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Consumer Report lists dangerous supplements

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General fitness, health and nutrition
Published
3 April 2004
Last activity
21 April 2004
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markd
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  1. "Moosh🙂" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
    "]news:[email hidden]...

    Quoted message said:

    On Wed, 7 Apr 2004 22:41:11 -0700, "William A. Noyes"
    <[email hidden]> posted:

    Quoted message said:


    "Moosh🙂" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
    "]news:[email hidden]...

    Quoted message said:

    On Wed, 07 Apr 2004 10:54:19 GMT, GMCarter
    <[email hidden]> posted:

    >On 06 Apr 2004 13:52:39 GMT, [email hidden] wrote:
    >
    >>
    >>nonsense, the label is the least of the problem.
    >>Surveys show the


    match

    Quoted message said:
    Quoted message said:
    Quoted message said:

    >>between many labels and actual content make them
    >>worthless for any purpose.
    >
    >Make what worthless? Labels? Possibly. But despite
    >many deaths from OTC products, they aren't removed
    >from the market.

    All products carry risks. OTC knows the risks.
    Alternative have no idea what is even in the product.
    Many here in Oz were totally bereft of the substances
    claimed. Some had way more.

    That is an over-statement. The USDA or FDA could charge
    fraud if they bothered to look at the levels of
    ingredients.

    Our equivalent DID look and Oh what a mess. A large
    manufacturer was closed down permanently. Pan
    Pharmaceuticals.

    Quoted message said:

    They don't check and never will.

    They will if the folks get into trouble and make a stir
    just before an election, but coz your system is so prone
    to lobbying, perhaps not.

    Quoted message said:

    The USFDA or it national equivalent are under the
    influence of big pharm. The recent Medicare drug bill
    passed by congress and signed by the old wrinkled fart in
    the White House has perks more for the drug industry than
    for the retired population. Poeple in the know describe
    the drug industry "lobby" as the 1000 pound gorilla among
    the many "lobbies". The morons at AARP went along with
    this bill.

    Yep, sad state of affairs. Would Ralph Nader be worth
    voting for?

    Both the Bush and Kerry come from upper class powerful
    families so even a change will only go so far. Ralph Nader
    doesn't have a snowball's chance in the summer outback.

    Quoted message said:


    Quoted message said:
    Quoted message said:

    >>The area of least informed choice is safety and
    >>effectivness.
    >
    >This can be said of MANY drugs. Indeed, I'd warrant
    >there are more extant data on ephedra's safety and
    >efficacy for specific conditions than many OTC
    >products.

    Compare like with like, please. Which brand of ephedra?

    >>By law the sellers are exempt from reporting
    >>dangerous side effects


    and

    Quoted message said:
    Quoted message said:
    Quoted message said:

    >>can make any claim as to what it is alledged to do,
    >>so long as they


    say

    Quoted message said:
    Quoted message said:

    it

    Quoted message said:

    >>is just a food supplement. None of that adds up to
    >>informed choice


    coming

    Quoted message said:

    >>anywhere near to otc products. In labels, safety, and
    >>effectifness


    otc

    Quoted message said:
    Quoted message said:
    Quoted message said:

    >>producs must be up to standards; supplements are
    >>nowhere near that in theory nor practice and informed
    >>comsumer choice isn't even in the ballpark. It's
    >>still "just believe me son, this here mircle in a


    bottle

    Quoted message said:
    Quoted message said:
    Quoted message said:

    >>will do it all for you, just beleve me".
    >
    >This is a misinterpretation of DSHEA. There are STILL
    >many regulatory means that can be utilized. Further,
    >the LACK of ability to use supplements for medical
    >indications is a serious deficiency that needs to be
    >redressed. FDA needs to have a more rapid means for
    >evaluating and approving such claims. E.g., the 40-plus-
    >year lag between data and approval of the folic acid
    >for neural tube defects prevention claim.

    Folic acid is a food constituent (nutrient). Ephedra
    is not.

    True but you missed Carter's point on the perverse nature
    of the FDA regulation due to it bad motives.

    While not a big fan of ephedra, the poisoning were all
    caused by people taking over-doses of the herbal drug.
    Some of the fatalities were poeple committing suicide
    with the herbal drug.

    Yep always happens. An idiot in a hospital here left
    the gene pool by sneaking a vial of insulin and a
    syringe an then locking himself in the dunny and
    thinking he would have a high. When they bashed the
    door down he was brown bread.

    I say don't idiot proof the world by putting all the rest of
    us in the the straight jacket of regulation. Let the
    "idiots" win the Darwin Award.

    Quoted message said:


    Quoted message said:
    Quoted message said:

    >Should ANY industry be trusted in terms of what they
    >say? SKEPTICISM should be the RULE!! But this is just
    >as true of the bloated pharma industry that has
    >significantly distorted clinical trials research and
    >publishing with its overwhelming investment in
    >universities, hospitals and researchers, causing a
    >deterioration in credibility of many published
    >results. Indeed, MOST OTC and drugs are used for
    >things other than what they were approved. Risks are
    >MUCH higher.

    But the pharmacology is known, and the contents are
    assayed. Herbals are not!

    Not a all herbals are herbals. Some are just the
    concentrated active ingredient and can be quite
    standardized.

    Can be, but they were all over the place when they
    analysed them here. Some caps even in the same batch went
    from zero to way over the stated active ingredient. Some
    even had dangerous amounts of the drug that was being
    packed previously on the same packing line.

    Quoted message said:

    The problem is their is no strong systematic funding
    mechanism for research in the public domain
    chemicals/drugs/vitamins/nutrients/ here (or downunder).

    We have a very stong govt funded research system. And we
    are not anywhere near influenced by lobbyists as you are.
    Then just about everyone here votes (we have to attend the
    poll by law) Makes a hell of a difference.

    Quoted message said:

    When "free enterprise" does it, they want a license to
    over-charge for decades.

    Quoted message said:

    The system is corrupt all over the world............
    ............................................William
    A. Noyes

    Agree, but there are some systems not as corrup as others.
    Makes for inefficiencies all those checks and balances,
    but it's the best system we have. Mixed economy with
    strong govt regulation.

  2. "Moosh🙂" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
    "]news:[email hidden]...

    Quoted message said:

    On Thu, 08 Apr 2004 10:25:24 GMT, GMCarter
    <[email hidden]> posted:

    Quoted message said:
    Moosh:) said:

    On Wed, 07 Apr 2004 10:54:19 GMT, GMCarter
    <[email hidden]> posted:

    >On 06 Apr 2004 13:52:39 GMT, [email hidden] wrote:
    >
    >>
    >>nonsense, the label is the least of the problem.
    >>Surveys show the


    match

    Quoted message said:
    Quoted message said:
    Quoted message said:

    >>between many labels and actual content make them
    >>worthless for any purpose.
    >
    >Make what worthless? Labels? Possibly. But despite many
    >deaths from OTC products, they aren't removed from the
    >market.

    All products carry risks. OTC knows the risks.
    Alternative have no idea what is even in the product.
    Many here in Oz were totally bereft of the substances
    claimed. Some had way more.

    "Alternative" have no idea of what?

    What's in the product, like I said. A recent check here
    showed just this.

    As I said you can find out about companies to an extent if
    you are willing to pay a small fee.

    Quoted message said:


    Quoted message said:

    Now here you are conflating issues.

    1) Identity, potency and purity of ANY product should be
    assured.

    And with the herbals manufactured and available here and
    overseas there most certainly weren't.

    You are focusing on herbals which is overly narrow. There is
    a whole field of supplements that are not vitamins and are
    not herbals here in the States.

    Quoted message said:


    Quoted message said:

    This is just normal marketing common sense.

    So why don't herbals do it?

    The race to the bottom. No one looking. Well there a
    commerical tester you can subscibe to for supplement
    testing results.

    Quoted message said:


    Quoted message said:

    Selling anything LESS (or more in the case of extra
    cockroach eyelashes, etc.) is FRAUD.

    And it happens every minute of every day of every year all
    around the world.

    Quoted message said:

    Now, there should be governmental regulaltory means to
    oversee this,

    There is in Australia. Apparently not much in USA.

    Maybe I'd not trust your gov't either. Our FDA all paints
    itself a pure of motive. Which is pure BS.

    Quoted message said:


    Quoted message said:

    just as there is (ostensibly) for meat, food, OTC
    products, drugs, etc. (As far as I know, DSHEA does not
    preclude this here in the US; I do not know the situation
    with Australian law).

    From what folks say here, smn, it is very different.

    Quoted message said:

    2) Labels are ALWAYS being changed/updated. And if a
    SERIOUS risk is involved, it is very simple to add a
    line like DO NOT EXCEED RECOMMENDED DOSE. May result
    in [side effects list].

    But when a single batch of altie herbals can contain from
    zero to way over the claimed amount of active ingredient
    (as shown by govt assay) what is the point?

    Quoted message said:

    I think MOST supplement users are aware of risks.

    Apparently not. I hope they are not relying on the label.

    I use supplements. And have experimented with a few herbals.
    What would you call diindoly methane and dimethyl sulfone?
    They are neither vitamins or herbs but they are effective.
    The orthodox farts whine about the latter and would give one
    a blank stare on the former. I buy the pure powder and
    measure out my own dose.

    Quoted message said:


    Quoted message said:

    Data show that most are relatively well-educated and a
    bit better off.

    In what country? Depends what they are comparing with.

    Quoted message said:

    So we need to assure that if use widens into other
    demographics (as it is and should where benefit exists),
    labels are clear.

    This is superior to simply removing products from the
    market which is just boneheaded stupidity. Espeically
    when drugs like nicotine and alcohol remain available!

    Even though the downsides are very well known.

    You are making his case. Lets us make our choices. We
    don't want some ignorant fossil-think bureaucrat telling
    us what to do.

    Quoted message said:


    Quoted message said:
    Quoted message said:

    >>The area of least informed choice is safety and
    >>effectivness.
    >
    >This can be said of MANY drugs. Indeed, I'd warrant
    >there are more extant data on ephedra's safety and
    >efficacy for specific conditions than many OTC
    >products.

    Compare like with like, please. Which brand of ephedra?

    I'm speaking of the literature regarding ephedra's use.
    See, e.g., Huang's Pharmacology of Chinese Herbs, CRC
    Press, Boca Raton, FL:1999.

    No thanks 🙂

    Quoted message said:


    How much ephedrine is in the product?

    Quoted message said:
    Quoted message said:

    >>By law the sellers are exempt from reporting dangerous
    >>side effects


    and

    Quoted message said:
    Quoted message said:
    Quoted message said:

    >>can make any claim as to what it is alledged to do, so
    >>long as they


    say it

    Quoted message said:
    Quoted message said:
    Quoted message said:

    >>is just a food supplement. None of that adds up to
    >>informed choice


    coming

    Quoted message said:
    Quoted message said:
    Quoted message said:

    >>anywhere near to otc products. In labels, safety, and
    >>effectifness


    otc

    Quoted message said:
    Quoted message said:
    Quoted message said:

    >>producs must be up to standards; supplements are
    >>nowhere near that in theory nor practice and informed
    >>comsumer choice isn't even in the ballpark. It's still
    >>"just believe me son, this here mircle in a


    bottle

    Quoted message said:
    Quoted message said:
    Quoted message said:

    >>will do it all for you, just beleve me".
    >
    >This is a misinterpretation of DSHEA. There are STILL
    >many regulatory means that can be utilized. Further,
    >the LACK of ability to use supplements for medical
    >indications is a serious deficiency that needs to be
    >redressed. FDA needs to have a more rapid means for
    >evaluating and approving such claims. E.g., the 40-plus-
    >year lag between data and approval of the folic acid
    >for neural tube defects prevention claim.

    Folic acid is a food constituent (nutrient). Ephedra
    is not.

    True. So?

    Folic acid comes with a varied wholefood diet.

    But not in optimal doses for all. Do you get 700 mcg of
    folic acid which by the would equal something like 1
    milligram of folate? If you don't ....your mutation rate
    will be higher.

    Quoted message said:

    Forget ephedra, unless you have a disease state.

    Quoted message said:
    Quoted message said:

    >Should ANY industry be trusted in terms of what they
    >say? SKEPTICISM should be the RULE!! But this is just
    >as true of the bloated pharma industry that has
    >significantly distorted clinical trials research and
    >publishing with its overwhelming investment in
    >universities, hospitals and researchers, causing a
    >deterioration in credibility of many published results.
    >Indeed, MOST OTC and drugs are used for things other
    >than what they were approved. Risks are MUCH higher.

    But the pharmacology is known, and the contents are
    assayed. Herbals are not!

    This is not true. It depends on the botanical medicine in
    terms of whether there is a constituent(s) to which the
    botanical is standardized. Milk thistle, for example, is
    standardized to silymarin, a collection of
    flavanolignans. Ephedra, (Ephedra sinica a/k/a ma huang)
    is standardized to standard alkaloids such as l-ephedrine
    or d-pseudoephedrine. It is used as an antiasthmatic in
    the Chinese medical tradition -- and curiously, this
    active constituent is still widely available in drug
    products. It also has been used to induce perspiration
    and as an antiallergy agent.

    It is variable from zero to excess in recent Australian
    checks on what is available here.

    Quoted message said:

    As to the HONESTY of supplement manufacturers--some are
    pretty good. See www.consumerlabs.com for examples.
    Others suck. We DO need consumer protection against the
    fraudulent companies, I agree!

    Yep, and our recent surveys show we are being conned to
    the max.

    Quoted message said:

    But WHAT DO WE KNOW ABOUT PEANUTS! OR SHELLFISH!! OH MY
    GOD!!! Where's the HPLC assay on peanuts? PEOPLE HAVE
    DIED EATING PEANUTS!!

