From: "G.Grimble" <G.Grimble@roehampton.ac.uk>

Organization: roehampton institute london

Subject: Re: Responsible reporting: Double standard applied by some hol

From: linda/richard <kyote@wolfenet.com>

Subject: Re: Responsible reporting: Double standard applied by some

holistic disciples to herbal remedies

>the double standard applied by some holistic disciples to herbal remedies

>(which require no

>safety-testing, certification & etc. but remember belladonna) and to

>'pharmaceuticals' which

>require FDA Approval. As in everything, efficacy should be proved.

>Thus if a herbal remedy is potent, its toxicity should be checked,

question: how many people die each year from taking fda approved drugs?

question: how many people die each year from taking herbs?

question: how many drugs are tested in combination? (many people with

chronic conditions take several

drugs)

richard

<><<><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>

richard and linda seattle wa.

<><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><

Dear Richard and Linda,

It depends if the herbal remedies are ingested or smoked! Problems

of polypharmacy interactions and side-effects are well recognised.

The reason why I take issue with those who take the moral high ground

with respect to alternative therapies is that they are often

untested. The same cannot be said for drugs which have passed the

FDA screen. At the best end of the spectrum, insulin, angiotensin

converting enzyme inhibitors, H2 receptor antagonists and many

antibiotics are safe, specific and effective and meet Koch's concept

of a 'magic bullet'. At the worst end there are many drugs with

recognised serious side effects (eg. NSAID's) which nevertheless

bring considerable symptomatic relief. Prescription of these is a

recognition that benefit outweighs risk. I think that this pragmatic

approach is probably the best way to view the subject.

Best wishes

George Grimble