The Federal Drug Administration, Drug Companies, and Regulation of Natural Supplements

Considering the fact the Federal Drug Administration does a horrific job of protecting the health and welfare of consumers who take prescription drugs, the thought of them controlling the availability of herbal, vitamin, and other supplements is horrifying. Even more horrifying is the possible motivation behind why they are attempting to gain such control.

Everyone knows that producing and selling drugs is big business. The more drugs that are produced, the more conditions that are named, the more money the pharmaceutical companies make. What may not be common knowledge is that the federal government has weaned the FDA from much of its funding. Now, about half the cost of reviewing new drugs is picked up by the very the same drug companies who submit drugs for review. Is this a case of the fox looking after the chicken coop? Could it be that he who controls the funding, controls the FDA scientists?

Let's pretend that I represent a drug company. I submit a new drug to the FDA for review while digging into massive corporate funds to help fund the reviewing organization, the FDA. I've spent years on developing this drug and am determined to get it marketed to make a profit. During the review, an FDA scientist finds something that causes the drug to be unsafe. Other FDA scientists, however, are willing to pass the drug regardless because they know who really controls their jobs. The one lone scientist is taken off the review and the drug is passed, only to be recalled later. By the time the recall takes place, the drug company has already made a profit.

This arrangement works well until enough people discover that alternatives to taking prescription drugs are available in the form of natural nutritional supplements. When enough people turn to alternatives, the drug companies start to find their profits dwindling. That is not acceptable, but what can they do about it? They can't control decisions people make. One opportunity to turn the trend around does exist for them, though.

That opportunity is to encourage the FDA into seeking control of the products that are threatening their profits, which the FDA has been attempting to do for many years. The reason they give is that people who make claims of healing properties for natural alternatives need to be protected from law suits by consumers. In actuality, consumers who use herbs, vitamins, and other supplements need to be protected from the FDA gaining control over them.

Should the FDA gain control, here is what could happen: Herbs, vitamins, and other natural supplements could be pulled from the shelves until a review of each and every one is done by the FDA, making them unavailable to consumers and putting stores and companies that focus on those products out of business. Reviews for each and every product could be required. This would take years, maybe decades, but it would not matter. The damage to the natural alternative products would already been done. No doubt, the pharmaceutical companies would be lurking in the shadows to market products to replace them, but more likely people would be left with no choice but to turn to man-made drugs sold by drug companies. In either case, the profits to the pharmaceutical industry would be restored.

This is a serious issue for those of us who count on natural supplementation for our health and healing, folks. Bills go before Congress on a regular basis about this issue. If we want to continue to enjoy the freedom to use natural products, we had best keep up with this and let our Senators and Representatives know that FDA regulation is simply not acceptable!

The Federal Drug Administration, Drug Companies, and Regulation of Natural Supplements

Considering the fact the Federal Drug Administration does a horrific job of protecting the health and welfare of consumers who take prescription drugs, the thought of them controlling the availability of herbal, vitamin, and other supplements is horrifying. Even more horrifying is the possible motivation behind why they are attempting to gain such control.

Everyone knows that producing and selling drugs is big business. The more drugs that are produced, the more conditions that are named, the more money the pharmaceutical companies make. What may not be common knowledge is that the federal government has weaned the FDA from much of its funding. Now, about half the cost of reviewing new drugs is picked up by the very the same drug companies who submit drugs for review. Is this a case of the fox looking after the chicken coop? Could it be that he who controls the funding, controls the FDA scientists?

Let's pretend that I represent a drug company. I submit a new drug to the FDA for review while digging into massive corporate funds to help fund the reviewing organization, the FDA. I've spent years on developing this drug and am determined to get it marketed to make a profit. During the review, an FDA scientist finds something that causes the drug to be unsafe. Other FDA scientists, however, are willing to pass the drug regardless because they know who really controls their jobs. The one lone scientist is taken off the review and the drug is passed, only to be recalled later. By the time the recall takes place, the drug company has already made a profit.

This arrangement works well until enough people discover that alternatives to taking prescription drugs are available in the form of natural nutritional supplements. When enough people turn to alternatives, the drug companies start to find their profits dwindling. That is not acceptable, but what can they do about it? They can't control decisions people make. One opportunity to turn the trend around does exist for them, though.