    And putting on their sox, according to UK statistics.

    Quoted message said:

    Yet you BLITHELY permit the continued sale of PEANUTS!!
    NO WARNING LABELS!!! DEAR GOD!!! Won't somebody think
    about the CHILDREN!!!

    What children? The warning about foods that don't normally
    contain peanuts is zealous here. Not in US?

    Quoted message said:

    Sorry. I couldn't resist....

    Feel free, George, I love lack of resistance 🙂

  3. carter:

    Quoted message said:
    Quoted message said:

    1) Identity, potency and purity of ANY product should be
    assured.

    Moosh:) said:

    And with the herbals manufactured and available here and
    overseas there most certainly weren't.

    How do you mean? In terms of government oversight or a
    regulatory authority? No, there wasn't, despite our consumer
    demands for such. Sadly, the debate seems to be reduced to
    "FDA vs. Industry." However, there is a 3rd voice,
    consumers. As usual, we are ignored.

    However, this is NOT to say that all supplement companies
    are dishonest or producing bad products. There have been
    private reviews of ID, potency/purity that show many
    companies conform to specifications provided on the label.

    Quoted message said:
    Quoted message said:

    This is just normal marketing common sense.

    So why don't herbals do it?

    What?

    Quoted message said:
    Quoted message said:

    Selling anything LESS (or more in the case of extra
    cockroach eyelashes, etc.) is FRAUD.

    And it happens every minute of every day of every year all
    around the world.

    Indeed. It happens with drugs, cash, sneakers....human
    growth hormone and erythropoietin frauds have hit the
    market.

    Quoted message said:
    Quoted message said:

    Now, there should be governmental regulaltory means to
    oversee this,

    There is in Australia. Apparently not much in USA.

    Glad to hear it!

    Quoted message said:
    Quoted message said:

    just as there is (ostensibly) for meat, food, OTC
    products, drugs, etc. (As far as I know, DSHEA does not
    preclude this here in the US; I do not know the situation
    with Australian law).

    From what folks say here, smn, it is very different.

    Then I would like them to point to the portions of the law
    that underscore their points. See, e.g.,
    vm.cfsan.fda.govdietsupp.html vm.cfsan.fda.govds
    stra2.html

    Quoted message said:
    Quoted message said:

    2) Labels are ALWAYS being changed/updated. And if a
    SERIOUS risk is involved, it is very simple to add a
    line like DO NOT EXCEED RECOMMENDED DOSE. May result in
    [side effects list].

    But when a single batch of altie herbals can contain from
    zero to way over the claimed amount of active ingredient
    (as shown by govt assay) what is the point?

    What are you talking about? This is a vague statement. It
    depends a great deal on the botanical in question.

    Quoted message said:
    Quoted message said:

    I think MOST supplement users are aware of risks.

    Apparently not. I hope they are not relying on the label.

    Yes, we are relying on the label as well as the
    reputation of the company as well as information provided
    by groups like www.consumerlabs.com. So far, I feel
    fairly confident that I'm getting what I need. Would I
    like more assurance? Sure.

    Quoted message said:
    Quoted message said:

    Data show that most are relatively well-educated and a bit
    better off.

    In what country? Depends what they are comparing with.

    Excellent question. Here I meant the United States. Other
    countries, like India or Thailand, rely on traditional
    systems of medicine. Here, it is not alternative medicine.
    So indeed, it is variable between and even within countries.

    Quoted message said:
    Quoted message said:

    So we need to assure that if use widens into other
    demographics (as it is and should where benefit exists),
    labels are clear.

    This is superior to simply removing products from the
    market which is just boneheaded stupidity. Espeically when
    drugs like nicotine and alcohol remain available!

    Even though the downsides are very well known.

    Agreed

    Quoted message said:
    Quoted message said:
    Quoted message said:

    >>The area of least informed choice is safety and
    >>effectivness.
    >
    >This can be said of MANY drugs. Indeed, I'd warrant
    >there are more extant data on ephedra's safety and
    >efficacy for specific conditions than many OTC products.

    Compare like with like, please. Which brand of ephedra?

    I'm speaking of the literature regarding ephedra's use.
    See, e.g., Huang's Pharmacology of Chinese Herbs, CRC
    Press, Boca Raton, FL:1999.

    No thanks 🙂

    Why not?

    Quoted message said:

    How much ephedrine is in the product?

    What product?

    Quoted message said:
    Quoted message said:
    Quoted message said:

    >>By law the sellers are exempt from reporting dangerous
    >>side effects and can make any claim as to what it is
    >>alledged to do, so long as they say it is just a food
    >>supplement. None of that adds up to informed choice
    >>coming anywhere near to otc products. In labels,
    >>safety, and effectifness otc producs must be up to
    >>standards; supplements are nowhere near that in theory
    >>nor practice and informed comsumer choice isn't even in
    >>the ballpark. It's still "just believe me son, this
    >>here mircle in a bottle will do it all for you, just
    >>beleve me".
    >
    >This is a misinterpretation of DSHEA. There are STILL
    >many regulatory means that can be utilized. Further, the
    >LACK of ability to use supplements for medical
    >indications is a serious deficiency that needs to be
    >redressed. FDA needs to have a more rapid means for
    >evaluating and approving such claims. E.g., the 40-plus-
    >year lag between data and approval of the folic acid for
    >neural tube defects prevention claim.

    Folic acid is a food constituent (nutrient). Ephedra
    is not.

    True. So?

    Folic acid comes with a varied wholefood diet. Forget
    ephedra, unless you have a disease state.

    Some people may not get adequate folic acid from the diet.
    Extra in pregnancy, for example, as a supplement is
    effective in preventing neural tube defects.

    Ephedra should probably be reserved for people with
    breathing trouble. This raises a serious limitation to the
    current regulatory situation in the U.S.

    Quoted message said:
    Quoted message said:
    Quoted message said:

    >Should ANY industry be trusted in terms of what they
    >say? SKEPTICISM should be the RULE!! But this is just as
    >true of the bloated pharma industry that has
    >significantly distorted clinical trials research and
    >publishing with its overwhelming investment in
    >universities, hospitals and researchers, causing a
    >deterioration in credibility of many published results.
    >Indeed, MOST OTC and drugs are used for things other
    >than what they were approved. Risks are MUCH higher.

    But the pharmacology is known, and the contents are
    assayed. Herbals are not!

    This is not true. It depends on the botanical medicine in
    terms of whether there is a constituent(s) to which the
    botanical is standardized. Milk thistle, for example, is
    standardized to silymarin, a collection of flavanolignans.
    Ephedra, (Ephedra sinica a/k/a ma huang) is standardized
    to standard alkaloids such as l-ephedrine or d-
    pseudoephedrine. It is used as an antiasthmatic in the
    Chinese medical tradition -- and curiously, this active
    constituent is still widely available in drug products. It
    also has been used to induce perspiration and as an
    antiallergy agent.

    It is variable from zero to excess in recent Australian
    checks on what is available here.

    I'm sure it is. But again, this is so vague as to be
    meaningless. It does not mean all botanical interventions
    are fraudlently sold, nor does it mean that they are all
    bad. This is simply a knee-jerk fallback position that seems
    to indicate a position of bigotry that is every bit as
    heinous as a company that knowingly sells faulty goods.

    Quoted message said:
    Quoted message said:

    As to the HONESTY of supplement manufacturers--some are
    pretty good. See www.consumerlabs.com for examples. Others
    suck. We DO need consumer protection against the
    fraudulent companies, I agree!

    Yep, and our recent surveys show we are being conned
    to the max.

    Again, you raise an uncited survey. Sounds to me like you're
    not being very critical?

    Quoted message said:
    Quoted message said:

    But WHAT DO WE KNOW ABOUT PEANUTS! OR SHELLFISH!! OH MY
    GOD!!! Where's the HPLC assay on peanuts? PEOPLE HAVE DIED
    EATING PEANUTS!!

    And putting on their sox, according to UK statistics.

    Quoted message said:

    Yet you BLITHELY permit the continued sale of PEANUTS!! NO
    WARNING LABELS!!! DEAR GOD!!! Won't somebody think about
    the CHILDREN!!!

    What children? The warning about foods that don't normally
    contain peanuts is zealous here. Not in US?

    Quoted message said:

    Sorry. I couldn't resist....

    Feel free, George, I love lack of resistance 🙂

    You're a superconductor?

    George M. Carter

  4. On Sun, 11 Apr 2004 00:37:40 -0700, "William A. Noyes"
    <[email hidden]> posted:

    Quoted message said:
    Quoted message said:

    Yep, sad state of affairs. Would Ralph Nader be worth
    voting for?

    Both the Bush and Kerry come from upper class powerful
    families so even a change will only go so far.

    Isn't Kerry richer than Bush? I suppose it's hard to
    measure.

    Quoted message said:

    Ralph Nader doesn't have a snowball's chance in the
    summer outback.

    I guessed as much, but was asking about his policies. We
    don't see too much about him here on the news.

    Quoted message said:
    Quoted message said:

    Yep always happens. An idiot in a hospital here left
    the gene pool by sneaking a vial of insulin and a
    syringe an then locking himself in the dunny and
    thinking he would have a high. When they bashed the
    door down he was brown bread.

    I say don't idiot proof the world by putting all the rest
    of us in the the straight jacket of regulation. Let the
    "idiots" win the Darwin Award.

    Trouble is we then have to look after his dependents, being
    a caring community.

  5. On Sun, 11 Apr 2004 00:59:25 -0700, "William A. Noyes"
    <[email hidden]> posted:

    Quoted message said:
    Quoted message said:
    Quoted message said:

    "Alternative" have no idea of what?

    What's in the product, like I said. A recent check here
    showed just this.

    As I said you can find out about companies to an extent if
    you are willing to pay a small fee.

    You can find out who's behind them here, but not much about
    the quality of their products. I suppose a check with
    consumers affairs or pharmacetical licencing departments. I
    believe they cover all the alternative "medications" here
    without differentiating herbals or whatever. They have been
    advertising some problems of Chinese medicines recently.

    Quoted message said:
    Quoted message said:
    Quoted message said:

    Now here you are conflating issues.

    1) Identity, potency and purity of ANY product should be
    assured.

    And with the herbals manufactured and available here and
    overseas there most certainly weren't.

    You are focusing on herbals which is overly narrow. There
    is a whole field of supplements that are not vitamins and
    are not herbals here in the States.

    I don't think there is much of a differentiation here
    legislatively. I believe all "stuff in a pill bottle" is
    open to scrutiny.

    Quoted message said:
    Quoted message said:
    Quoted message said:

    This is just normal marketing common sense.

    So why don't herbals do it?

    The race to the bottom. No one looking. Well there a
    commerical tester you can subscibe to for supplement
    testing results.

    Sure, but it would be nice to know the exact composition and
    the pharmacology of it.

    Quoted message said:
    Quoted message said:
    Quoted message said:

    Selling anything LESS (or more in the case of extra
    cockroach eyelashes, etc.) is FRAUD.

    And it happens every minute of every day of every year
    all around the world.

    Quoted message said:

    Now, there should be governmental regulaltory means to
    oversee this,

    There is in Australia. Apparently not much in USA.

    Maybe I'd not trust your gov't either. Our FDA all paints
    itself a pure of motive. Which is pure BS.

    Ahh wel, I tend to not agree with you from what I know of
    your FDA, but our bureaucrats are not subject to the
    lobbying pressure that you guys have suffered. I trust my
    regulators fairly well -- ever vigilant though.

    Quoted message said:

    I use supplements. And have experimented with a few
    herbals.

    What exactly is the differentiation? Refining? Synthesis?

    Quoted message said:

    What would you call diindoly methane and dimethyl sulfone?
    They are neither vitamins or herbs but they are effective.
    The orthodox farts whine about the latter and would give
    one a blank stare on the former. I buy the pure powder and
    measure out my own dose.

    And the scientific evidence for what is claim?

    Quoted message said:
    Quoted message said:
    Quoted message said:

    This is superior to simply removing products from the
    market which is just boneheaded stupidity. Espeically
    when drugs like nicotine and alcohol remain available!

    Even though the downsides are very well known.

    You are making his case.

    About alcohol and tobacco?

    Quoted message said:

    Lets us make our choices. We don't want some ignorant fossil-
    think bureaucrat telling us what to do.

    And they don't in my country. We have all public health
    based on scientific evidence. I truly believe you do to,
    although if you have convincing evidence otherwise, I will
    be happy to be convinced.

    Quoted message said:
    Quoted message said:
    Quoted message said:

    >Folic acid is a food constituent (nutrient). Ephedra
    >is not.

    True. So?

    Folic acid comes with a varied wholefood diet.

    But not in optimal doses for all. Do you get 700 mcg of
    folic acid which by the would equal something like 1
    milligram of folate? If you don't ....your mutation rate
    will be higher.

    Than what? I don't believe a case has been made for the need
    of more folate than is achieved in a varied wholefood diet.
    Are there animals that make their own folate? Man doesn't
    make his coz he gets enough in just about any diet available
    to him, otherwise he would have evolved to make his own, or
    died out trying.

  6. "Moosh🙂" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
    "]news:[email hidden]...

    Quoted message said:

    On Sun, 11 Apr 2004 00:37:40 -0700, "William A. Noyes"
    <[email hidden]> posted:

    Quoted message said:
    Quoted message said:

    Yep, sad state of affairs. Would Ralph Nader be worth
    voting for?

    Both the Bush and Kerry come from upper class powerful
    families so even a change will only go so far.

    Isn't Kerry richer than Bush? I suppose it's hard to
    measure.

