Last chance to buy certain supplements (getting outlawed by EU)

antrobus

flying_stamp wrote: »

Unlicensed herbal medicines can still be sold by retailers - they just can't be bought from manufacturers or wholesalers so retailers are completely legally allowed to sell until stocks run out.

Well that probably explains it then. Mind you it does call into question the business practices of simplysupplements.net. The whole regulation of herbal medicines hasn't exactly been a big secret, it's been known about and argued over for years. If their "scientists and nutritionists are currently developing new products" despite the fact that they've had years of notice of the changes, then they must be a bunch of incompetent twonks.

flying_stamp wrote: »

Also there are licensed herbal medicines on the market to help sleeping problems - the ones I have in mind have been through the same rigorous testing as pharmaceutical drugs, the benefits are much less side effects than some commonly prescribed drugs. Just cos it's herbal though doesn't mean it doesn't interact with other meds, always check the label

Quite a number of valerian based sleep treatments have indeed been licensed. Both Boots and Lloyds have products for sale.

Bailey_Bear_2

imposter wrote: »

Slightly off-topic, but adammccance, antrobus, mahri (and others) - please take ten minutes out of your day to watch this video about new age quackery, which will have you weeing with laughter! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HhGuXCuDb1U

That was brilliant! Absolutely brilliant! I laughed out loud, but I could have cried too, towards the end. Beautiful, poetic and P*ss your pants funny. Thank you very, very much Imposter, that was the best use I've made of ten minutes for quite some time :T

aaarrrggghhh

a1cat wrote: »

snip.

Sources need to be research thoroughly. Anyone reading a1cat's posts that think they may have or actually do have liver problems, please see your doctor, do not buy supplementary pills!

"Milk thistle is often suggested as a treatment for alcoholic hepatitis and alcoholic cirrhosis. But scientific studies show mixed results. Most studies show milk thistle improves liver function and increases survival in people with cirrhosis or chronic hepatitis. But problems in the design of the studies (such as small numbers of participants and differences in dosing and duration of milk thistle therapy) make it hard to draw any real conclusions."

The above is a common trick used by the peddlers of such treatments.


"Viral hepatitis
Milk thistle is widely used in the treatment of viral hepatitis (particularly hepatitis C). But studies show mixed results. Some found improvements in liver function, while others did not. None of the studies compared milk thistle with interferon or other medications for viral hepatitis."

Another trick - they don't compare it against what is already used by medical practitioners.

"Cancer
Early laboratory studies also suggest that silymarin and other active substances in milk thistle may have anti-cancer effects. These substances appear to stop cancer cells from dividing and reproducing, shorten their life span, and reduce blood supple to tumors. More studies are needed, however, to show whether milk thistle has any effects in the body (not just test tubes).""

And another trick! Test it in a test tube - it works! - so announce it to the world as fact it'll work in the human body.

Please, if you're interested in this stuff, either buy Ben Goldacre's Bad Science in paperback or visit his site, www.badscience.net

vonlipsia

My tuppence'orth. If the link doesn't work just type Mitchell Webb Homeopathic A&E into youtube...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HMGIbOGu8q0

aaarrrggghhh

Mahri wrote: »

Homeopaphy is different again. It basically has 0% of the active ingredient because of the way it's 'distilled'. Homeopathy is rubbish. However, herbal medicine can work, if the correct dosage is given. As previously mentioned by another poster Aspirin is derived from willow bark.

I recently read Bad Science by Ben Goldacre which outlined the main problems with homeopathy. I highly recommend it!

I agree. The problem is given above (also taken from BG's book). Herbal practitioners are just as wary of scientific testing (see www.badscience.net) and use the same tricks. Mainly, the doses needed to see effects on real disease are so huge that nobody could ever manage to consume them.

aaarrrggghhh

imposter wrote: »

Slightly off-topic, but adammccance, antrobus, mahri (and others) - please take ten minutes out of your day to watch this video about new age quackery, which will have you weeing with laughter! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HhGuXCuDb1U

Thank you for that, I love Tim Minchin and hadn't seen that before.

aaarrrggghhh

French_Knickers wrote: »

I knew given time you'd show your complete and utter ignorance on the subject!!

Homeopathy is not herbalism, they are entirely different things!

Tons and tons of proven studies regarding herbal suppliments and their efficacy.

They use the same tricks, as do the proponents of such nonsense. Let me qualify that: The simple fact is this: if they are good enough, GPs will prescribe them. Ask your GP, if he recommends them, great. If not, don't buy. Homeopathy and herbalism are alternative medicines. They are 'alternative' for a reason.

And studies are all well and good, but as we've seen, they're twisted to fit a hypothesis - the complete antithesis of a scientific method.

vonlipsia

I'd also like to mirror adamccance's comments about Ben Goldacre's book - it really is an eye-opening read.

antonia1

Also, for those which do work, the side effects need to be fully understood in order to be licensed. For instance, many people take St John's Wort for depression (and I think it is first choice prescription in some countries) but without ever being told that it can reduce the effectiveness of hormonal contraceptives (eg the Pill, implants).

Bailey_Bear_2

vonlipsia wrote: »

I'd also like to mirror adamccance's comments about Ben Goldacre's book - it really is an eye-opening read.

Although slightly depressing if you start it the day after spending a lot of money on moisturiser.....