When the DSHEA (Dietary Supplement Health Education Act) was passed by the USA
Congress in 1994 it was a boon to all of us consumers. Finally, we all could buy herbals that had
long histories of safe and effective use throughout the world. Before the DSHEA we were unable
to get them, much less even educate ourselves about them. This was because the FDA was
stopping education on them, and their actual manufacture supposedly for "Our" protection.

Certainly, there are slime in every business who prey on unsuspecting consumers who have not
really educated themselves. We as consumers have to understand that there is no "Magic bullet"
that will instantly reverse years and years of abuse of our systems.

There is no magic pill that will instantly cure cancer, diabetes, high blood pressure, the common
cold, etc. Some companies hype products as miraculous cures. It kind of reminds me of some of
the shall we call them less than upstanding martial arts teachers who claim that they were taught
a secret style by some hermit monk from the mountains. Yeah. Right.

That being said, it makes no sense to not allow good products on to the market.

The idea is to have supplements that can help you to live a better life. Can keep you healthy,
prevent illness. And when you are feeling sick (dis-eased) can help make you feel better. They
can be used to regulate your blood pressure, help you to relax, help you to sleep when you have
to much on your mind. Something you can take to help fight off the beginnings of a cold, etc.
Basically, help keep your body in perfect balance and health so you do not have to worry about
ever getting sick.

Before the passage of the DSHEA some of the wonderful products being blocked included,
Traditional Chinese herbal medicines, Ayurvedic medicines, and traditional folk medicines. So,
rather than being able to easily get herbal remedies, we were forced to buy less effective drugs
manufactured by pharmaceutical companies. We were forced to buy synthetic vitamins. We
could not get the education on vitamins and herbs as to what they could do for us. It was
Prohibition all over again. Only instead of alcohol, the "Evil" was natural products.

With the passage of the DSHEA in the USA, the FDA is still regulating supplements. Contrary to
what is reported in mainstream press, and by the FDA. There really are safety rules in place.
Supplements are regulated. So are the foods you eat. Drugs are more regulated than dietary
supplements. Supposedly, they are proven safe before being distributed to consumers. If that is
the case, why is it that almost every month there is another recall of some drug due to unforeseen
side effects and dangers? Why is it that once a drug is approved for use, many doctors start to
prescribe it for uses it was not approved for? Yes this really happens.

If you could get an all natural product made specifically to treat your condition by a qualified,
highly trained herbalist, would you prefer that, or would you prefer taking a laboratory produced
drug that is synthesized from who knows what?


What if the herbal product was the same price? What if the herbal product was 10 times cheaper?

The drug companies certainly do not like consumers to be educated on products that would take
away their profits.

Do you know that even though certain herbs have been proven to fight off cancers and destroy
them, you will never learn about them? This is because even with the passage of the DSHEA, the
FDA is suppressing this type information claiming that there "are not enough safety studies" even
if it has been studied in most other modern countries around the world. Is that "Protecting" you?
Or is it protecting the profits of drug manufacturers?

Do you know that as recently as a few years ago, no manufacturer of calcium products could
claim that taking calcium would help fight off osteoporosis? Thanks to the DSHEA you can learn
that calcium can help.

So now you have a small understanding of what benefits you get from the DSHEA. Here is the
problem.

Now there are some Senators and Representatives who want to take away the rights of consumers
like you and me to use the products of our choice. They want to limit the choices we have in how
we are treated. They want us to be forced to use high priced poisonous pharmaceuticals rather
than herbs. They do not want us educated as to what herbs do, how they can benefit us and keep
us healthy.

This attack is being launched by Big Dick (Richard) Durbin (democrat of Illinois). The question
is why. Is he really that well versed in every treatment so that he can tell you what is good for you
and what is not? Is he really that educated in how all of the supplements, vitamins, herbs, and
preparations really work? Or is it the usual. Politics and high level big money political
contributions to his campaign at work.

While his idea is commendable - insuring that supplements are safe. Wouldn't it be a better idea
to force a supplement manufacturer to prove that the supplement does what they claim it does?

Wouldn't it be better to allow...no in fact force the supplement manufacturer to have a lot of
educational material available to consumers so they can educate themselves. Material including
possible adverse reactions. Known and reported incompatible products (i.e. don't take this with
aspirin, etc.) Safe dosages, and unsafe dosages, as well as how much is to much..How much can
you safely take during a 24 hour period. Information like that. I'm sure that this type of
information would be more helpful than some bureaucrat deciding what you can and can not
know about a particular product. Even if that bureaucrat has the best of intentions.

Imagine not being able to buy the herbal product of your choice because some politician and
bureaucrat want to "Protect" you. Imagine not being able to find information on adverse effects
and beneficial effects of a particular herb, or herbal combination, or dietary supplement? It is
about to happen here in the USA.

If you really want to keep the ability to educate yourself on alternative medicine, the proper use
of vitamins, herbs, etc, and have the choice to use them, then get in touch with your Senator and
ask them to defeat Big Dick Durbin's "Dietary Supplement Safety Act" (Senate Bill 722).

It's for your own good.

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About the Author
By Allen Weber Copyright June 10, 2003 JAJA Group, Inc.- newsletter Emperor's Herbologist
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