    Kerry maybe richer as an individual but there is more than
    one Bush out there. There is George Senior and Governor Jeb
    Bush to start with. George Senior's father was also rich and
    powerful and is said to have considered running for
    President.

    Quoted message said:


    Quoted message said:

    Ralph Nader doesn't have a snowball's chance in the
    summer outback.

    I guessed as much, but was asking about his policies. We
    don't see too much about him here on the news.

    Nor do we. Fox, CBS, ABC, and NBC are totally corporate. PBS
    is somewhat better and Public Radio actually has some
    opinions. of the left. Commercial AM radio is dominanted by
    Rightist talk shows.

    Quoted message said:


    Quoted message said:
    Quoted message said:

    Yep always happens. An idiot in a hospital here left
    the gene pool by sneaking a vial of insulin and a
    syringe an then locking himself in the dunny and
    thinking he would have a high. When they bashed the
    door down he was brown bread.

    I say don't idiot proof the world by putting all the rest
    of us in the the straight jacket of regulation. Let the
    "idiots" win the Darwin Award.

    Trouble is we then have to look after his dependents,
    being a caring community.

    Actually most the concern about supplements is
    unwarrented. Especially given the other [censored] that on the
    market such as NSAIDs, acetaminophen, old style
    antihistamines, new antihistamines, and cortisone creams.
    People used excessive doses and combined use of NSAIDs and
    acetaminophen is hard liver and kidneys. Alcohol and the
    aforementioned are bad on the kidneys. Yet you don't hear
    health concerns by the numb nuts press and corporate owned
    media regarding those products.

    Sure some herbs have risks but supplements take in alot
    more than just vitamins, minerals, and herbs here in the
    States. An some of the prohormones have some risk though if
    used careful are safe and even healthful. And there are a
    range of chemicals of standard potency than have numerous
    heathful uses.

    Yet the FDA strained and squirmed and stalled when it came
    to adding a little folic acid to the white flour. And then
    the orthodox complained in was too much. Now it recognized
    by some researchers that some more would be better at least
    for some. Now the FDA pats itself on the back for a good
    job.........pleeze spare me.

    For some depending on "god given" genetics and metabolism is
    an unwise move. For some large doses of folic acid are now
    seen as needed. Recall the Lancet paper, I pointed out to
    some months ago.

    I don't need some petty corrupt ignorant backward bureaucrat
    telling me what to do. It is none of his damned business
    whether I take 0.4 mgs of folic acid or 4.0 milligrams. It
    takes a minamum of 700 mcgs of folic acid to optimize
    genomic stability and not 200 or 400 mcg that the government
    boys and ignorant nutritionist blab about. In certain
    subsets of the population even more than 700 mcgs would be
    needed to maintain best possible genomic stability.

    Your "protective regulations" are more likely to injury and
    speed death as help. That is the bottomline.

    David Byrne is a [censored]..............William A. Noyes

  7. "Moosh🙂" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
    "]news:[email hidden]...

    Quoted message said:

    On Sun, 11 Apr 2004 00:59:25 -0700, "William A. Noyes"
    <[email hidden]> posted:

    Quoted message said:
    Quoted message said:

    >"Alternative" have no idea of what?

    What's in the product, like I said. A recent check here
    showed just this.

    As I said you can find out about companies to an extent
    if you are willing to pay a small fee.

    You can find out who's behind them here, but not much
    about the quality of their products.

    Wrong. It is assay information from samples.

    Quoted message said:

    I suppose a check with consumers affairs or pharmacetical
    licencing departments. I believe they cover all the
    alternative "medications" here without differentiating
    herbals or whatever. They have been advertising some
    problems of Chinese medicines recently.

    Quoted message said:
    Quoted message said:

    > Now here you are conflating issues.
    >
    >1) Identity, potency and purity of ANY product should
    > be assured.

    And with the herbals manufactured and available here
    and overseas there most certainly weren't.

    You are focusing on herbals which is overly narrow. There
    is a whole field of supplements that are not vitamins and
    are not herbals here in the States.

    I don't think there is much of a differentiation here
    legislatively. I believe all "stuff in a pill bottle" is
    open to scrutiny.

    That not what I meant but fine........no matter.

    Quoted message said:


    Quoted message said:
    Quoted message said:

    >This is just normal marketing common sense.

    So why don't herbals do it?

    The race to the bottom. No one looking. Well there a
    commerical tester you can subscibe to for supplement
    testing results.

    Sure, but it would be nice to know the exact composition
    and the pharmacology of it.

    Standardization is good.

    The latter knowledge of the latter is extremely expensive
    and has no funding mechanism.

    Quoted message said:


    Quoted message said:
    Quoted message said:

    >Selling anything LESS (or more in the case of extra
    >cockroach eyelashes, etc.) is FRAUD.

    And it happens every minute of every day of every year
    all around the world.

    >Now, there should be governmental regulaltory means to
    >oversee this,

    There is in Australia. Apparently not much in USA.

    Maybe I'd not trust your gov't either. Our FDA all paints
    itself a pure of motive. Which is pure BS.

    Ahh wel, I tend to not agree with you from what I know of
    your FDA, but our bureaucrats are not subject to the
    lobbying pressure that you guys have suffered. I trust my
    regulators fairly well -- ever vigilant though.

    I am willing to bet your boys work in the government for
    awhile and then go to work the the industry they regulated.
    Trust people to "suck up" to the drug industry as that were
    the dollars are.

    Quoted message said:


    Quoted message said:

    I use supplements. And have experimented with a few
    herbals.

    What exactly is the differentiation? Refining? Synthesis?

    I'd think so.

    Quoted message said:


    Quoted message said:

    What would you call diindoly methane and dimethyl
    sulfone? They are neither vitamins or herbs but they are
    effective. The orthodox farts whine about the latter and
    would give one a blank stare on the former. I buy the
    pure powder and measure out my own dose.

    And the scientific evidence for what is claim?

    Sure sometimes depending on your chemical. Sitll 'science"
    like you use can be just a bogus excuse to ignore old
    fashion personal experience of others. The published work on
    dimethyl sulfone is weak but the beneficial effects..

    Since I doubt you can even access these chemicals, why
    should I explain them:-)

    Quoted message said:


    Quoted message said:
    Quoted message said:

    >This is superior to simply removing products from the
    >market which is just boneheaded stupidity. Espeically
    >when drugs like nicotine and alcohol remain available!

    Even though the downsides are very well known.

    You are making his case.

    About alcohol and tobacco?

    duh. Hypocrisy of regulations and regulators.

    Quoted message said:


    Quoted message said:

    Lets us make our choices. We don't want some ignorant fossil-
    think bureaucrat telling us what to do.

    And they don't in my country. We have all public health
    based on scientific evidence. I truly believe you do to,
    although if you have convincing evidence otherwise, I will
    be happy to be convinced.

    I wouldn't trust your judgement. Your opinion looks more
    like nationalism and pious trust to me.

    Quoted message said:


    Quoted message said:
    Quoted message said:

    >>Folic acid is a food constituent (nutrient). Ephedra
    >>is not.
    >
    >True. So?

    Folic acid comes with a varied wholefood diet.

    But not in optimal doses for all. Do you get 700 mcg of
    folic acid which by the would equal something like 1
    milligram of folate? If you don't ....your mutation rate
    will be higher.

    Than what?

    Than my mutation rate which is lower than yours. I've cited
    a paper thats discusses the genomic stability as a criteria
    for setting folic acid, folate and B-12 daily intake minimum
    optimums. My mitochondrial mutation rate is also lower.

    Quoted message said:

    I don't believe a case has been made for the need of more
    folate than is achieved in a varied wholefood diet. Are
    there animals that make their own folate? Man doesn't make
    his coz he gets enough in just about any diet available to
    him, otherwise he would have evolved to make his own, or
    died out trying.

    What you believe, is wrong. I've written on this before.
    I've cited recent research. This time the onus is on you to
    bring recent evidence. Google my name and "folic" and
    "Lancet" that should reveal my comments. Other search words
    would NTD, NTDs, neural tube defects, folate, genomic, and
    stability.

    Tired of repeating himself..............William A. Noyes

    Maybe I will repeat myself but not on this thread but
    soon.. ......OK

  8. On Wed, 14 Apr 2004 02:26:56 -0700, "William A. Noyes"
    <[email hidden]> posted:

    Quoted message said:


    "Moosh🙂" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
    "]news:[email hidden]...

    Quoted message said:

    On Sun, 11 Apr 2004 00:59:25 -0700, "William A. Noyes"
    <[email hidden]> posted:

    Quoted message said:

    > >"Alternative" have no idea of what?
    >
    > What's in the product, like I said. A recent check
    > here showed just this.

    As I said you can find out about companies to an extent
    if you are willing to pay a small fee.

    You can find out who's behind them here, but not much
    about the quality of their products.

    Wrong. It is assay information from samples.

    What is? They obviously don't assay some products, and
    don't have to put anything on the label. What are you
    talking about?

    Quoted message said:
    Quoted message said:
    Quoted message said:

    The race to the bottom. No one looking. Well there a
    commerical tester you can subscibe to for supplement
    testing results.

    Sure, but it would be nice to know the exact composition
    and the pharmacology of it.

    Standardization is good.

    So why is the alternativees industry not doing it, and
    rejecting legislation to do it?

    Quoted message said:

    The latter knowledge of the latter is extremely expensive
    and has no funding mechanism.

    What is wrong with consumers funding it?

    Quoted message said:
    Quoted message said:
    Quoted message said:

    > >Selling anything LESS (or more in the case of extra
    > >cockroach eyelashes, etc.) is FRAUD.
    >
    > And it happens every minute of every day of every year
    > all around the world.
    >
    > >Now, there should be governmental regulaltory means
    > >to oversee this,
    >
    > There is in Australia. Apparently not much in USA.

    Maybe I'd not trust your gov't either. Our FDA all
    paints itself a pure of motive. Which is pure BS.

    Ahh wel, I tend to not agree with you from what I know of
    your FDA, but our bureaucrats are not subject to the
    lobbying pressure that you guys have suffered. I trust my
    regulators fairly well -- ever vigilant though.

    I am willing to bet your boys work in the government for
    awhile and then go to work the the industry they regulated.
    Trust people to "suck up" to the drug industry as that were
    the dollars are.

    Yeah yeah, same song, same tune. Do you know any worker like
    this? I've worked in several places like this where the
    workers are most certainly not like you describe. I know one
    guy who did his post doc in America, and his opinion was
    that everyone was "on the take". So perhaps you are right in
    your country.

    Quoted message said:
    Quoted message said:
    Quoted message said:

    I use supplements. And have experimented with a few
    herbals.

    What exactly is the differentiation? Refining? Synthesis?

    I'd think so.

    Quoted message said:


    Quoted message said:

    What would you call diindoly methane and dimethyl
    sulfone? They are neither vitamins or herbs but they are
    effective. The orthodox farts whine about the latter and
    would give one a blank stare on the former. I buy the
    pure powder and measure out my own dose.

    And the scientific evidence for what is claim?

    Sure sometimes depending on your chemical. Sitll 'science"
    like you use can be just a bogus excuse to ignore old
    fashion personal experience of others.

    Do tell. What about peer review, and I don't mean that of
    over-competitive medical journals, I mean the criticism that
    a researcher will cop from his peers if he publishes
    anything dodgey.

    Quoted message said:

    The published work on dimethyl sulfone is weak but the
    beneficial effects..

    How measured?

    Quoted message said:

    Since I doubt you can even access these chemicals, why
    should I explain them:-)

    That's a good cop out!

    Quoted message said:
    Quoted message said:
    Quoted message said:

    > >This is superior to simply removing products from the
    > >market which is just boneheaded stupidity. Espeically
    > >when drugs like nicotine and alcohol remain
    > >available!
    >
    > Even though the downsides are very well known.

    You are making his case.

    About alcohol and tobacco?

    duh. Hypocrisy of regulations and regulators.

    Is your brain addling, Noisey?

    Quoted message said:
    Quoted message said:
    Quoted message said:

    Lets us make our choices. We don't want some ignorant
    fossil-think bureaucrat telling us what to do.

    And they don't in my country. We have all public health
    based on scientific evidence. I truly believe you do to,
    although if you have convincing evidence otherwise, I
    will be happy to be convinced.

    I wouldn't trust your judgement.

    Who asked you to? Imagination running riot?

    Quoted message said:

    Your opinion looks more like nationalism and pious
    trust to me.

    Not at all. I abhore nationalism. I'm just being a realist.

    Quoted message said:
    Quoted message said:
    Quoted message said:

    > >>Folic acid is a food constituent (nutrient). Ephedra
    > >>is not.
    > >
    > >True. So?
    >
    > Folic acid comes with a varied wholefood diet.

    But not in optimal doses for all. Do you get 700 mcg of
    folic acid which by the would equal something like 1
    milligram of folate? If you don't ....your mutation rate
    will be higher.

    Than what?

    Than my mutation rate which is lower than yours.

    And you would know? How?

    Quoted message said:

    I've cited a paper thats discusses the genomic stability as
    a criteria for setting folic acid, folate and B-12 daily
    intake minimum optimums. My mitochondrial mutation rate is
    also lower.

    And your cited paper means what? In the scheme of things?

    Quoted message said:
    Quoted message said:

    I don't believe a case has been made for the need of more
    folate than is achieved in a varied wholefood diet. Are
    there animals that make their own folate? Man doesn't
    make his coz he gets enough in just about any diet
    available to him, otherwise he would have evolved to make
    his own, or died out trying.

    What you believe, is wrong.

    Because you say so? You against the medical experts of
    the world?

