Feds May Regulate Natural Substances

Enter Big Brother. Just when we thought it was our sole decision to take something natural or homeopathic, we were wrong. The FDA has decided to look into regulating various "natural" remedies to the point of possibly needing a prescription from a physician before you can continue to take them.

So now, instead of the Government working hard to control out-of-pocket spending with healthcare they are actually trying to ad to the burden by controlling small things such as daily vitamins. Imagine having to not only pay for your daily medication, but not having the chance to go to your local drug store to buy a regular over the counter daily vitamin. Instead of paying anywhere from $3.00 - $10.00 for your supplement, you may have to pay the price of your regular co-pay, which is normally around $15.00 - $25.00. Also, keep in mind that several health insurance companies are switching to the Tel-a-drug plan where the consumer is forced to order their prescriptions in a three month supply.

The cost could be staggering and could very easily overwhelm the average American. If you take into consideration the amount that a family of four already spends on regular medication, then add in the extra expense of daily vitamins for each member; the total out-of-pocket expenses could be devastating.

But this scenario with daily vitamins is just one side of the coin. Unfortunately, the FDA doesn't want to stop at vitamins. Other regulations the FDA is looking into include: massage oil and handheld massage devices, vegetable juices, bottled waters that "treat" dehydration (such as Propel), raw sprouts and other cancer-fighting foods, and weight machines. But this list is only the tip of the iceberg.

If the FDA has their way they would also remove all supplements, vitamins, natural foods, and homeopathic remedies from store shelves until they are officially "reviewed" by them. Also, they are looking into anyone that grows and sells herbs as a potential "drug" dealer which could lead to arrest. If you are a massage therapist and use hot stones in your practice, they may try to regulate the stones as medical devices. And if you happen to be unfortunate enough to own a vitamin store they could arrest and prosecute you for "practicing medicine without a license".

Even though all of this sounds far-fetched, it is true. The proposal to allow the FDA to "regulate" such items falls under Docket Number 2006D-0480. Skeptics have voiced their opinion on the fact of the FDA trying to sneak this under the radar, until word got out and got the natural health community riled up. The apparent move by the FDA is supposedly designed to destroy the 1994 DSHEA law that allowed supplements to be legal.

Under the Docket guidelines from the FDA site, they also show that they will not try to regulate "Mind-Body Medicine", but they will try to regulate any "equipment or devices" that could be used in this type of medicine. For those of you unaware what falls under "Mind-Body Medicine", it includes things such as yoga, meditation, tai chi, cognitive-behavioral therapy, group support, relaxation, hypnosis, visual imagery, biofeedback, qi gong, group support, autogenic training, and spirituality. The FDA also touches on the area of "Whole Medical Systems" which are practices such as traditional Chinese medicine. According to the document, they stated "although it is Unlikely that a whole medical system itself would be subject to regulation under the Act...products used as components would be...".

Another alarming statement from the guidelines stated "juice therapy uses juice
made from vegetables and fruits. Absent any claims that would make the juice subject to
the drug definition, the juice would be a "food" under section 201 (f) of the Act because it
is an article used for food or drink for man." What this means is that if a store or alternative therapist were to sell fruit or vegetable juice that promotes optimal health (such as a juice therapy), then it too would be regulated under the Act.

Please visit the links below to see the entire set of guidelines and the Docket that is being set forth by the FDA to regulate alternative remedies. Opponents of the Act have until April 30, 2007 to express their concern over the proposal that is being set forth by the Docket. And thanks to the members of Pagan Nation online for pointing out this article.

*Sources*

- WordNetDaily. URL: http://www.wnd.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=55370 . Unruh, Bob. 2007Apr24.

-FDA Website. URL: http://www.fda.gov/OHRMS/DOCKETS/98fr/E7-3259.pdf . 2007Feb27.

- FDA Website. URL: http://www.fda.gov/OHRMS/DOCKETS/98fr/06d-0480-gld0001.pdf . 2006Dec.