Herckleperckle
Member
11-20-2003
| Friday, January 27, 2006 - 1:53 pm
Source: Ivanhoe.com Reported June 24, 1999 HERBAL MEDICINE WHITE PAPER Ivanhoe.com Television News Service/Medical Breakthroughs Would you believe that herbs can cure arthritis, cancer and psoriasis? According to medical herbalists, those are just a few of the ailments that herbs are successful in treating. Herbal medicine expert Michael Tierra says, "Herbal medicine is one hundred percent effective for everything - I'm not saying it's going to cure it, but it will be an effective treatment of the symptoms and also act as a preventive for future problems." Early humans recognized their dependence on nature in both health and illness. Physical evidence of use of herbal remedies dates back some 60,000 years to a burial site of a Neanderthal man uncovered in 1960. Scientists found what appeared to be ordinary human bones. Upon further analysis, the bones revealed large quantities of plant pollen that had to have been taken internally. The first written records detailing the use of herbs in the treatment of illness are the Mesopotamian clay tablet writings and the Egyptian papyrus. In North America, early explorers traded knowledge with the Native American Indians. The tribes taught them which herbs to use to sharpen their senses for hunting, to build endurance, and to bait their traps. As medicine evolved in the United States, plants continued as a mainstay of country medicine. Approaches to plant healing passed from physician to physician, grandparent to child. As 20th-century technology advanced and created more pharmaceutical drugs, the interest turned more and more away from herbal medicine. However, few people realize that about one-quarter of the prescription drugs in the U.S. contain at least one active ingredient derived from plant material. Many over-the-counter drugs also come from plants. Cough drops that contain menthol, mint, horehound, or lemon are herbal preparations; chamomile and mint teas taken for digestion or a nervous stomach are old herbal remedies. In fact, even coffee is an herbal stimulant. Where does the United States stand? Countries around the world use herbal medicine as a viable treatment option. China, Japan, France, England and Germany are among the top users, while the United States is still slow to follow in their footsteps. Executive Director of the American Botanical Council, Marc Blumenthal says, "I think being a kind of frontier country, we kind of got into the scientific aspect -- we weren't tied to any roots and there was no history here." With no formal introduction or history of herbal medicine, other than the Native Americans, it has never taken off. The reason given by supporters of herbal medicine in the United States, is money. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is the gatekeeper of medicine approvals in the United States. Most orthodox medical doctors will not put any merit into a drug or treatment method unless it has been supported by the FDA. Before getting approval for a drug, clinical trials must be conducted in the United States. Herbalists may apply under existing guidelines for approval of new pharmaceutical drugs, but it is very expensive. According to James Duke, with the United States Department of Agriculture, the total cost of bringing a new pharmaceutical drug to market in the United States is an estimated $140 million to $500 million. Because plants are not patentable, an herbal medicine manufacturer can not recover the money. Herbal medicine expert Michael Tierra says, "The FDA needs to look at a different approval process for herbs. They also need to recognize herbalists for our experience and expertise, and should consult us about efficacy." At present in the U.S., herbs are marketed as food supplements. Therefore, manufacturers are not allowed to make any medical claims about the use of the herb. If a manufacturer or distributor makes specific health claims about an herbal product without FDA approval, the product can be pulled from store shelves. Therefore, since the FDA is not regulating the herbs under the umbrella of medicine, the herbal product industry has had to regulate itself. Consumers are able to buy herbs to treat themselves for medical ailments, but the jars, boxes or bags of herbs are not allowed to state what the herbs should be used to treat. Instead, there is a 20 foot rule. Printed information stating which herbs are treatable for which ailments must be no closer than 20 feet from the herbs. So in effect, consumers are allowed to treat themselves, but don't have all of the proper information available to do this safely. Herb stores that are open to consumers, allowing them to come in and scoop their own herbs or purchase capsules or teas often have disclaimers such as this: "We do not directly or indirectly dispense medical advice or prescribe the use of herbs as a treatment for sickness without medical approval. In the event you use the information without your doctor's approval, you are prescribing for yourself, which is your constitutional right, but we assume no responsibility." Medical herbalists say the government is not doing consumers any favors by not allowing the manufacturers to label the products fully. Despite the FDA's disapproval of herbal medicine, consumer interest in the area is growing. As more and more patients