    Quoted message said:

    I've written on this before. I've cited recent research.
    This time the onus is on you to bring recent evidence.
    Google my name and "folic" and "Lancet" that should reveal
    my comments. Other search words would NTD, NTDs, neural
    tube defects, folate, genomic, and stability.

    Are you trying to say your comments were puclished in
    the Lancet?

    Quoted message said:

    Tired of repeating himself..............William A. Noyes

    Try something worthwhile then, you are as much value
    here as Doe.

    Quoted message said:

    Maybe I will repeat myself but not on this thread but
    soon..

    It's a free-for-all here, Noisey. Do as you wish. Gohde and
    Doe certainly do.

  9. On Wed, 14 Apr 2004 01:41:37 -0700, "William A. Noyes"
    <[email hidden]> posted:

    Quoted message said:
    Quoted message said:

    Trouble is we then have to look after his dependents,
    being a caring community.

    Actually most the concern about supplements is unwarrented.
    Especially given the other [censored] that on the market such as
    NSAIDs, acetaminophen, old style antihistamines, new
    antihistamines, and cortisone creams. People used excessive
    doses and combined use of NSAIDs and acetaminophen is hard
    liver and kidneys. Alcohol and the aforementioned are bad
    on the kidneys.

    I think you mean liver, don't you?

    Quoted message said:

    Yet you don't hear health concerns by the numb nuts press
    and corporate owned media regarding those products.

    Yes you do, unless you don't get the label information that
    we do. The drugs you mention may be overused, but at least
    you know what's in the package.

    Quoted message said:

    Sure some herbs have risks but supplements take in alot
    more than just vitamins, minerals, and herbs here in the
    States. An some of the prohormones have some risk though if
    used careful are safe and even healthful. And there are a
    range of chemicals of standard potency than have numerous
    heathful uses.

    Most of them pretty vague and airy fairy.

    Why not submit tests and guarantee potency and pharmacology?

    I wonder why you are complaining about NSAIDS above?

    Quoted message said:

    Yet the FDA strained and squirmed and stalled when it came
    to adding a little folic acid to the white flour.

    Our equivalent certainly didn't here. It's added to
    breakfast cereals among other things.

    Quoted message said:

    And then the orthodox complained in was too much.

    Well maybe scientific evidence showed it was? I never saw
    this so don't know their reasons.

    Quoted message said:

    Now it recognized by some researchers that some more would
    be better at least for some. Now the FDA pats itself on the
    back for a good job.........pleeze spare me.

    That's your version, but then you seem to think that
    acetaminophen and alcohol damage the kidneys. What would
    your opinion on anything be worth?

    Quoted message said:

    For some depending on "god given" genetics and metabolism
    is an unwise move.

    What is? Are you claiming that all living things on the
    planet are unhealthy?

    Quoted message said:

    For some large doses of folic acid are now seen as needed.
    Recall the Lancet paper, I pointed out to some months ago.

    And why can't these few visit their doctor?

    Quoted message said:

    I don't need some petty corrupt ignorant backward
    bureaucrat telling me what to do.

    And yet you (the American electorate) are responsible for
    this "petty corrupt ignorant backward bureaucrat" being in
    office? Go figure!

    Quoted message said:

    It is none of his damned business whether I take 0.4 mgs of
    folic acid or 4.0 milligrams.

    And he is stopping you? Have you signed a waiver to absolve
    the rest of the community from supporting your dependents
    when you poison yourself?

    Quoted message said:

    It takes a minamum of 700 mcgs of folic acid to optimize
    genomic stability and not 200 or 400 mcg that the
    government boys and ignorant nutritionist blab about.

    And (ALL) the scientific evidence?

    Quoted message said:

    In certain subsets of the population even more than 700
    mcgs would be needed to maintain best possible genomic
    stability.

    Cobblers.

    Quoted message said:

    Your "protective regulations" are more likely to injury and
    speed death as help. That is the bottomline.

    Howso?

    Quoted message said:

    David Byrne is a [censored]

    Really? Disagreed with ya?

  10. "Moosh🙂" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
    "]news:[email hidden]...

    Quoted message said:

    On Wed, 14 Apr 2004 01:41:37 -0700, "William A. Noyes"
    <[email hidden]> posted:

    Quoted message said:
    Quoted message said:

    Trouble is we then have to look after his dependents,
    being a caring community.

    Actually most the concern about supplements is
    unwarrented. Especially given the other [censored] that on the
    market such as NSAIDs, acetaminophen, old style
    antihistamines, new antihistamines, and cortisone creams.
    People used excessive doses and combined use of NSAIDs
    and acetaminophen is hard liver and kidneys. Alcohol and
    the aforementioned are bad on the kidneys.

    I think you mean liver, don't you?

    Both.

    Quoted message said:


    Quoted message said:

    Yet you don't hear health concerns by the numb nuts press
    and corporate owned media regarding those products.

    Yes you do, unless you don't get the label information
    that we do. The drugs you mention may be overused, but at
    least you know what's in the package.

    People over-use and abuse.

    Quoted message said:


    Quoted message said:

    Sure some herbs have risks but supplements take in alot
    more than just vitamins, minerals, and herbs here in the
    States. An some of the prohormones have some risk though
    if used careful are safe and even healthful. And there
    are a range of chemicals of standard potency than have
    numerous heathful uses.

    Most of them pretty vague and airy fairy.

    Why not submit tests and guarantee potency and
    pharmacology?

    I wonder why you are complaining about NSAIDS above?

    Quoted message said:

    Yet the FDA strained and squirmed and stalled when it
    came to adding a little folic acid to the white flour.

    Our equivalent certainly didn't here. It's added to
    breakfast cereals among other things.

    Quoted message said:

    And then the orthodox complained in was too much.

    Well maybe scientific evidence showed it was?

    No.

    Quoted message said:

    I never saw this so don't know their reasons.

    You never looked.

    Quoted message said:


    Quoted message said:

    Now it recognized by some researchers that some more
    would be better at least for some. Now the FDA pats
    itself on the back for a good job.........pleeze
    spare me.

    That's your version, but then you seem to think that
    acetaminophen and alcohol damage the kidneys. What would
    your opinion on anything be worth?

    Acetaminophen and NSAIDs tends to damage the kidneys

    Acetaminophen and ethanol damages the liver

    Was I unclear?...........it not like I edit this stuff

    Quoted message said:


    Quoted message said:

    For some depending on "god given" genetics and metabolism
    is an unwise move.

    What is? Are you claiming that all living things on the
    planet are unhealthy?

    Quoted message said:


    Quoted message said:

    For some large doses of folic acid are now seen as
    needed. Recall the Lancet paper, I pointed out to some
    months ago.

    And why can't these few visit their doctor?

    That is silly. Are you afraid to read? Few Docs have the
    time or the training to be current on nutrition and related
    topics. You've never hear of the Lancet? Hmm........

    Quoted message said:


    Quoted message said:

    I don't need some petty corrupt ignorant backward
    bureaucrat telling me what to do.

    And yet you (the American electorate) are responsible for
    this "petty corrupt ignorant backward bureaucrat" being in
    office? Go figure!

    The press is owned by the corporations......go figure as
    you say. I doubt your government is a good as you seem
    think it is.

    Quoted message said:


    Quoted message said:

    It is none of his damned business whether I take 0.4 mgs
    of folic acid or 4.0 milligrams.

    And he is stopping you? Have you signed a waiver to
    absolve the rest of the community from supporting your
    dependents when you poison yourself?

    I'll out live your children. I am at no risk from the folic
    acid. Rather just the opposite, my DNA is suffering fewer
    mutations over time.

    Quoted message said:


    Quoted message said:

    It takes a minamum of 700 mcgs of folic acid to optimize
    genomic stability and not 200 or 400 mcg that the
    government boys and ignorant nutritionist blab about.

    And (ALL) the scientific evidence?

    It is Australian research............

    Quoted message said:


    Quoted message said:

    In certain subsets of the population even more than 700
    mcgs would be needed to maintain best possible genomic
    stability.

    Cobblers.

    What? Oh a joke. Do some research.

    Quoted message said:


    Quoted message said:

    Your "protective regulations" are more likely to injury
    and speed death as help. That is the bottomline.

    Howso?

    You are without a clue.

    Quoted message said:


    Quoted message said:

    David Byrne is a [censored]

    Really? Disagreed with ya?

    he he

  11. "Moosh🙂" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
    "]news:[email hidden]...

    Quoted message said:

    On Wed, 14 Apr 2004 02:26:56 -0700, "William A. Noyes"
    <[email hidden]> posted:

    Quoted message said:


    "Moosh🙂" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
    "]news:[email hidden]...

    Quoted message said:

    On Sun, 11 Apr 2004 00:59:25 -0700, "William A. Noyes"
    <[email hidden]> posted:

    >> >"Alternative" have no idea of what?
    >>
    >> What's in the product, like I said. A recent check
    >> here showed just this.
    >
    >As I said you can find out about companies to an
    >extent if you are willing to pay a small fee.

    You can find out who's behind them here, but not much
    about the quality of their products.

    Wrong. It is assay information from samples.

    What is? They obviously don't assay some products, and
    don't have to put anything on the label. What are you
    talking about?

    Quoted message said:
    Quoted message said:

    >The race to the bottom. No one looking. Well there a
    >commerical tester you can subscibe to for supplement
    >testing results.

    Sure, but it would be nice to know the exact
    composition and the pharmacology of it.

    Standardization is good.

    So why is the alternativees industry not doing it, and
    rejecting legislation to do it?

    Quoted message said:

    The latter knowledge of the latter is extremely expensive
    and has no funding mechanism.

    What is wrong with consumers funding it?

    Quoted message said:
    Quoted message said:

    >> >Selling anything LESS (or more in the case of extra
    >> >cockroach eyelashes, etc.) is FRAUD.
    >>
    >> And it happens every minute of every day of every
    >> year all around


    the

    Quoted message said:
    Quoted message said:
    Quoted message said:

    >> world.
    >>
    >> >Now, there should be governmental regulaltory means
    >> >to oversee this,
    >>
    >> There is in Australia. Apparently not much in USA.
    >
    >Maybe I'd not trust your gov't either. Our FDA all
    >paints itself a pure of motive. Which is pure BS.

    Ahh wel, I tend to not agree with you from what I know
    of your FDA, but our bureaucrats are not subject to the
    lobbying pressure that you guys have suffered. I trust
    my regulators fairly well -- ever vigilant though.

    I am willing to bet your boys work in the government for
    awhile and then go to work the the industry they
    regulated. Trust people to "suck up" to the drug industry
    as that were the dollars are.

    Yeah yeah, same song, same tune. Do you know any worker
    like this? I've worked in several places like this where
    the workers are most certainly not like you describe. I
    know one guy who did his post doc in America, and his
    opinion was that everyone was "on the take". So perhaps
    you are right in your country.

    Quoted message said:
    Quoted message said:

    >I use supplements. And have experimented with a few
    >herbals.

    What exactly is the differentiation? Refining?
    Synthesis?

    I'd think so.

    Quoted message said:


    >What would you call diindoly methane and dimethyl
    >sulfone? They are neither vitamins or herbs but they
    >are effective. The orthodox farts whine about the
    >latter and would give one a blank stare on the former.
    >I buy the pure powder and measure out my own dose.

    And the scientific evidence for what is claim?

    Sure sometimes depending on your chemical. Sitll
    'science" like you use can be just a bogus excuse to
    ignore old fashion personal experience of others.

    Do tell. What about peer review, and I don't mean that of
    over-competitive medical journals, I mean the criticism
    that a researcher will cop from his peers if he publishes
    anything dodgey.

    Quoted message said:

    The published work on dimethyl sulfone is weak but the
    beneficial effects..

    How measured?

    Quoted message said:

    Since I doubt you can even access these chemicals, why
    should I explain them:-)

    That's a good cop out!

    Quoted message said:
    Quoted message said:

    >> >This is superior to simply removing products from
    >> >the market which


    is

    Quoted message said:
    Quoted message said:
    Quoted message said:

    >> >just boneheaded stupidity. Espeically when drugs
    >> >like nicotine and alcohol remain available!
    >>
    >> Even though the downsides are very well known.
    >
    >You are making his case.

    About alcohol and tobacco?

    duh. Hypocrisy of regulations and regulators.

    Is your brain addling, Noisey?

    Quoted message said:
    Quoted message said:

    >Lets us make our choices. We don't want some ignorant
    >fossil-think bureaucrat telling us what to do.

    And they don't in my country. We have all public health
    based on scientific evidence. I truly believe you do
    to, although if you have convincing evidence otherwise,
    I will be happy to be convinced.

    I wouldn't trust your judgement.

    Who asked you to? Imagination running riot?

    I just disagree. Everyone will make the claim of science
    based medicine.

    Quoted message said:


    Quoted message said:

    Your opinion looks more like nationalism and pious
    trust to me.

    Not at all. I abhore nationalism. I'm just being a
    realist.

    I hope you are right about Australia.

    Quoted message said:


    Quoted message said:
    Quoted message said:

    >> >>Folic acid is a food constituent (nutrient).
    >> >>Ephedra is not.
    >> >
    >> >True. So?
    >>
    >> Folic acid comes with a varied wholefood diet.
    >
    >But not in optimal doses for all. Do you get 700 mcg
    >of folic acid which by the would equal something like
    >1 milligram of folate? If you don't ....your mutation
    >rate will be higher.

    Than what?

    Than my mutation rate which is lower than yours.

    And you would know? How?

    Quoted message said:

    I've cited a paper thats discusses the genomic stability
    as a criteria for setting folic acid, folate and B-12
    daily intake minimum optimums. My mitochondrial mutation
    rate is also lower.

    And your cited paper means what? In the scheme of things?