That opportunity is to encourage the FDA into seeking control of the products that are threatening their profits, which the FDA has been attempting to do for many years. The reason they give is that people who make claims of healing properties for natural alternatives need to be protected from law suits by consumers. In actuality, consumers who use herbs, vitamins, and other supplements need to be protected from the FDA gaining control over them.

Should the FDA gain control, here is what could happen: Herbs, vitamins, and other natural supplements could be pulled from the shelves until a review of each and every one is done by the FDA, making them unavailable to consumers and putting stores and companies that focus on those products out of business. Reviews for each and every product could be required. This would take years, maybe decades, but it would not matter. The damage to the natural alternative products would already been done. No doubt, the pharmaceutical companies would be lurking in the shadows to market products to replace them, but more likely people would be left with no choice but to turn to man-made drugs sold by drug companies. In either case, the profits to the pharmaceutical industry would be restored.

This is a serious issue for those of us who count on natural supplementation for our health and healing, folks. Bills go before Congress on a regular basis about this issue. If we want to continue to enjoy the freedom to use natural products, we had best keep up with this and let our Senators and Representatives know that FDA regulation is simply not acceptable!

The Federal Drug Administration, Drug Companies, and Regulation of Natural Supplements

Considering the fact the Federal Drug Administration does a horrific job of protecting the health and welfare of consumers who take prescription drugs, the thought of them controlling the availability of herbal, vitamin, and other supplements is horrifying. Even more horrifying is the possible motivation behind why they are attempting to gain such control.

Everyone knows that producing and selling drugs is big business. The more drugs that are produced, the more conditions that are named, the more money the pharmaceutical companies make. What may not be common knowledge is that the federal government has weaned the FDA from much of its funding. Now, about half the cost of reviewing new drugs is picked up by the very the same drug companies who submit drugs for review. Is this a case of the fox looking after the chicken coop? Could it be that he who controls the funding, controls the FDA scientists?

Let's pretend that I represent a drug company. I submit a new drug to the FDA for review while digging into massive corporate funds to help fund the reviewing organization, the FDA. I've spent years on developing this drug and am determined to get it marketed to make a profit. During the review, an FDA scientist finds something that causes the drug to be unsafe. Other FDA scientists, however, are willing to pass the drug regardless because they know who really controls their jobs. The one lone scientist is taken off the review and the drug is passed, only to be recalled later. By the time the recall takes place, the drug company has already made a profit.

This arrangement works well until enough people discover that alternatives to taking prescription drugs are available in the form of natural nutritional supplements. When enough people turn to alternatives, the drug companies start to find their profits dwindling. That is not acceptable, but what can they do about it? They can't control decisions people make. One opportunity to turn the trend around does exist for them, though.

That opportunity is to encourage the FDA into seeking control of the products that are threatening their profits, which the FDA has been attempting to do for many years. The reason they give is that people who make claims of healing properties for natural alternatives need to be protected from law suits by consumers. In actuality, consumers who use herbs, vitamins, and other supplements need to be protected from the FDA gaining control over them.

Should the FDA gain control, here is what could happen: Herbs, vitamins, and other natural supplements could be pulled from the shelves until a review of each and every one is done by the FDA, making them unavailable to consumers and putting stores and companies that focus on those products out of business. Reviews for each and every product could be required. This would take years, maybe decades, but it would not matter. The damage to the natural alternative products would already been done. No doubt, the pharmaceutical companies would be lurking in the shadows to market products to replace them, but more likely people would be left with no choice but to turn to man-made drugs sold by drug companies. In either case, the profits to the pharmaceutical industry would be restored.

This is a serious issue for those of us who count on natural supplementation for our health and healing, folks. Bills go before Congress on a regular basis about this issue. If we want to continue to enjoy the freedom to use natural products, we had best keep up with this and let our Senators and Representatives know that FDA regulation is simply not acceptable!

The Federal Drug Administration, Drug Companies, and Regulation of Natural Supplements

Considering the fact the Federal Drug Administration does a horrific job of protecting the health and welfare of consumers who take prescription drugs, the thought of them controlling the availability of herbal, vitamin, and other supplements is horrifying. Even more horrifying is the possible motivation behind why they are attempting to gain such control.