find that orthodox medicine isn't healing them, they are looking for alternatives. In 1993, the sales of herbal supplements in supermarkets rose to $22.7 million. This is expected to keep rising as more people seek alternatives. A Medical Check-Up A New England Journal of Medicine report in 1993 revealed: The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that 4 billion people -- 80 percent of the world population -- use herbal medicine for some aspect of primary care. One in three people surveyed used at least one unconventional method of therapy in the previous year. In 1990, Americans made an estimated 425 million visits to providers of unconventional therapy. In comparison, the number of trips made to U.S. primary care physicians in the U.S. that year was only 388 million. Approximately $13.7 billion was spent on unconventional therapies -- $10.3 billion of which was paid out of pocket. Top 10 Herbs Used in the United States Echinacea (purple coneflower) The Native Americans used purple coneflower to treat snakebite, fevers, and old stubborn wounds. The early settlers soon adopted the plant as a home remedy for colds and influenza, and it became popular with the 19th century eclectics. Goldenseal (Hydrastis canadensis) A traditional healing herb of Native Americans that has entered the European herbal repertoire, goldenseal was used by the Cherokee for indigestion, local inflammations, and to improve the appetite, while the Iroquois used it for whooping cough, liver disorders, fevers, and heart problems. Dandelion (Taraxacum officinale) In China, the flowers, leaves, root, and seed heads of the common dandelion are used as a diuretic and liver stimulant. They are also considered to clear heat and toxins from the blood, so it is used for boils and abscesses. Stinging Nettle (Urtica dioica) According to history, Caesar's troops introduced the Roman nettle into Britain because they thought that they would need to flail themselves with nettles to keep warm. Nettles clear uric acid from the system to relieve gout and arthritis, and their astringency stops bleeding. Nettles sting because of histamine and formic acid in the hairs that trigger an allergic response. Ginseng (Panax) Used in China for over 5,000 years, ginseng was known to 9th-century Arab physicians. Marco Polo even wrote of this prized, wonder drug. It is used as a stimulant which regulates blood sugar and cholesterol levels and stimulates the immune system. The North Vietnamese used ginseng during the Vietnam War to increase recovery rates from gunshot wounds. Hawthorn (Crataegus) Traditionally valued for its astringency, hawthorn was used for diarrhea, heavy menstrual bleeding, and in first aid to draw splinters. Over the past century, the plant's considerable tonic action on the heart has been identified. Today, it is one of the most popular cardiac herbs. Garlic (Allium sativum) Prized for at least 5,000 years, garlic has long been known to reduce blood cholesterol levels. Even orthodox medicine acknowledges that the plant reduces the risk of further heart attacks in cardiac patients; it is also a stimulant for the immune system and an antibiotic. Valerian (Valeriana officinalis) Nature's tranquilizer, valerian calms the nerves without the side effects of comparable orthodox drugs. It has a distinctive, rather unpleasant smell, and was called phu by the Greek physician Galen. The root can be used as an expectorant and can help tickling, nervous coughs. Licorice (Glycyrrhiza) Licorice has been used medicinally since at least 500 B.C. and still is shown in official pharmacopoeia as a "drug" for stomach ulcers. In China, one form is termed the "great detoxifier" and is thought to drive poisons from the system. Feverfew (Tanacetum parthenium) Recently, feverfew has been hailed as a "cure" for migraines. In the past, the herb was used for headaches, but it was largely applied externally. It was taken by women to get rid of the placenta after birth and for various uterine disorders. Information obtained from The Complete Medicinal Herbal, by Penelope Ody. Associations and Organizations The American Herbalists' Guild P.O. Box 1683 Soquel, CA 95073American Botanical CouncilP.O. Box 201660Austin, TX 78720(512) 331-8868Alternative Medical Association 7909 SE State Street Portland, OR 97215 (503) 254-7555American Herb AssociationP.O. Box 1673Nevada City, CA 95959American Herbal Products AssociationP.O. Box 2410Austin, TX 78768The Herb Research Foundation1007 Pearl Street, Suite 200Boulder, CO 80302(303) 449-2265The National Council Against Health FraudP.O. Box 1276Loma Linda, CA 92354(909) 824-4690American College of Traditional Chinese Medicine450 Connecticut StreetSan Francisco, CA 94107(415) 282-9603Training CoursesAmerican Herb Association P.O. Box 1673 Nevada City, CA 95959California School of Herbal StudiesP.O. Box 39Forrestville, CA 95436(707) 887-7457East West Herbal Correspondence CourseP.O. Box 712 BSanta Cruz, CA 95061(408) 336-5010Southeastern School of Herbal StudiesRt. 