    Millions even thousand of millions of dollars (billions in
    USA english) and more years of life. IMHO

    Quoted message said:


    Quoted message said:
    Quoted message said:

    I don't believe a case has been made for the need of
    more folate than is achieved in a varied wholefood
    diet. Are there animals that make their own folate? Man
    doesn't make his coz he gets enough in just about any
    diet available to him, otherwise he would have evolved
    to make his own, or died out trying.

    What you believe, is wrong.

    Because you say so? You against the medical experts of
    the world?

    There are experts and there are experts. A GP is not an
    expert in nutrition but he is good for a sinus infection or
    a broken finger. Some of the "experts" are on my side or
    more precisely I am on their side.

    Quoted message said:


    Quoted message said:

    I've written on this before. I've cited recent research.
    This time the onus is on you to bring recent evidence.
    Google my name and "folic" and "Lancet" that should
    reveal my comments. Other search words would NTD, NTDs,
    neural tube defects, folate, genomic, and stability.

    Are you trying to say your comments were puclished in
    the Lancet?

    No. But the paper I refer to has already been published in
    the Lancet.

    Quoted message said:


    Quoted message said:

    Tired of repeating himself..............William A. Noyes

    Try something worthwhile then, you are as much value
    here as Doe.

    You are of less value as Doe at least he posts some
    interesting abstracts even if for the wrong reasons. You
    could be a better opponent, if you did you're research;-)

    Quoted message said:


    Quoted message said:

    Maybe I will repeat myself but not on this thread
    but soon..

    It's a free-for-all here, Noisey. Do as you wish. Gohde
    and Doe certainly do.

    As you do.

    I think I'll go watch West Wing...........William A. Noyes

  12. "Moosh🙂" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
    "]news:[email hidden]...

    Quoted message said:

    On Wed, 14 Apr 2004 02:26:56 -0700, "William A. Noyes"
    <[email hidden]> posted:

    Quoted message said:


    "Moosh🙂" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
    "]news:[email hidden]...

    Quoted message said:

    On Sun, 11 Apr 2004 00:59:25 -0700, "William A. Noyes"
    <[email hidden]> posted:

    >> >"Alternative" have no idea of what?
    >>
    >> What's in the product, like I said. A recent check
    >> here showed just this.
    >
    >As I said you can find out about companies to an
    >extent if you are willing to pay a small fee.

    You can find out who's behind them here, but not much
    about the quality of their products.

    Wrong. It is assay information from samples.

    What is? They obviously don't assay some products, and
    don't have to put anything on the label. What are you
    talking about?

    Quoted message said:
    Quoted message said:

    >The race to the bottom. No one looking. Well there a
    >commerical tester you can subscibe to for supplement
    >testing results.

    Sure, but it would be nice to know the exact
    composition and the pharmacology of it.

    Standardization is good.

    So why is the alternativees industry not doing it, and
    rejecting legislation to do it?

    Quoted message said:

    The latter knowledge of the latter is extremely expensive
    and has no funding mechanism.

    What is wrong with consumers funding it?

    Quoted message said:
    Quoted message said:

    >> >Selling anything LESS (or more in the case of extra
    >> >cockroach eyelashes, etc.) is FRAUD.
    >>
    >> And it happens every minute of every day of every
    >> year all around


    the

    Quoted message said:
    Quoted message said:
    Quoted message said:

    >> world.
    >>
    >> >Now, there should be governmental regulaltory means
    >> >to oversee this,
    >>
    >> There is in Australia. Apparently not much in USA.
    >
    >Maybe I'd not trust your gov't either. Our FDA all
    >paints itself a pure of motive. Which is pure BS.

    Ahh wel, I tend to not agree with you from what I know
    of your FDA, but our bureaucrats are not subject to the
    lobbying pressure that you guys have suffered. I trust
    my regulators fairly well -- ever vigilant though.

    I am willing to bet your boys work in the government for
    awhile and then go to work the the industry they
    regulated. Trust people to "suck up" to the drug industry
    as that were the dollars are.

    Yeah yeah, same song, same tune. Do you know any worker
    like this? I've worked in several places like this where
    the workers are most certainly not like you describe. I
    know one guy who did his post doc in America, and his
    opinion was that everyone was "on the take". So perhaps
    you are right in your country.

    Quoted message said:
    Quoted message said:

    >I use supplements. And have experimented with a few
    >herbals.

    What exactly is the differentiation? Refining?
    Synthesis?

    I'd think so.

    Quoted message said:


    >What would you call diindoly methane and dimethyl
    >sulfone? They are neither vitamins or herbs but they
    >are effective. The orthodox farts whine about the
    >latter and would give one a blank stare on the former.
    >I buy the pure powder and measure out my own dose.

    And the scientific evidence for what is claim?

    Sure sometimes depending on your chemical. Sitll
    'science" like you use can be just a bogus excuse to
    ignore old fashion personal experience of others.

    Do tell. What about peer review, and I don't mean that of
    over-competitive medical journals, I mean the criticism
    that a researcher will cop from his peers if he publishes
    anything dodgey.

    Quoted message said:

    The published work on dimethyl sulfone is weak but the
    beneficial effects..

    How measured?

    Quoted message said:

    Since I doubt you can even access these chemicals, why
    should I explain them:-)

    That's a good cop out!

    Quoted message said:
    Quoted message said:

    >> >This is superior to simply removing products from
    >> >the market which


    is

    Quoted message said:
    Quoted message said:
    Quoted message said:

    >> >just boneheaded stupidity. Espeically when drugs
    >> >like nicotine and alcohol remain available!
    >>
    >> Even though the downsides are very well known.
    >
    >You are making his case.

    About alcohol and tobacco?

    duh. Hypocrisy of regulations and regulators.

    Is your brain addling, Noisey?

    Quoted message said:
    Quoted message said:

    >Lets us make our choices. We don't want some ignorant
    >fossil-think bureaucrat telling us what to do.

    And they don't in my country. We have all public health
    based on scientific evidence. I truly believe you do
    to, although if you have convincing evidence otherwise,
    I will be happy to be convinced.

    I wouldn't trust your judgement.

    Who asked you to? Imagination running riot?

    I just disagree. Everyone will make the claim of science
    based medicine.

    Quoted message said:


    Quoted message said:

    Your opinion looks more like nationalism and pious
    trust to me.

    Not at all. I abhore nationalism. I'm just being a
    realist.

    I hope you are right about Australia.

    Quoted message said:


    Quoted message said:
    Quoted message said:

    >> >>Folic acid is a food constituent (nutrient).
    >> >>Ephedra is not.
    >> >
    >> >True. So?
    >>
    >> Folic acid comes with a varied wholefood diet.
    >
    >But not in optimal doses for all. Do you get 700 mcg
    >of folic acid which by the would equal something like
    >1 milligram of folate? If you don't ....your mutation
    >rate will be higher.

    Than what?

    Than my mutation rate which is lower than yours.

    And you would know? How?

    Quoted message said:

    I've cited a paper thats discusses the genomic stability
    as a criteria for setting folic acid, folate and B-12
    daily intake minimum optimums. My mitochondrial mutation
    rate is also lower.

    And your cited paper means what? In the scheme of things?

    Millions even thousand of millions of dollars (billions in
    USA english) and more years of life. IMHO

    Quoted message said:


    Quoted message said:
    Quoted message said:

    I don't believe a case has been made for the need of
    more folate than is achieved in a varied wholefood
    diet. Are there animals that make their own folate? Man
    doesn't make his coz he gets enough in just about any
    diet available to him, otherwise he would have evolved
    to make his own, or died out trying.

    What you believe, is wrong.

    Because you say so? You against the medical experts of
    the world?

    There are experts and there are experts. A GP is not an
    expert in nutrition but he is good for a sinus infection or
    a broken finger. Some of the "experts" are on my side or
    more precisely I am on their side.

    Quoted message said:


    Quoted message said:

    I've written on this before. I've cited recent research.
    This time the onus is on you to bring recent evidence.
    Google my name and "folic" and "Lancet" that should
    reveal my comments. Other search words would NTD, NTDs,
    neural tube defects, folate, genomic, and stability.

    Are you trying to say your comments were puclished in
    the Lancet?

    No. But the paper I refer to has already been published in
    the Lancet.

    Quoted message said:


    Quoted message said:

    Tired of repeating himself..............William A. Noyes

    Try something worthwhile then, you are as much value
    here as Doe.

    You are of less value as Doe at least he posts some
    interesting abstracts even if for the wrong reasons. You
    could be a better opponent, if you did you're research;-)

    Quoted message said:


    Quoted message said:

    Maybe I will repeat myself but not on this thread
    but soon..

    It's a free-for-all here, Noisey. Do as you wish. Gohde
    and Doe certainly do.

    As you do.

    I think I'll go watch West Wing...........William A. Noyes

  13. On Sun, 11 Apr 2004 11:39:30 GMT, GMCarter <[email hidden]> posted:

    Quoted message said:

    carter:

    Quoted message said:
    Quoted message said:

    1) Identity, potency and purity of ANY product should be
    assured.

    Moosh:) said:

    And with the herbals manufactured and available here and
    overseas there most certainly weren't.

    How do you mean? In terms of government oversight or a
    regulatory authority? No, there wasn't, despite our
    consumer demands for such. Sadly, the debate seems to be
    reduced to "FDA vs. Industry." However, there is a 3rd
    voice, consumers. As usual, we are ignored.

    This always seems strange to me in a country claiming to be
    democratic. Surely this shows that industry and bureaucracy
    rule your land.

    Quoted message said:

    However, this is NOT to say that all supplement companies
    are dishonest or producing bad products. There have been
    private reviews of ID, potency/purity that show many
    companies conform to specifications provided on the label.

    OK, but many spot assays of available products showed
    terrible conformation to label. There may be good
    conformation somewhere, but how is Joe Public to know?

    Quoted message said:
    Quoted message said:
    Quoted message said:

    This is just normal marketing common sense.

    So why don't herbals do it?

    What?

    Label their products properly and honestly for a start.

    Quoted message said:
    Quoted message said:
    Quoted message said:

    Selling anything LESS (or more in the case of extra
    cockroach eyelashes, etc.) is FRAUD.

    And it happens every minute of every day of every year all
    around the world.

    Indeed. It happens with drugs, cash,
    sneakers....human growth hormone and erythropoietin
    frauds have hit the market.

    Rarely with prescription proprietaries; commonly with other
    things Caveat Emptor.

    Quoted message said:
    Quoted message said:
    Quoted message said:

    Now, there should be governmental regulaltory means to
    oversee this,

    There is in Australia. Apparently not much in USA.

    Glad to hear it!

    Quoted message said:
    Quoted message said:

    just as there is (ostensibly) for meat, food, OTC
    products, drugs, etc. (As far as I know, DSHEA does not
    preclude this here in the US; I do not know the situation
    with Australian law).

    From what folks say here, smn, it is very different.

    Then I would like them to point to the portions of the law
    that underscore their points. See, e.g.,
    vm.cfsan.fda.govdietsupp.html vm.cfsan.fda.govds
    stra2.html

    So would I.

    Quoted message said:
    Quoted message said:
    Quoted message said:

    2) Labels are ALWAYS being changed/updated. And if a
    SERIOUS risk is involved, it is very simple to add a
    line like DO NOT EXCEED RECOMMENDED DOSE. May result
    in [side effects list].

    But when a single batch of altie herbals can contain from
    zero to way over the claimed amount of active ingredient
    (as shown by govt assay) what is the point?

    What are you talking about? This is a vague statement. It
    depends a great deal on the botanical in question.

    It refers to an Australian govt regulator's survey of
    alternative products recently.

    Quoted message said:
    Quoted message said:
    Quoted message said:

    I think MOST supplement users are aware of risks.

    Apparently not. I hope they are not relying on the label.

    Yes, we are relying on the label as well as the
    reputation of the company as well as information provided
    by groups like www.consumerlabs.com. So far, I feel
    fairly confident that I'm getting what I need. Would I
    like more assurance? Sure.

    Try Pan Pharmaceuticals. They were "reputable" until the
    regulator looked carefully and put them out of busoiness.

    Quoted message said:
    Quoted message said:
    Quoted message said:

    Data show that most are relatively well-educated and a
    bit better off.

    In what country? Depends what they are comparing with.

    Excellent question. Here I meant the United States. Other
    countries, like India or Thailand, rely on traditional
    systems of medicine. Here, it is not alternative medicine.
    So indeed, it is variable between and even within
    countries.

    Well Australia is regarded as up there with the leaders, but
    Pan Parmaceuticals certtainly showed a gaping hole.

    Quoted message said:
    Quoted message said:
    Quoted message said:

    So we need to assure that if use widens into other
    demographics (as it is and should where benefit exists),
    labels are clear.

    This is superior to simply removing products from the
    market which is just boneheaded stupidity. Espeically
    when drugs like nicotine and alcohol remain available!

    Even though the downsides are very well known.

    Agreed

    Quoted message said:
    Quoted message said:

    >>>The area of least informed choice is safety and
    >>>effectivness.
    >>
    >>This can be said of MANY drugs. Indeed, I'd warrant
    >>there are more extant data on ephedra's safety and
    >>efficacy for specific conditions than many OTC
    >>products.
    >
    >Compare like with like, please. Which brand of ephedra?

    I'm speaking of the literature regarding ephedra's use.
    See, e.g., Huang's Pharmacology of Chinese Herbs, CRC
    Press, Boca Raton, FL:1999.

    No thanks 🙂

    Why not?

    Chinese medicine has little to offer science.

    Quoted message said:
    Quoted message said:

    How much ephedrine is in the product?

    What product?

    The one under discussion. Any ephidrine alternative. The
    ones being banned?

