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A report from Reuters Tue Sep 18, 2007 stated that the FDA has warned Hain Celestial Group Inc. by calling the natural herbal sweetener that they add to some of their teas “an unsafe food additive.”

Stevia, derived from a South American herb is 300 times sweeter than sugar but with no calories, is approved as a dietary supplement, but not as a food additive in the U.S.

This should not be surprise as the FDA and Health Canada both regard stevia as an herb but not as a food additive. As Wikipedia points out:

“In 1991, at the request of an anonymous complaint, the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) labeled stevia as an “unsafe food additive” and restricted its import. The FDA’s stated reason was “toxicological information on stevia is inadequate to demonstrate its safety.”[31] This ruling was controversial, as stevia proponents pointed out that this designation violated the FDA’s own guidelines under which any natural substance used prior to 1958 with no reported adverse effects should be generally recognized as safe (GRAS).”

Gee, I wonder who this anonymous complaint came from. An interesting comment on a blog at Dr. Mercola’s web site is insiteful:
“I’m far too stupid to wonder why it’s fine (stevia) when called one thing, yet potentially a destructive, nation-flattening weapon when used as a cheap, abundant sweetener that would coincidentally compete with the safe-as-mother’s-milk health chemicals like Splenda and Aspartame. ”

Agriculture Canada Wants to Grow Stevia

If stevia is so unsafe then why did the Canadian Brodacasting Corporation (CBC) state on it’s Market Place television program in February of 2000 that:

“Agriculture Canada is growing stevia. “We want to turn it into a crop, a viable crop for farmers in southwestern Ontario,” says Jim Brandle, a plant breeding specialist with Agriculture Canada.

…It has been embraced in Japan, where it’s used in soy sauce, sweet pickles and soft drinks. In Japan, Diet Coke has been sweetened with stevia. ”

The article points out that Linda Bonvie a New Jersey-based investigative journalist who’s written a book on stevia that on its cover asks ‘Is the FDA suppressing an ideal herbal sweetener?’

“I think there’s a lot at stake here … and when there’s big money at stake, strange things happen.” She stated, and “There’s been no consumer complaints or reports of ill effects due to stevia,” she says. “Not in health journals, not in government statistics, and not by consumers.

Stevia- Health Benefits

Wikipedia Balanced Report also states:

“…while newer studies find no safety issues…Other studies have shown stevia improves insulin sensitivity in ratsand may even promote additional insulin production, helping to reverse diabetes and metabolic syndrome. ”

To sum up this herbal product that’s been used for decades with no reported toxicity is not allowed to compete on a level playing field with the big boys that make chemical sweeteners with known toxicity. Can you imagine what would happen if the general public was aware of safety and benefits of stevia compared to Nutrasweet/Equal (Aspartame) and Splenda.

There is faint hope but not complete because Coca Cola and Cargill are working on scientifically establishing the safety of the herb. You can bet though that it will not be the pure total herb from the plant but will be a patentable derivative. At least with heavyweight corporations like these they will be able to pay off the FDA because Coke is desperate for an alternative to expensive Nurtasweet.

Just think in the near future your local health food store will no longer be raided for their dangerous stevia because their will be a ‘patent FDA approved for your protection brand’ with higher prices. Then the sour view of the FDA on stevia will miraculously turn sweet.
http://www.steviainfo.com/

For more information on Stevia go to these sites-

Stevia: Nature’s Perfect Sweetener
The Sweet Secret of Stevia

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Dennis Cutforth is a researcher and writer with over 35 years experience in health-care sales, marketing and research in pharmaceuticals and natural health. Dennis will cut through all the propaganda and give you the real facts about what really works to make you healthier and happier. Visit his Blog at Better Life Blog.

According to news wire services and articles such as appeared at CTV.ca ‘Quebec refuses to force chemo on 3-year-old boy’; this is a welcome occurrence.

Too frequently parents are forced to turn their children over to so-called medical experts to pump chemotherapy poisons into their children that are of questionable value. The studies have not been properly done. So, for experts to say parents are threatening their children’s lives by withholding life-saving pharmaceuticals is without basis in fact.

As I wrote in a previous post (dated April 20, 2007) titled: ‘Cytotoxic Chemotherapy Cancer Clinker – Part 7′- “What we can see from Conventional Medicines own words is that Conventional Cytotoxic Chemotherapy Cancer treatment is a Clinker of ‘inferior quality’ that has FAILED.”

This was based on quotes from medical journals such as the British Journal of Cancer- ” “showed no advantage of conventional chemotherapy over no treatment.”