Everyone knows that producing and selling drugs is big business. The more drugs that are produced, the more conditions that are named, the more money the pharmaceutical companies make. What may not be common knowledge is that the federal government has weaned the FDA from much of its funding. Now, about half the cost of reviewing new drugs is picked up by the very the same drug companies who submit drugs for review. Is this a case of the fox looking after the chicken coop? Could it be that he who controls the funding, controls the FDA scientists?

Let's pretend that I represent a drug company. I submit a new drug to the FDA for review while digging into massive corporate funds to help fund the reviewing organization, the FDA. I've spent years on developing this drug and am determined to get it marketed to make a profit. During the review, an FDA scientist finds something that causes the drug to be unsafe. Other FDA scientists, however, are willing to pass the drug regardless because they know who really controls their jobs. The one lone scientist is taken off the review and the drug is passed, only to be recalled later. By the time the recall takes place, the drug company has already made a profit.

This arrangement works well until enough people discover that alternatives to taking prescription drugs are available in the form of natural nutritional supplements. When enough people turn to alternatives, the drug companies start to find their profits dwindling. That is not acceptable, but what can they do about it? They can't control decisions people make. One opportunity to turn the trend around does exist for them, though.

That opportunity is to encourage the FDA into seeking control of the products that are threatening their profits, which the FDA has been attempting to do for many years. The reason they give is that people who make claims of healing properties for natural alternatives need to be protected from law suits by consumers. In actuality, consumers who use herbs, vitamins, and other supplements need to be protected from the FDA gaining control over them.

Should the FDA gain control, here is what could happen: Herbs, vitamins, and other natural supplements could be pulled from the shelves until a review of each and every one is done by the FDA, making them unavailable to consumers and putting stores and companies that focus on those products out of business. Reviews for each and every product could be required. This would take years, maybe decades, but it would not matter. The damage to the natural alternative products would already been done. No doubt, the pharmaceutical companies would be lurking in the shadows to market products to replace them, but more likely people would be left with no choice but to turn to man-made drugs sold by drug companies. In either case, the profits to the pharmaceutical industry would be restored.

This is a serious issue for those of us who count on natural supplementation for our health and healing, folks. Bills go before Congress on a regular basis about this issue. If we want to continue to enjoy the freedom to use natural products, we had best keep up with this and let our Senators and Representatives know that FDA regulation is simply not acceptable!

The Federal Drug Administration, Drug Companies, and Regulation of Natural Supplements

Considering the fact the Federal Drug Administration does a horrific job of protecting the health and welfare of consumers who take prescription drugs, the thought of them controlling the availability of herbal, vitamin, and other supplements is horrifying. Even more horrifying is the possible motivation behind why they are attempting to gain such control.

Everyone knows that producing and selling drugs is big business. The more drugs that are produced, the more conditions that are named, the more money the pharmaceutical companies make. What may not be common knowledge is that the federal government has weaned the FDA from much of its funding. Now, about half the cost of reviewing new drugs is picked up by the very the same drug companies who submit drugs for review. Is this a case of the fox looking after the chicken coop? Could it be that he who controls the funding, controls the FDA scientists?

Let's pretend that I represent a drug company. I submit a new drug to the FDA for review while digging into massive corporate funds to help fund the reviewing organization, the FDA. I've spent years on developing this drug and am determined to get it marketed to make a profit. During the review, an FDA scientist finds something that causes the drug to be unsafe. Other FDA scientists, however, are willing to pass the drug regardless because they know who really controls their jobs. The one lone scientist is taken off the review and the drug is passed, only to be recalled later. By the time the recall takes place, the drug company has already made a profit.

This arrangement works well until enough people discover that alternatives to taking prescription drugs are available in the form of natural nutritional supplements. When enough people turn to alternatives, the drug companies start to find their profits dwindling. That is not acceptable, but what can they do about it? They can't control decisions people make. One opportunity to turn the trend around does exist for them, though.

That opportunity is to encourage the FDA into seeking control of the products that are threatening their profits, which the FDA has been attempting to do for many years. The reason they give is that people who make claims of healing properties for natural alternatives need to be protected from law suits by consumers. In actuality, consumers who use herbs, vitamins, and other supplements need to be protected from the FDA gaining control over them.

Should the FDA gain control, here is what could happen: Herbs, vitamins, and other natural supplements could be pulled from the shelves until a review of each and every one is done by the FDA, making them unavailable to consumers and putting stores and companies that focus on those products out of business. Reviews for each and every product could be required. This would take years, maybe decades, but it would not matter. The damage to the natural alternative products would already been done. No doubt, the pharmaceutical companies would be lurking in the shadows to market products to replace them, but more likely people would be left with no choice but to turn to man-made drugs sold by drug companies. In either case, the profits to the pharmaceutical industry would be restored.