    Quoted message said:
    Quoted message said:
    Quoted message said:

    >>>By law the sellers are exempt from reporting dangerous
    >>>side effects and can make any claim as to what it is
    >>>alledged to do, so long as they say it is just a food
    >>>supplement. None of that adds up to informed choice
    >>>coming anywhere near to otc products. In labels,
    >>>safety, and effectifness otc producs must be up to
    >>>standards; supplements are nowhere near that in theory
    >>>nor practice and informed comsumer choice isn't even
    >>>in the ballpark. It's still "just believe me son, this
    >>>here mircle in a bottle will do it all for you, just
    >>>beleve me".
    >>
    >>This is a misinterpretation of DSHEA. There are STILL
    >>many regulatory means that can be utilized. Further,
    >>the LACK of ability to use supplements for medical
    >>indications is a serious deficiency that needs to be
    >>redressed. FDA needs to have a more rapid means for
    >>evaluating and approving such claims. E.g., the 40-plus-
    >>year lag between data and approval of the folic acid
    >>for neural tube defects prevention claim.
    >
    >Folic acid is a food constituent (nutrient). Ephedra
    >is not.

    True. So?

    Folic acid comes with a varied wholefood diet. Forget
    ephedra, unless you have a disease state.

    Some people may not get adequate folic acid from the diet.

    Of course. Try a varied, wholefood diet.

    Quoted message said:

    Extra in pregnancy, for example, as a supplement is
    effective in preventing neural tube defects.

    Apparently. We have various foods supplemented here
    including breakfast cereals.

    Quoted message said:

    Ephedra should probably be reserved for people with
    breathing trouble. This raises a serious limitation to the
    current regulatory situation in the U.S.

    Why not resort to properly dispensed ephedrine, and not
    variable ephedra plant extracts?

    Quoted message said:
    Quoted message said:
    Quoted message said:

    >>Should ANY industry be trusted in terms of what they
    >>say? SKEPTICISM should be the RULE!! But this is just
    >>as true of the bloated pharma industry that has
    >>significantly distorted clinical trials research and
    >>publishing with its overwhelming investment in
    >>universities, hospitals and researchers, causing a
    >>deterioration in credibility of many published results.
    >>Indeed, MOST OTC and drugs are used for things other
    >>than what they were approved. Risks are MUCH higher.
    >
    >But the pharmacology is known, and the contents are
    >assayed. Herbals are not!

    This is not true. It depends on the botanical medicine in
    terms of whether there is a constituent(s) to which the
    botanical is standardized. Milk thistle, for example, is
    standardized to silymarin, a collection of
    flavanolignans. Ephedra, (Ephedra sinica a/k/a ma huang)
    is standardized to standard alkaloids such as l-ephedrine
    or d-pseudoephedrine. It is used as an antiasthmatic in
    the Chinese medical tradition -- and curiously, this
    active constituent is still widely available in drug
    products. It also has been used to induce perspiration
    and as an antiallergy agent.

    It is variable from zero to excess in recent Australian
    checks on what is available here.

    I'm sure it is. But again, this is so vague as to be
    meaningless.

    Yep, the labels on these products were meaningless, I agree.

    Quoted message said:

    It does not mean all botanical interventions are
    fraudlently sold, nor does it mean that they are all bad.

    Just most of them available here and wherever Pan sold their
    stuff. Worled wide, apparently.

    Quoted message said:

    This is simply a knee-jerk fallback position that seems to
    indicate a position of bigotry that is every bit as heinous
    as a company that knowingly sells faulty goods.

    But apparently a common situation when it is properly
    examined.

    Quoted message said:
    Quoted message said:
    Quoted message said:

    As to the HONESTY of supplement manufacturers--some are
    pretty good. See www.consumerlabs.com for examples.
    Others suck. We DO need consumer protection against the
    fraudulent companies, I agree!

    Yep, and our recent surveys show we are being conned to
    the max.

    Again, you raise an uncited survey. Sounds to me like
    you're not being very critical?

    A survey that caused the bankruptcy of a large
    pharmadceutical company. Google Pan Pharmaceutical if you
    are interested. It was headline news here for what seemed
    months. Shot the rug out from under all the snake oil
    salesmen. They went rather quiet for a while.

    Quoted message said:
    Quoted message said:
    Quoted message said:

    But WHAT DO WE KNOW ABOUT PEANUTS! OR SHELLFISH!! OH MY
    GOD!!! Where's the HPLC assay on peanuts? PEOPLE HAVE
    DIED EATING PEANUTS!!

    And putting on their sox, according to UK statistics.

    Quoted message said:

    Yet you BLITHELY permit the continued sale of PEANUTS!!
    NO WARNING LABELS!!! DEAR GOD!!! Won't somebody think
    about the CHILDREN!!!

    What children? The warning about foods that don't normally
    contain peanuts is zealous here. Not in US?

    Quoted message said:

    Sorry. I couldn't resist....

    Feel free, George, I love lack of resistance 🙂

    You're a superconductor?

    George M. Carter

  14. <snip> "> >Indeed. It happens with drugs, cash,
    sneakers....human growth hormone

    Quoted message said:
    Quoted message said:

    and erythropoietin frauds have hit the market.

    Rarely with prescription proprietaries; commonly with
    other things Caveat Emptor.

    Evidence? Who watches the watchers.

    <snip>

    Quoted message said:


    Quoted message said:
    Quoted message said:


    Then I would like them to point to the portions of the
    law that underscore their points. See, e.g.,
    vm.cfsan.fda.govdietsupp.html vm.cfsan.fda.govds
    stra2.html

    So would I.

    Well?

    Quoted message said:


    Quoted message said:
    Quoted message said:

    >2) Labels are ALWAYS being changed/updated. And if a
    > SERIOUS risk is involved, it is very simple to add a
    > line like DO NOT EXCEED RECOMMENDED DOSE. May result
    > in [side effects list].

    But when a single batch of altie herbals can contain
    from zero to way over the claimed amount of active
    ingredient (as shown by govt assay) what is the point?

    What are you talking about? This is a vague statement. It
    depends a great deal on the botanical in question.

    It refers to an Australian govt regulator's survey of
    alternative products recently.

    It a old trick of government, to allow a problem to get big
    and then use the problem to suppress the target. Clearly the
    regulators in Australia were looking the other way until the
    problem got big enough that they could hit the industry. Had
    your glorious regulators gotten after the company in a
    timely fashion the company culture won't have slip so low.

    Our FDA has all the regs it needs to enforce vitamin and
    herb content label claims as regards amount of active
    ingredient. That it hasn't goes both to the FDA's bias
    against supplements and the FDA's funding levels. It called
    'giving the bad actors enough rope to hang themselves' and
    then 'tarring all others with their bad acts.' Recall the
    rule of economic, "that bad drives out the good" which
    occurs without an even playing field.

    Quoted message said:


    Quoted message said:
    Quoted message said:

    >I think MOST supplement users are aware of risks.

    Apparently not. I hope they are not relying on the
    label.

    Yes, we are relying on the label as well as the
    reputation of the company as well as information provided
    by groups like www.consumerlabs.com. So far, I feel
    fairly confident that I'm getting what I need. Would I
    like more assurance? Sure.

    .

    Quoted message said:


    Some people may not get adequate folic acid from
    the diet.

    Of course. Try a varied, wholefood diet.

    It doesn't always work and further it is not always
    available. You've forgotten the Lancet paper. I suspect your
    real diet is neither as varied or a whole as you think it
    is. Not everyone has the luxury of home raise chickens and a
    mild climate.

    Quoted message said:


    Quoted message said:

    Extra in pregnancy, for example, as a supplement is
    effective in preventing neural tube defects.

    Apparently. We have various foods supplemented here
    including breakfast cereals.

    Not everyone eats prepared breakfast cereals. Some of them
    are really only multivitamin supplements with too many
    calories and too much iron.

    Quoted message said:


    Quoted message said:

    Ephedra should probably be reserved for people with
    breathing trouble. This raises a serious limitation to
    the current regulatory situation in the U.S.

    Why not resort to properly dispensed ephedrine, and not
    variable ephedra plant extracts?

    Quoted message said:
    Quoted message said:

    >>>Should ANY industry be trusted in terms of what they
    >>>say? SKEPTICISM should be the RULE!! But this is just
    >>>as true of the bloated pharma industry that has
    >>>significantly distorted clinical trials research


    and

    Quoted message said:
    Quoted message said:
    Quoted message said:

    >>>publishing with its overwhelming investment in
    >>>universities,


    hospitals

    Quoted message said:
    Quoted message said:
    Quoted message said:

    >>>and researchers, causing a deterioration in
    >>>credibility of many published results. Indeed, MOST
    >>>OTC and drugs are used for things other than what
    >>>they were approved. Risks are MUCH higher.
    >>
    >>But the pharmacology is known, and the contents are
    >>assayed. Herbals are not!
    >
    >This is not true. It depends on the botanical medicine
    >in terms of whether there is a constituent(s) to which
    >the botanical is standardized. Milk thistle, for
    >example, is standardized to silymarin, a collection of
    >flavanolignans. Ephedra, (Ephedra sinica a/k/a ma
    >huang) is standardized to standard alkaloids such as
    >l-ephedrine or d-pseudoephedrine. It is used as an
    >antiasthmatic in the Chinese medical tradition -- and
    >curiously, this active constituent is still widely
    >available in drug products. It also has been used to
    >induce perspiration and as an antiallergy agent.

    It is variable from zero to excess in recent Australian
    checks on what is available here.

    I'm sure it is. But again, this is so vague as to be
    meaningless.

    Yep, the labels on these products were meaningless,
    I agree.

    More "marble sharp" reasoning from Mooshe.

    Quoted message said:


    Quoted message said:

    It does not mean all botanical interventions are
    fraudlently sold, nor does it mean that they are all bad.

    Just most of them available here and wherever Pan sold
    their stuff. Worled wide, apparently.

    Quoted message said:

    This is simply a knee-jerk fallback position that seems
    to indicate a position of bigotry that is every bit as
    heinous as a company that knowingly sells faulty goods.

    But apparently a common situation when it is properly
    examined.

    "apparently" is a fudge word...........

    I see a lack of numbers.

  15. On Thu, 15 Apr 2004 17:50:52 -0700, "William A. Noyes"
    <[email hidden]> posted:

    Quoted message said:
    Quoted message said:
    Quoted message said:

    I wouldn't trust your judgement.

    Who asked you to? Imagination running riot?

    I just disagree.

    And you show this by saying "I wouldn't trust your
    judgement"?

    Quoted message said:

    Everyone will make the claim of science based medicine.

    Well what else is there? Look at the literature, and that
    doesn't mean trawling medline.

    Quoted message said:
    Quoted message said:
    Quoted message said:

    Your opinion looks more like nationalism and pious trust
    to me.

    Not at all. I abhore nationalism. I'm just being a
    realist.

    I hope you are right about Australia.

    Why?

    Quoted message said:

    There are experts and there are experts. A GP is not an
    expert in nutrition but he is good for a sinus infection or
    a broken finger. Some of the "experts" are on my side or
    more precisely I am on their side.

    But lets see, the majority are out of step.

  16. On Sat, 17 Apr 2004 12:47:08 -0700, "William A. Noyes"
    <[email hidden]> posted:

    Quoted message said:

    <snip> "> >Indeed. It happens with drugs, cash,
    sneakers....human growth hormone

    Quoted message said:
    Quoted message said:

    and erythropoietin frauds have hit the market.

    Rarely with prescription proprietaries; commonly with
    other things Caveat Emptor.

    Evidence?

    Of what? That misrepresentation does not occur significantly
    with PPs? I can't remember a case of this. Plenty of this in
    alternatives. Try Pan Pharmaceuticals.

    Quoted message said:

    Who watches the watchers.

    The electorate here 🙂

    Quoted message said:
    Quoted message said:

    So would I.

    Well?

    Well what?

    Quoted message said:
    Quoted message said:
    Quoted message said:

    >>2) Labels are ALWAYS being changed/updated. And if a
    >> SERIOUS risk is involved, it is very simple to add
    >> a line like DO NOT EXCEED RECOMMENDED DOSE. May
    >> result in [side effects list].
    >
    >But when a single batch of altie herbals can contain
    >from zero to way over the claimed amount of active
    >ingredient (as shown by govt assay) what is the point?

    What are you talking about? This is a vague statement.
    It depends a great deal on the botanical in question.

    It refers to an Australian govt regulator's survey of
    alternative products recently.

    It a old trick of government, to allow a problem to get big
    and then use the problem to suppress the target. Clearly
    the regulators in Australia were looking the other way
    until the problem got big enough that they could hit the
    industry. Had your glorious regulators gotten after the
    company in a timely fashion the company culture won't have
    slip so low.

    Hindsight? Usually 20/20 That trick is common in USA? Mabe
    it has made you cynical there?

    Quoted message said:

    Our FDA has all the regs it needs to enforce vitamin and
    herb content label claims as regards amount of active
    ingredient.

    So why doesn't it do it?

    Quoted message said:

    That it hasn't goes both to the FDA's bias against
    supplements and the FDA's funding levels.

    Why is the FDA biassed against supplements? Your lobby
    system stuffing up your governance again?

    Quoted message said:

    It called 'giving the bad actors enough rope to hang
    themselves' and then 'tarring all others with their bad
    acts.' Recall the rule of economic, "that bad drives out
    the good" which occurs without an even playing field.

    Yep.

    Quoted message said:
    Quoted message said:
    Quoted message said:

    >>I think MOST supplement users are aware of risks.
    >
    >Apparently not. I hope they are not relying on the
    >label.