2 Box 581Walterboro, SC 29488(803) 538-3505 The World View China: In China, traditional herbal remedies are still the backbone of medicine. Use varies in regions, but herbs are available throughout all of China. Until 1984 there was almost no regulation of herbs. But in 1984, the People's Republic implemented the Drug Administration Law, which said that traditional herbal preparations were generally considered "old drugs" and, except for new uses, were exempt from testing for efficacy or side effects. Japan: Traditional Japanese medicine, called kampo, is similar to and historically derived from Chinese medicine but includes traditional medicines from Japanese folklore. The use of kampo declined when Western medicine was introduced between 1868 and 1912, but by 1928 it had begun to revive. Today, 42.7 % of Japan's western-trained medical practitioners use kampo medicine and the national health plan pays for these medicines. In 1988, the Japanese herbal medicine industry established regulations to manufacture and control the quality of herbal products. Europe: Drug approval considerations for phytomedicines (medicine from plants) in Europe are the same as those for new drugs in the U.S. -- drugs are documented for safety, effectiveness and quality. But there is a distinguishing factor. In Europe it costs less and takes less time to approve medicines as safe and effective. In substances that have a long history of use, they are approved under the "doctrine of reasonable certainty." This means once a remedy is shown to be safe, it is approved. The European Economic Community (EEC) developed a series of guidelines, The Quality of Herbal Remedies, to standardize approval of herbal medicines. These guidelines outline standards for quality, quantity and production of herbal remedies and provide labeling requirements that member countries must meet. France: Traditional medicines can be sold with labeling based on traditional use -- they must be licensed by the French Licensing Committee and approved by the French Pharmacopoeia Committee. These products are distinguished from approved pharmaceutical drugs by labels stating "Traditionally used for. . . " Consumers understand this to mean that the herb is approved on the basis of historical use and that it has not necessarily been confirmed by modern scientific technology. England: England generally follows the rule of prior use, which says that hundreds of years of use with positive results and no dangerous side effects, means the herb is safe. To promote the safe use of herbal remedies, the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, and Food and the Department of Health jointly established a database that holds information on all of the dangerous effects related to the medicines. It is updated annually. Germany: This country considers whole herbal products as a single active ingredient; this makes it simpler to define and approve the product. The German Federal Health Office regulates such products as ginkgo and milk thistle extracts by using a monograph system. The monographs are compiled from scientific literature on a particular herb in a single report and are produced under the auspices of the Ministry of Health Committee for Herbal Remedies. There is further distinction between "prescription-only drugs" and "normal prescription drugs." The former are available only by prescription. The latter are covered by national health insurance if prescribed by a physician, but they can be purchased over the counter without a prescription if consumers want to pay the cost themselves. Controversies Orthodox doctors vs. Medical herbalists Hardly the word "herb" can be spoken without using the word "controversial" in the same sentence. The United States is divided when it comes to herbal medicine. There are those who believe herbal medicine is a viable treatment option for patients and that it should be as available to patients as orthodox medicine is. Then there is a group who believes that herbal medicine isn't medicine at all. This group believes it is merely folklore and has no actual medicinal value. And then somewhere in the middle is a larger group -- those who believe that there is truth and value in herbal medicine, but they need to see the proof. Until there is proof in numbers, this group still hesitates in choosing a side. Here are a few of the reasons and cautions given by doctors who do not support herbal medicine: * The consumer has no idea the potency of herbs -- each plant, leaf and root contain differing amounts of strength and many doctors believe you don't know what you are buying. * There is no actual proof. Non-supporters say because there have been no clinical trials in the United States, monitored by the FDA, and there have not been studies involving large numbers of people, they simply cannot know that the herbs are effective. * People will self-medicate and can put themselves in danger by not knowing the dangerous herbs. But orthodox doctors aren't the only ones with concerns. Herbalists themselves say they are concerned that by not allowing medical herbalists to prescribe herbs, underqualified persons will be prescribing herbs. In the United States you are allowed to prescribe herbs for medical purposes if you are an M.D., Naturopathic Doctor (N.D.), licensed acupuncturist, etc. But if you are an herbalist and have trained as an herbalist, you can not legally prescribe herbs for medical purposes. Herbalists are afraid that the persons who are allowed to prescribe herbs aren't as qualified. They hope that the FDA will eventually recognize them as licensed medical herbal experts and will allow them to treat patients.
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