This is a serious issue for those of us who count on natural supplementation for our health and healing, folks. Bills go before Congress on a regular basis about this issue. If we want to continue to enjoy the freedom to use natural products, we had best keep up with this and let our Senators and Representatives know that FDA regulation is simply not acceptable!

The Federal Drug Administration, Drug Companies, and Regulation of Natural Supplements

Considering the fact the Federal Drug Administration does a horrific job of protecting the health and welfare of consumers who take prescription drugs, the thought of them controlling the availability of herbal, vitamin, and other supplements is horrifying. Even more horrifying is the possible motivation behind why they are attempting to gain such control.

Everyone knows that producing and selling drugs is big business. The more drugs that are produced, the more conditions that are named, the more money the pharmaceutical companies make. What may not be common knowledge is that the federal government has weaned the FDA from much of its funding. Now, about half the cost of reviewing new drugs is picked up by the very the same drug companies who submit drugs for review. Is this a case of the fox looking after the chicken coop? Could it be that he who controls the funding, controls the FDA scientists?

Let's pretend that I represent a drug company. I submit a new drug to the FDA for review while digging into massive corporate funds to help fund the reviewing organization, the FDA. I've spent years on developing this drug and am determined to get it marketed to make a profit. During the review, an FDA scientist finds something that causes the drug to be unsafe. Other FDA scientists, however, are willing to pass the drug regardless because they know who really controls their jobs. The one lone scientist is taken off the review and the drug is passed, only to be recalled later. By the time the recall takes place, the drug company has already made a profit.

This arrangement works well until enough people discover that alternatives to taking prescription drugs are available in the form of natural nutritional supplements. When enough people turn to alternatives, the drug companies start to find their profits dwindling. That is not acceptable, but what can they do about it? They can't control decisions people make. One opportunity to turn the trend around does exist for them, though.

That opportunity is to encourage the FDA into seeking control of the products that are threatening their profits, which the FDA has been attempting to do for many years. The reason they give is that people who make claims of healing properties for natural alternatives need to be protected from law suits by consumers. In actuality, consumers who use herbs, vitamins, and other supplements need to be protected from the FDA gaining control over them.

Should the FDA gain control, here is what could happen: Herbs, vitamins, and other natural supplements could be pulled from the shelves until a review of each and every one is done by the FDA, making them unavailable to consumers and putting stores and companies that focus on those products out of business. Reviews for each and every product could be required. This would take years, maybe decades, but it would not matter. The damage to the natural alternative products would already been done. No doubt, the pharmaceutical companies would be lurking in the shadows to market products to replace them, but more likely people would be left with no choice but to turn to man-made drugs sold by drug companies. In either case, the profits to the pharmaceutical industry would be restored.

This is a serious issue for those of us who count on natural supplementation for our health and healing, folks. Bills go before Congress on a regular basis about this issue. If we want to continue to enjoy the freedom to use natural products, we had best keep up with this and let our Senators and Representatives know that FDA regulation is simply not acceptable!

The Federal Drug Administration, Drug Companies, and Regulation of Natural Supplements

Considering the fact the Federal Drug Administration does a horrific job of protecting the health and welfare of consumers who take prescription drugs, the thought of them controlling the availability of herbal, vitamin, and other supplements is horrifying. Even more horrifying is the possible motivation behind why they are attempting to gain such control.

Everyone knows that producing and selling drugs is big business. The more drugs that are produced, the more conditions that are named, the more money the pharmaceutical companies make. What may not be common knowledge is that the federal government has weaned the FDA from much of its funding. Now, about half the cost of reviewing new drugs is picked up by the very the same drug companies who submit drugs for review. Is this a case of the fox looking after the chicken coop? Could it be that he who controls the funding, controls the FDA scientists?

Let's pretend that I represent a drug company. I submit a new drug to the FDA for review while digging into massive corporate funds to help fund the reviewing organization, the FDA. I've spent years on developing this drug and am determined to get it marketed to make a profit. During the review, an FDA scientist finds something that causes the drug to be unsafe. Other FDA scientists, however, are willing to pass the drug regardless because they know who really controls their jobs. The one lone scientist is taken off the review and the drug is passed, only to be recalled later. By the time the recall takes place, the drug company has already made a profit.

