More Orovo Product Reviews

My first article about the Orovo Detox product which is one product this company recommends for weight-loss was well received and I have been asked to comment on their other products from the standpoint of a Naturopathic Physician. To see the other article I wrote please right click your mouse here.

To me, being a Naturopath means working along with nature to bring about cure and body harmony and as such various modalities of Naturopathy (or means of nature cure) should therefore recommend and use unadulterated forms of natural medicine.
To my mind a nutrient is a natural thing though a nutraceutical might not be.
True naturopathic medicines cannot be patented.
Herein there lies a great divide between allopathic and naturopathic medicine. And this sole fact is responsible for a great den of inequity in the medical field. For more on this topic; keep posted.

Some of the ingredients (I hesitate to call them natural) in Orovo products are patented and as such they certainly contain ingredients whose use I would consider questionable.
Chemists may argue that many pharmaceutical medicines in use today are derived from herbs. I plan to soon write an article examining this premise. Their definition of herb certainly varies from mine.
And the same applies to nutraceuticals that would not be in existence if someone in a lab had not looked down a microscope then decided to split and isolate components of whatever they were examining in order to develop supplements that simply are not anything occurring naturally in nature.

Therapeutic agents, when occurring naturally in nature have systems of buffers; that regulate their therapeutic action. This form of nature intelligence is something the chemist lacks knowledge of and is unable to quantify. In fact it cannot be quantified in a laboratory setting. And when certain sections of a medical or therapeutic agent are isolated many other dangers can present themselves because of the absence of therapeutic buffers referred to earlier.

Orovo products contain many ingredients derived from herbs and food factors that have been used in isolation and this automatically places the product far more in danger of adverse reactions.
Orovo have 5 products that they promote for weight-loss.
Firstly I will start at their product called X-treme. And it is extreme!!
I doubt that there could be found anywhere any accredited and well trained Naturopath who would endorse this product.

I'll start my evaluation by firstly quoting from their website directly the contraindications that the company itself lists in relation to this particular product, "WARNING:

OROVO X-TREME™ is not intended for use by persons under the age of 18. Do not use if pregnant or nursing. Do not exceed recommended dosage. Do not consume synephrine, caf-feine or thyroid-boosting compounds from other sources, including but not limited to, coffee, tea, soda and other dietary supplements or medications containing phenylephrine or caffeine. Consult a medical doctor prior to use if you have been treated for or diagnosed with, or have a family history of any medical condition, including but not limited to, cardiovascular complications, diabetes, liver or kidney disease or thyroid disease, psychiatric disorders, difficulty urinating, recurrent headaches, enlarged prostate or glaucoma. If you are using any prescription or over-the-counter drug, including but not limited to, MAOI inhibitors, anti-depressants, aspirin, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs or products containing phenylephrine, ephedrine, pseudoephedrine, or other stimulants. Immediately discontinue if you experience irregular heartbeat, chest pain, dizziness, headache, nausea, or other similar symptoms. KEEP OUT OF REACH OF CHILDREN.
The statements on this label have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. As individuals vary so may results. Improper use of this product will not improve results and is not advised" (http://www.orovo.com/xtreme.php 11th June 2008).

Now I'd imagine that such a statement should put just about everyone off!
But the persuasion of friends, MLM and infotainment hype can, unfortunately fairly easily counteract such warnings. This product is loaded with ingredients I do not consider natural.
For instance this product contains synthetic forms of several alkaloids isolated from humble foods and herbs (Vinpocetine, Yohimbine HCL, Synephrine HCL, Bioperine, Thermodiamine, Phenylethylamine).
Many of these extracts from herbs and foods have been patented and as such are now known as semi-synthetics. To my mind anything that is semi-synthetic does not deserve to be called natural and no company should be allowed to use product labeling describing it as 'naturally derived'. They are synthetic; plain and simple. They are products that have been developed by mimicking a natural component of either an herb or a food and later changed, patented and used in isolation.
Many of the synthetic alkaloids in this product mimic amphetamine and cocaine.

I do so wish that Naturopathic Physicians, traditional and medical herbalists, acupuncturists, ayurvedic practitioners, homeopaths, etc could be appointed to whatever Board it is in your country who appoints that these products are deemed and considered to be natural and safe would consult and consider the advice of such practitioners before such an endorsement could be made.
These type of products are currently sailing under the radar by being able to call themselves natural. So many of them can be extremely dangerous and made more so by the fact that their use is most often not monitored or quantified by qualified practitioners of any ilk.

Add to this product mix yet another new, freshly patented semi-synthetics known as Guggulsterone whose action mimics steroids and now you've got this product becoming even more dangerous for your health. The rationale I think that Orovo use is that this product can regulate cholesterol.
Orovo did however choose to leave a mere smattering of herbs apparently untouched (maybe chemists are working already on semi-synthetic, patentable forms). Such herbs are; Caralluma Fimbriata. Ginger, Rhodiola Rosea, Wakame Seaweed and Coleus Forskohlii. Some of these herbs have excellent medicinal properties. But I would definitely not recommend blending any of them with the other ingredients in Orovo products. Yet another ingredient is dubiously known as Razberi-K? Anyone for a bowl of raspberry ketones? No thanks!! Here's what the company has to say about the ingredients of their products, "Orovo Ingredients. Orovo's dedication to product development begins by selecting only the most superior and safe ingredients Mother Nature has to offer. We've compiled a collected of the best in all-natural and effective vitamins, minerals, super-foods, antioxidants and super-fruits that work hard to help you lose weight, increase your energy levels, and provide an overall wellness you can trust.

What's more, the Orovo research and development team takes these ingredients to the lab, creating safe and potent formulas that would cost a fortune anywhere else. We are constantly on the look out for revolutionary new technologies and techniques, employing only the best science in making our all-natural product lines" (http://www.orovo.com/learn_about_ingredients.php 11th June 2008).

Such a statement is a blatantly blasphemous insult to "Mother Nature".!!!

Dare I now go and examine the ingredient lists of their other weight loss products? Suffice to say I'll let you know if, when perusing the ingredient list I find one I consider safe. Pity in a way that they use these patented semi synthetics cos they could otherwise make some products that under certain conditions I would endorse as some of their ingredients are excellent.
You wanna lose weight ? May I respectfully suggest you find another method that does not involve using patented, semi-synthetics disguised as Mother Nature. And go visit your Naturopathic Physician or Herbalist to source entirely natural forms of some of the excellent ingredients that the Orovo company has chosen to use in a bastardized form. Such products are available to your practitioner in a far safer and more natural form.
It is a sad indictment of the way that medicines and foods are regulated that (in Australia at least) the only available over-the-counter form of some excellent natural products is if they are in a semi-synthetic form. To experience the 'real thing' go to your licensed Naturopathic Physician or Herbalist who may prescribe food factors and herbs that are truly naturally sourced and derived.
It must be time to get off my soapbox now. Keep posted.

And PS - if anyone can suggest a good USA English Medical Spell Checker program that I may use if and when I consider applying for some online medical editing or transcribing jobs please do let me know. Thanks.

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