    Yes, we are relying on the label as well as the
    reputation of the company as well as information
    provided by groups like www.consumerlabs.com. So far, I
    feel fairly confident that I'm getting what I need.
    Would I like more assurance? Sure.

    .

    Quoted message said:


    Some people may not get adequate folic acid from
    the diet.

    Of course. Try a varied, wholefood diet.

    It doesn't always work and further it is not always
    available.

    Rarely is it not available, then you do the best you can.
    Maybe even some judicious supplementation if available.

    Quoted message said:

    You've forgotten the Lancet paper.

    Quoted message said:

    I suspect your real diet is neither as varied or a whole as
    you think it is.

    Which one? The one I eat is irrelevant to this forum, and
    the one I advocate is the optimum. A little of as many of,
    as-whole-as-practical, foods that you can get ahold of.

    Quoted message said:

    Not everyone has the luxury of home raise chickens and a
    mild climate.

    And? I've never seen or heard of many places where a rather
    amazing variety is not available. I tell a lie, I've just
    been told about Small Town USA where the variety is
    apparently quite poor.

    Quoted message said:
    Quoted message said:
    Quoted message said:

    Extra in pregnancy, for example, as a supplement is
    effective in preventing neural tube defects.

    Apparently. We have various foods supplemented here
    including breakfast cereals.

    Not everyone eats prepared breakfast cereals.

    Its a population targetting device. Bang for the buck. Not
    everyone requires megadoses.

    Quoted message said:

    Some of them are really only multivitamin supplements with
    too many calories and too much iron.

    What are? Folic acid supplements in breakfast cereals (and
    other foods)

    Quoted message said:
    Quoted message said:
    Quoted message said:

    Ephedra should probably be reserved for people with
    breathing trouble. This raises a serious limitation to
    the current regulatory situation in the U.S.

    Why not resort to properly dispensed ephedrine, and not
    variable ephedra plant extracts?

    Quoted message said:

    >>>>Should ANY industry be trusted in terms of what they
    >>>>say? SKEPTICISM should be the RULE!! But this is
    >>>>just as true of the bloated pharma industry that has
    >>>>significantly distorted clinical trials research


    and

    Quoted message said:
    Quoted message said:

    >>>>publishing with its overwhelming investment in
    >>>>universities,


    hospitals

    Quoted message said:
    Quoted message said:

    >>>>and researchers, causing a deterioration in
    >>>>credibility of many published results. Indeed, MOST
    >>>>OTC and drugs are used for things other than what
    >>>>they were approved. Risks are MUCH higher.
    >>>
    >>>But the pharmacology is known, and the contents are
    >>>assayed. Herbals are not!
    >>
    >>This is not true. It depends on the botanical medicine
    >>in terms of whether there is a constituent(s) to which
    >>the botanical is standardized. Milk thistle, for
    >>example, is standardized to silymarin, a collection of
    >>flavanolignans. Ephedra, (Ephedra sinica a/k/a ma
    >>huang) is standardized to standard alkaloids such as
    >>l-ephedrine or d-pseudoephedrine. It is used as an
    >>antiasthmatic in the Chinese medical tradition -- and
    >>curiously, this active constituent is still widely
    >>available in drug products. It also has been used to
    >>induce perspiration and as an antiallergy agent.
    >
    >It is variable from zero to excess in recent Australian
    >checks on what is available here.

    I'm sure it is. But again, this is so vague as to be
    meaningless.

    Yep, the labels on these products were meaningless,
    I agree.

    More "marble sharp" reasoning from Mooshe.

    Our legislation demands precise labelling and warnings on
    all prescription proprietories. Mush less stringent with
    herbals, alternatives, supplements, etc. Of course labelling
    must reflect the contents on all goods. But PPs must have
    warnings of problems as well as claims (backed up) of
    therapeutic properties. Not so with the others. Now a larege
    manufacturer has been uncovered making altenatives and so on
    for domestic and export sale, with grossly inaccurate
    contents and labelling. They were put out of business. Lost
    their license. I therefore say the labels were meaningless.
    Sorry, this was illogical. They were DANGEROUS! Is that
    better? With airy-fairy alternatives where therapeutic
    substances and effects are so vague, the manufacturers feel
    that accuracy is not needed as no-one can ever tell the
    difference.

    Quoted message said:
    Quoted message said:
    Quoted message said:

    It does not mean all botanical interventions are
    fraudlently sold, nor does it mean that they are
    all bad.

    Just most of them available here and wherever Pan sold
    their stuff. Worled wide, apparently.

    Quoted message said:

    This is simply a knee-jerk fallback position that seems
    to indicate a position of bigotry that is every bit as
    heinous as a company that knowingly sells faulty goods.

    But apparently a common situation when it is properly
    examined.

    "apparently" is a fudge word...........

    I see a lack of numbers.

    How about 20 or so factories of various sizes in Australia
    and around the world? The biggest lost their license to
    manufacture. That's ONE. Or would you prefer "42" Noisey?

  17. "Moosh🙂" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
    "]news:[email hidden]...

    Quoted message said:

    On Sat, 17 Apr 2004 12:47:08 -0700, "William A. Noyes"
    <[email hidden]> posted:

    Quoted message said:

    <snip> "> >Indeed. It happens with drugs, cash,
    sneakers....human growth hormone

    Quoted message said:

    >and erythropoietin frauds have hit the market.

    Rarely with prescription proprietaries; commonly with
    other things Caveat Emptor.

    Evidence?

    Of what? That misrepresentation does not occur
    significantly with PPs? I can't remember a case of this.
    Plenty of this in alternatives. Try Pan Pharmaceuticals.

    Quoted message said:

    Who watches the watchers.

    The electorate here 🙂

    The electorate has multiple interests and distractions.

    Quoted message said:


    Quoted message said:
    Quoted message said:

    So would I.

    Well?

    Well what?

    Quoted message said:
    Quoted message said:

    >>>2) Labels are ALWAYS being changed/updated. And if a
    >>> SERIOUS risk is involved, it is very simple to
    >>> add a line like DO NOT EXCEED RECOMMENDED DOSE.
    >>> May result in [side effects list].
    >>
    >>But when a single batch of altie herbals can contain
    >>from zero to way over the claimed amount of active
    >>ingredient (as shown by govt assay) what is the
    >>point?
    >
    >What are you talking about? This is a vague statement.
    >It depends a great deal on the botanical in question.

    It refers to an Australian govt regulator's survey of
    alternative products recently.

    It a old trick of government, to allow a problem to get
    big and then use the problem to suppress the target.
    Clearly the regulators in Australia were looking the
    other way until the problem got big enough that they
    could hit the industry. Had your glorious regulators
    gotten after the company in a timely fashion the company
    culture won't have slip so low.

    Hindsight? Usually 20/20 That trick is common in USA? Mabe
    it has made you cynical there?

    Trust is often a vice.

    Quoted message said:


    Quoted message said:

    Our FDA has all the regs it needs to enforce vitamin and
    herb content label claims as regards amount of active
    ingredient.

    So why doesn't it do it?

    I just told you. They what the back actors to act badly and
    thus help them extent their grasp.

    Quoted message said:


    Quoted message said:

    That it hasn't goes both to the FDA's bias against
    supplements and the FDA's funding levels.

    Why is the FDA biassed against supplements?

    It is that bureau's culture.

    Quoted message said:

    Your lobby system stuffing
    up your governance again?

    That. And when higher levels retire or leave, they go to
    work for the big drug companies who want to have
    everything under prescription as that is where the big
    money is often at.

    Quoted message said:


    Quoted message said:

    It called 'giving the bad actors enough rope to hang
    themselves' and then 'tarring all others with their bad
    acts.' Recall the rule of economic, "that bad drives out
    the good" which occurs without an even playing field.

    Yep.

    Looks like your regulators did the same thing. In other
    words your regulators allowed Pan to develop a corrupt
    culture (if it was as bad as you imply it was) rather than
    compelling and impelling to good manufacturing practices and
    honest dealing. In other words your regulators are at best
    inept and more likely corrupt.

    Quoted message said:


    Quoted message said:
    Quoted message said:

    >>>I think MOST supplement users are aware of risks.
    >>
    >>Apparently not. I hope they are not relying on the
    >>label.
    >
    >Yes, we are relying on the label as well as the
    >reputation of the company as well as information
    >provided by groups like www.consumerlabs.com. So far,
    >I feel fairly confident that I'm getting what I need.
    >Would I like more assurance? Sure.

    .
    >
    >Some people may not get adequate folic acid from the
    >diet.

    Of course. Try a varied, wholefood diet.

    It doesn't always work and further it is not always
    available.

    Rarely is it not available, then you do the best you can.
    Maybe even some judicious supplementation if available.

    Quoted message said:

    You've forgotten the Lancet paper.

    Quoted message said:

    I suspect your real diet is neither as varied or a whole
    as you think it is.

    Which one? The one I eat is irrelevant to this forum,

    Is it? If you can't eat your "diet" why expect others
    consume it.

    Quoted message said:

    and the one I advocate is the optimum. A little of as
    many of, as-whole-as-practical, foods that you can get
    ahold of.

    Quoted message said:

    Not everyone has the luxury of home raise chickens and a
    mild climate.

    And? I've never seen or heard of many places where a
    rather amazing variety is not available. I tell a lie,
    I've just been told about Small Town USA where the variety
    is apparently quite poor.

    Some are. There is quite a wide income gap here in the USA
    and it is getting wider. Maybe we should change the name
    from the U.S.A. to Brazil. Manufacturing jobs are going,
    service industry jobs are going, soon all the USA will be
    left with is the armaments industry and agriculture.

    Quoted message said:


    Quoted message said:
    Quoted message said:

    >Extra in pregnancy, for example, as a supplement is
    >effective in preventing neural tube defects.

    Apparently. We have various foods supplemented here
    including breakfast cereals.

    Not everyone eats prepared breakfast cereals.

    Its a population targetting device. Bang for the buck. Not
    everyone requires megadoses.

    Quoted message said:

    Some of them are really only multivitamin supplements
    with too many calories and too much iron.

    What are?

    Prepared cold cereals.

    Quoted message said:

    Folic acid supplements in breakfast cereals (and
    other foods)

    ????

    Quoted message said:


    Quoted message said:
    Quoted message said:

    >Ephedra should probably be reserved for people with
    >breathing trouble. This raises a serious limitation to
    >the current regulatory situation in the U.S.

    Why not resort to properly dispensed ephedrine, and not
    variable ephedra plant extracts?

    >>>>>Should ANY industry be trusted in terms of what
    >>>>>they say?


    SKEPTICISM

    Quoted message said:
    Quoted message said:
    Quoted message said:

    >>>>>should be the RULE!! But this is just as true of
    >>>>>the bloated


    pharma

    Quoted message said:
    Quoted message said:
    Quoted message said:

    >>>>>industry that has significantly distorted clinical
    >>>>>trials research


    and

    Quoted message said:

    >>>>>publishing with its overwhelming investment in
    >>>>>universities,


    hospitals

    Quoted message said:

    >>>>>and researchers, causing a deterioration in
    >>>>>credibility of many published results. Indeed,
    >>>>>MOST OTC and drugs are used for things other than
    >>>>>what they were approved. Risks are MUCH higher.
    >>>>
    >>>>But the pharmacology is known, and the contents are
    >>>>assayed. Herbals are not!
    >>>
    >>>This is not true. It depends on the botanical
    >>>medicine in terms of whether there is a
    >>>constituent(s) to which the botanical is
    >>>standardized. Milk thistle, for example, is
    >>>standardized to


    silymarin,

    Quoted message said:
    Quoted message said:
    Quoted message said:

    >>>a collection of flavanolignans. Ephedra, (Ephedra
    >>>sinica a/k/a ma huang) is standardized to standard
    >>>alkaloids such as l-ephedrine or d-pseudoephedrine.
    >>>It is used as an antiasthmatic in the Chinese
    >>>medical tradition -- and curiously, this active
    >>>constituent is still widely available in drug
    >>>products. It also has been used to induce
    >>>perspiration and as an antiallergy agent.
    >>
    >>It is variable from zero to excess in recent
    >>Australian checks on


    what

    Quoted message said:
    Quoted message said:
    Quoted message said:

    >>is available here.
    >
    >I'm sure it is. But again, this is so vague as to be
    >meaningless.

    Yep, the labels on these products were meaningless, I
    agree.

    More "marble sharp" reasoning from Mooshe.

    Our legislation demands precise labelling and warnings on
    all prescription proprietories. Mush less stringent with
    herbals, alternatives, supplements, etc. Of course
    labelling must reflect the contents on all goods. But PPs
    must have warnings of problems as well

    PPs ??? define

    Quoted message said:

    as claims (backed up) of therapeutic properties. Not
    so with the others. Now a larege manufacturer has been
    uncovered making altenatives and so on for domestic
    and export sale, with grossly inaccurate contents and
    labelling. They were put out of business. Lost their
    license. I therefore say the labels were meaningless.
    Sorry, this was illogical. They were DANGEROUS! Is
    that better?

    Dangerous due to the lack of ingredients. OK

    Quoted message said:

    With airy-fairy alternatives where therapeutic substances
    and effects are so vague, the manufacturers feel that
    accuracy is not needed as no-one can ever tell the
    difference.

    I disagree. Much of what you call airy-fairy is useful, if
    the the supplement contains enough of the active ingredient

    Quoted message said:


    Quoted message said:
    Quoted message said:

    >It does not mean all botanical interventions are
    >fraudlently sold, nor does it mean that they are all
    >bad.

    Just most of them available here and wherever Pan sold
    their stuff. Worled wide, apparently.

    >This is simply a knee-jerk fallback position that
    >seems to indicate a position of bigotry that is every
    >bit as heinous as a company that knowingly sells
    >faulty goods.