This arrangement works well until enough people discover that alternatives to taking prescription drugs are available in the form of natural nutritional supplements. When enough people turn to alternatives, the drug companies start to find their profits dwindling. That is not acceptable, but what can they do about it? They can't control decisions people make. One opportunity to turn the trend around does exist for them, though.

That opportunity is to encourage the FDA into seeking control of the products that are threatening their profits, which the FDA has been attempting to do for many years. The reason they give is that people who make claims of healing properties for natural alternatives need to be protected from law suits by consumers. In actuality, consumers who use herbs, vitamins, and other supplements need to be protected from the FDA gaining control over them.

Should the FDA gain control, here is what could happen: Herbs, vitamins, and other natural supplements could be pulled from the shelves until a review of each and every one is done by the FDA, making them unavailable to consumers and putting stores and companies that focus on those products out of business. Reviews for each and every product could be required. This would take years, maybe decades, but it would not matter. The damage to the natural alternative products would already been done. No doubt, the pharmaceutical companies would be lurking in the shadows to market products to replace them, but more likely people would be left with no choice but to turn to man-made drugs sold by drug companies. In either case, the profits to the pharmaceutical industry would be restored.

This is a serious issue for those of us who count on natural supplementation for our health and healing, folks. Bills go before Congress on a regular basis about this issue. If we want to continue to enjoy the freedom to use natural products, we had best keep up with this and let our Senators and Representatives know that FDA regulation is simply not acceptable!

The Federal Drug Administration, Drug Companies, and Regulation of Natural Supplements

Considering the fact the Federal Drug Administration does a horrific job of protecting the health and welfare of consumers who take prescription drugs, the thought of them controlling the availability of herbal, vitamin, and other supplements is horrifying. Even more horrifying is the possible motivation behind why they are attempting to gain such control.

Everyone knows that producing and selling drugs is big business. The more drugs that are produced, the more conditions that are named, the more money the pharmaceutical companies make. What may not be common knowledge is that the federal government has weaned the FDA from much of its funding. Now, about half the cost of reviewing new drugs is picked up by the very the same drug companies who submit drugs for review. Is this a case of the fox looking after the chicken coop? Could it be that he who controls the funding, controls the FDA scientists?

Let's pretend that I represent a drug company. I submit a new drug to the FDA for review while digging into massive corporate funds to help fund the reviewing organization, the FDA. I've spent years on developing this drug and am determined to get it marketed to make a profit. During the review, an FDA scientist finds something that causes the drug to be unsafe. Other FDA scientists, however, are willing to pass the drug regardless because they know who really controls their jobs. The one lone scientist is taken off the review and the drug is passed, only to be recalled later. By the time the recall takes place, the drug company has already made a profit.

This arrangement works well until enough people discover that alternatives to taking prescription drugs are available in the form of natural nutritional supplements. When enough people turn to alternatives, the drug companies start to find their profits dwindling. That is not acceptable, but what can they do about it? They can't control decisions people make. One opportunity to turn the trend around does exist for them, though.

That opportunity is to encourage the FDA into seeking control of the products that are threatening their profits, which the FDA has been attempting to do for many years. The reason they give is that people who make claims of healing properties for natural alternatives need to be protected from law suits by consumers. In actuality, consumers who use herbs, vitamins, and other supplements need to be protected from the FDA gaining control over them.

Should the FDA gain control, here is what could happen: Herbs, vitamins, and other natural supplements could be pulled from the shelves until a review of each and every one is done by the FDA, making them unavailable to consumers and putting stores and companies that focus on those products out of business. Reviews for each and every product could be required. This would take years, maybe decades, but it would not matter. The damage to the natural alternative products would already been done. No doubt, the pharmaceutical companies would be lurking in the shadows to market products to replace them, but more likely people would be left with no choice but to turn to man-made drugs sold by drug companies. In either case, the profits to the pharmaceutical industry would be restored.

This is a serious issue for those of us who count on natural supplementation for our health and healing, folks. Bills go before Congress on a regular basis about this issue. If we want to continue to enjoy the freedom to use natural products, we had best keep up with this and let our Senators and Representatives know that FDA regulation is simply not acceptable!