

 

[sandsnakes]

erm:


'30 years' and 'thousands of years'
I'd suggest that if the herb has been used for thousands of years, it's a pretty safe bet that it's been on sale for more than 30.

So a herb that has been on sale in another place for more than 30 years other than central europe is not allowed, i see it makes it all clear now.

Define scientific 2000 years ago the chinese emperor orderd that all herbs used in medicine be evaluated and tried '.....the Yellow Emperors classic as translated byDr. Maoshing Ni’s translation of The Yellow Emperor Emperor’s Classic of Medicine (Neijing Su Wen). This ancient work, considered to be over 2,000 years old, is considered a central text of both Taoism and Chinese medicine. It is characterized by its clinically accurate translation and readability.'

Was not the Emperors approach not scince?

Fact is lots of herbs work thats why drug companies use them to gain chemical extracts.

Then boils down to informed choice and freedom, we all know anyone who has a knife about their person for any reason is a criminal and must be punished. As informed users you are already subject to unthinking restrictions under uk law. Think again before you brand anothers choice as 'snake oil' or sabre ground convex with seconday bevel is rubbish, scandi is the only way! I just go for 'sharp' ie what works.

Yet more brown envelope legislation that 'throws out the baby with the bath water'.