    But apparently a common situation when it is properly
    examined.

    "apparently" is a fudge word...........

    I see a lack of numbers.

    How about 20 or so factories of various sizes in Australia
    and around the world? The biggest lost their license to
    manufacture. That's ONE. Or would you prefer "42" Noisey?

    I'd need to have read numerous reports and heard the
    opposing sides to have any firm opinion on Pan.

  18. On Mon, 19 Apr 2004 10:53:48 +0800, "Moosh🙂" <[email hidden]> wrote:

    snip...

    Quoted message said:

    Well what else is there? Look at the literature, and that
    doesn't mean trawling medline.

    I may well have missed it as I don't read all your posts,
    but I have yet to see you publish references to the
    literature to make your points. You like to make general
    pronouncements that are not scientific, nuanced or sensible
    (e.g., re SJW thread).

    George M. Carter

  19. On Tue, 20 Apr 2004 08:03:26 GMT, GMCarter <[email hidden]> posted:

    Quoted message said:

    On Mon, 19 Apr 2004 10:53:48 +0800, "Moosh🙂"
    <[email hidden]> wrote:

    snip...

    Quoted message said:

    Well what else is there? Look at the literature, and that
    doesn't mean trawling medline.

    I may well have missed it as I don't read all your posts,
    but I have yet to see you publish references to the
    literature to make your points.

    Umm, do you pay me to do this? Why don't you sue me for a
    refund if you are unsatisfied with my contributions here,
    and haven't the self-control to ignore what I say if you
    don't like reading it? Sheeeesh! Oh lack of self control!

    Publish references? Are you up yourself? So sue me. Most of
    what I say here is the bleedin' obvious. Those who trawl
    medline or other databases for abstracts, the contexts of
    which they don't understand, that appear to justify what
    they say, lead a pointess existence to my mind. If that's
    your game go to it, but I find it rather ridiculous.
    Scientific abstracts should be hidden from the popular press
    and the general public, IMHO. They are mostly
    counterproductive. In isolation they mean little. Need
    translation in a book by an expert in the field.

    Quoted message said:

    You like to make general pronouncements that are not
    scientific,

    Such as? Are general pronouncements not allowed here? Not
    scientific? Is "The Sun rises in the East" not scientific,
    unless you find an abstract?

    Quoted message said:

    nuanced or sensible (e.g., re SJW thread).

    Nuanced? Strange word to use?

    You disagree with my point that alternative medications are
    a total; mess wrt labelling, and contents true to label and
    even pharmacology? So SJW might have had a bit of work done
    on it. I've been involved in work to see if there is any
    pharmacalogical activity in native preparations. Often there
    is absolutely nothing. Occasionally there is and this just
    boosts the placebo effect on those with nothing going for
    them. Otherwise, alternatives need a serious look like they
    have recently had here IMHO.

    BTW, are you referring to posts here like:

    Quoted message said:

    Indeed! The FDA should remove alcohol and tobacco from the
    market IMMEDIATELY!!!

    All wine, beer, whiskey--all of it! AT ONCE!!!

    George M. Carter

    Quoted message said:

    Nonsense. Supplements can JUST as easily have a labeling
    change. DO NOT EXCEED RECOMMENDED DOSE. Just like over the
    counter antihistamines or aspirin. How many people die from
    misuse of those drugs?

    It is disingenuous, hypocritical [censored] to remove ephedra
    from the market.

    George M. Carter

    Quoted message said:

    This can be said of MANY drugs. Indeed, I'd warrant there
    are more extant data on ephedra's safety and efficacy for
    specific conditions than many OTC products.

    Quoted message said:

    Antidepressants are more marketing ploy that useful. Which
    is why SJW makes MUCH more sense in general for mild-to-
    moderate depression, than a probably addictive, definitely
    costly and likely toxic drug pushed by big pharma.

    George M. Carter

    Quoted message said:

    Oh horseshit. Tobacco and heroin are no less addictive than
    valium or xanax. Have you ever been addicted? Nicotine is
    probably far more difficult, but I can tell you, with a
    will and an intention to do other things with life, one can
    get over an addiction. But it is incredibly difficult.
    "Slow discontinuation" can be used to get off of Heroin,
    for example. That hardly is adequate to make it any more or
    less addictive than many antidepressants.

    Quoted message said:

    However, this is NOT to say that all supplement companies
    are dishonest or producing bad products. There have been
    private reviews of ID, potency/purity that show many
    companies conform to specifications provided on the label.

    Quoted message said:

    Ephedra should probably be reserved for people with
    breathing trouble. This raises a serious limitation to the
    current regulatory situation in the U.S.

    Quoted message said:

    Yes. SJW is not a drug: it is a botanical medicine. I
    think this is an important discussion to have as a
    separate thread.

    Quoted message said:

    Further, data comparing SJW to Prozac, Zoloft and other
    antidepressants for mild-to-moderate depression found
    virtual equivalency in efficacy with a much milder side
    effect profile for SJW in comparison to the drugs.

    George M. Carter

    Quoted message said:
    Quoted message said:

    quackwatch.orgindex.html

    I wouldn't rely on anything from this site. The bigotry of
    the people who run this site has completely eclipsed any
    credibility. Whether their analysis is accurate or not is
    lost in the haze of this blind hate they express. They are
    the other side of the coin of salesmen who pitch garbage.

    In either case, science and good observation is left to
    whither on the vine.

    George M. Carter

    Quoted message said:

    Medicine is STILL about the ART of healing. At least it
    should be but accountants seem to have taken over the job,
    in part due to the excesses of the pharmaceutical industry
    in an out-of-control rape of Americans through outrageous
    pricing of drugs, devices and diagnostics.

    George M .Carter

    Excessive consumption of red meat is probably
    contraindicated for a significant proportion of the
    population. Another dimension to that debate, of course, is
    the environmental one. Consumption of meat requires a great
    deal of arable land and water to feed cattle that is in
    excess of the energy produced. Aside from the ethical
    consideration of the way animals are raised and
    slaughtered, the risk of diseases such as BSE and the
    increased risk of coronary and vascular diseases, we must
    recognize that the overpopulated planet on which we reside
    cannot sustain the type of consumption Americans typically
    engage in. An interesting table in the recent National
    Geographic underscores the differences between US
    consumption and that in China. Given the clear cutting of
    jungles and forests to raise these animals for a few
    seasons at most before the land reverts to desert, we are
    doing our species and life on the planet a bit of a
    disservice by indulging excessively or at all in the
    consumption of red meat.

    George M. Carter

    Quoted message said:
    Quoted message said:

    quackwatch.comquackwatch.com

    This site is dreadful. The bigotry on this site is the
    equal and opposite of the worst hype from commercial
    vitamin sites.

    George M Carter

    Quoted message said:

    THAT'S the kind of thing as a consumer and taxpayer I can
    see

    Quoted message said:

    vigilant. Things have changed some at FDA since many of us
    started agitating against their extreme bigotry against
    "alternative" medicine.

    George M. Carter

    Quoted message said:

    George M. Carter

  20. Mooshe the totalitarian bovine whines about those of us who
    cite the literature.

    Moreover, Mooshe and your type ignore when I have quoted
    from books, texts, and professional journal article I've
    read in full. Often I am just stating the opinion of the
    authors or experts. I am just not as polite or PC.

    Note she seems to forget after a couple of weeks on
    some things.

    Anyway, Mooshe, you know when we interact with you, we are
    lowered to your level to an extent. So don't whine about as
    you are the one who is at fault.

    "Moosh🙂" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
    "]news:[email hidden]...

    Quoted message said:

    On Tue, 20 Apr 2004 08:03:26 GMT, GMCarter
    <[email hidden]> posted:

    Quoted message said:

    On Mon, 19 Apr 2004 10:53:48 +0800, "Moosh🙂"
    <[email hidden]> wrote:

    snip...

    Quoted message said:

    Well what else is there? Look at the literature, and
    that doesn't mean trawling medline.

    I may well have missed it as I don't read all your posts,
    but I have yet to see you publish references to the
    literature to make your points.

    Umm, do you pay me to do this? Why don't you sue me for a
    refund if you are unsatisfied with my contributions here,
    and haven't the self-control to ignore what I say if you
    don't like reading it? Sheeeesh! Oh lack of self control!

    Publish references? Are you up yourself? So sue me. Most
    of what I say here is the bleedin' obvious. Those who
    trawl medline or other databases for abstracts, the
    contexts of which they don't understand, that appear to
    justify what they say, lead a pointess existence to my
    mind. If that's your game go to it, but I find it rather
    ridiculous. Scientific abstracts should be hidden from the
    popular press and the general public, IMHO. They are
    mostly counterproductive. In isolation they mean little.
    Need translation in a book by an expert in the field.

    Quoted message said:

    You like to make general pronouncements that are not
    scientific,

    Such as? Are general pronouncements not allowed here? Not
    scientific? Is "The Sun rises in the East" not scientific,
    unless you find an abstract?

    Quoted message said:

    nuanced or sensible (e.g., re SJW thread).

    Nuanced? Strange word to use?

    You disagree with my point that alternative medications
    are a total; mess wrt labelling, and contents true to
    label and even pharmacology? So SJW might have had a bit
    of work done on it. I've been involved in work to see if
    there is any pharmacalogical activity in native
    preparations. Often there is absolutely nothing.
    Occasionally there is and this just boosts the placebo
    effect on those with nothing going for them. Otherwise,
    alternatives need a serious look like they have recently
    had here IMHO.

    BTW, are you referring to posts here like:

    Quoted message said:

    Indeed! The FDA should remove alcohol and tobacco from
    the market IMMEDIATELY!!!

    All wine, beer, whiskey--all of it! AT ONCE!!!

    George M. Carter

    Quoted message said:

    Nonsense. Supplements can JUST as easily have a labeling
    change. DO NOT EXCEED RECOMMENDED DOSE. Just like over
    the counter antihistamines or aspirin. How many people
    die from misuse of those drugs?

    It is disingenuous, hypocritical [censored] to remove
    ephedra from the market.

    George M. Carter

    Quoted message said:

    This can be said of MANY drugs. Indeed, I'd warrant there
    are more extant data on ephedra's safety and efficacy for
    specific conditions than many OTC products.

    Quoted message said:

    Antidepressants are more marketing ploy that useful.
    Which is why SJW makes MUCH more sense in general for mild-to-
    moderate depression, than a probably addictive,
    definitely costly and likely toxic drug pushed by big
    pharma.

    George M. Carter

    Quoted message said:

    Oh horseshit. Tobacco and heroin are no less addictive
    than valium or xanax. Have you ever been addicted?
    Nicotine is probably far more difficult, but I can tell
    you, with a will and an intention to do other things with
    life, one can get over an addiction. But it is incredibly
    difficult. "Slow discontinuation" can be used to get off
    of Heroin, for example. That hardly is adequate to make
    it any more or less addictive than many antidepressants.

    Quoted message said:

    However, this is NOT to say that all supplement
    companies are dishonest or producing bad products. There
    have been private reviews of ID, potency/purity that
    show many companies conform to specifications provided
    on the label.

    Quoted message said:

    Ephedra should probably be reserved for people with
    breathing trouble. This raises a serious limitation to
    the current regulatory situation in the U.S.

    Quoted message said:

    Yes. SJW is not a drug: it is a botanical medicine. I
    think this is an important discussion to have as a
    separate thread.

    Quoted message said:

    Further, data comparing SJW to Prozac, Zoloft and other
    antidepressants for mild-to-moderate depression found
    virtual equivalency in efficacy with a much milder side
    effect profile for SJW in comparison to the drugs.

    George M. Carter

    Quoted message said:
    Quoted message said:

    quackwatch.orgindex.html

    I wouldn't rely on anything from this site. The bigotry
    of the people who run this site has completely eclipsed
    any credibility. Whether their analysis is accurate or
    not is lost in the haze of this blind hate they express.
    They are the other side of the coin of salesmen who pitch
    garbage.

    In either case, science and good observation is left to
    whither on the vine.

    George M. Carter

    Quoted message said:

    Medicine is STILL about the ART of healing. At least it
    should be but accountants seem to have taken over the
    job, in part due to the excesses of the pharmaceutical
    industry in an out-of-control rape of Americans through
    outrageous pricing of drugs, devices and diagnostics.

    George M .Carter

    Excessive consumption of red meat is probably
    contraindicated for a significant proportion of the
    population. Another dimension to that debate, of course,
    is the environmental one. Consumption of meat requires a
    great deal of arable land and water to feed cattle that
    is in excess of the energy produced. Aside from the
    ethical consideration of the way animals are raised and
    slaughtered, the risk of diseases such as BSE and the
    increased risk of coronary and vascular diseases, we must
    recognize that the overpopulated planet on which we
    reside cannot sustain the type of consumption Americans
    typically engage in. An interesting table in the recent
    National Geographic underscores the differences between
    US consumption and that in China. Given the clear cutting
    of jungles and forests to raise these animals for a few
    seasons at most before the land reverts to desert, we are
    doing our species and life on the planet a bit of a
    disservice by indulging excessively or at all in the
    consumption of red meat.

    George M. Carter

    Quoted message said:
    Quoted message said:

    quackwatch.comquackwatch.com

    This site is dreadful. The bigotry on this site is the
    equal and opposite of the worst hype from commercial
    vitamin sites.

    George M Carter

    Quoted message said:

    THAT'S the kind of thing as a consumer and taxpayer I
    can see

    Quoted message said:
    Quoted message said:

    vigilant. Things have changed some at FDA since many of
    us started agitating against their extreme bigotry
    against "alternative" medicine.

    George M. Carter

    Quoted message said:

    George M. Carter

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