The Journal of the American Medical Association, for most types of cancer, the chances of surviving more than five years in 1995 was not much better than in 1950:
“…our analysis shows that changes in 5-year survival over time bear little relationship to changes in cancer mortality [death].”

“The overall contribution of curative and adjuvant [supplemental] cytotoxic chemotherapy to 5-year survival in adults was estimated to be 2.3% in Australia and 2.1% in the USA.” Clinical Oncology (Royal College of Radiologists (Great Britain)

Interestingly in e-mail comments to the above website many people emotionally attacked the parents of this child holding up medicine as a sacred cow, some going so far as to say that chemo should be forced on the child who’s parents were irresponsible by resorting to a raw juice diet. Unfortunately when individuals who are uninformed they resort to ‘perception is reality’, however in the case of cancer treatments people have been sold a bill of goods.

As the U.S. Federal Government General Accounting Office report- “For the majority of the cancers we examined, the actual improvements (in survival) have been small or have been overestimated by the published rates…It is difficult to find that there has been much progress…(For breast cancer), there is a slight improvement…(which) is considerably less than reported.”

Some accused the people who suggest trying alternative approaches as selling ’snake oil’. If they honestly examine the actual data they will see that chemo is ’snake oil’ for 85% of cancers. However, it is effective in 15% of cancers, and that is where it should be used.
In countries such as Germany where they combine herbs and low dose chemo they get excellent results. Pioneering physicians who use herbs, nutrition and diet get good results for some types of cancer, however, the big motive in chemo isn’t as altruistic as you might think but really profit driven.

In my post (dated March 19, 2007) titled: Big Pharma’s ‘Big Bucks Control Medicine - Part 6,’ I discuss what one retired detective found out about the Cancer Industry- “I learned that making money, not finding cures, is what conventional medicine is interested in.”

To really learn what alternatives there are to harsh chemicals you should check the informative and well researched book about complementary cancer care- Choices in Healing by Michael Lerner. Also definitely visit the website of Dr. Ralph Moss.

As the CTV.ca article stated- “Arthur Schafer, an ethics professor at the University of Manitoba, said the court ruled against the medical staff at the hospital because the boy’s condition, which is currently not life threatening, is not an emergency situation.

“The chemo is toxic, it’s highly aggressive treatment,” Schafer told CTV’s Canada AM on Friday. “It may be that the child is likely not to survive anyway, it may be that there’s time to survive and that the chemo doesn’t have to be given now.”

Schafer said that if the doctors had testified that it was a medical emergency, the province probably would have intervened.

“There’s a heavy burden of proof on the state if you’re going to interfere on the judgments of a loving family about their own young child,” he said. “You better have good medical evidence and my supposition is that we haven’t seen that evidence yet.”

All parents in the same situation should not be intimidated by the medical authorities but should ask to see the ’scientific studies’ to support their treatments. You’d be surprised by the lack of effectiveness for their caustic treatments that would support their case in a court of law.

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Dennis Cutforth is a researcher and writer with over 35 years experience in health-care sales, marketing and research in pharmaceuticals and natural health. Dennis will cut through all the propaganda and give you the real facts about what really works to make you healthier and happier. Visit his Blog at Better Life Blog.

The tag line in a news article 19 Jul 2007 at Medical News Today is “Scientists Discover Genes Behind Restless Legs”, based on one study published in the New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM) and the other study published in the journal Nature Genetic.

So Hallelujah all you have to do if you suffer from this sleep disorder is to wait for a Drug Company to use this information, take out a patent with a drug that blocks the symptoms while causing intolerable side effects and 15-20 years from now you’ll be able to take advantage of this miracle treatment that is 5-10% effective at a premium price.

To be sure there are prescription drugs that are on the market for this syndrome that can keep you awake and make you feel like you have the creepy crawlies in your legs. However, if you are proactive and don’t just accept the ‘Big Pharma’ line and find a physician or health care provider that looks at diet and nutritional deficiencies you can get the help you need at an affordable price with better results now.

As Melvyn R. Werbach, MD wrote in The Townsend Letter in an article entitled- Nutritional Influences on Illness- Restless Legs Syndrome, hypoglycemia, caffeine, various vitamins, minerals and nutrients in Scientific Studies can play a role.

There can be any of one or more of these along with food intolerances/allergies that contribute to Restless Legs Syndrome so don’t be swayed by the vested interests of ‘Big Pharma’ or a biased physician who is uninformed about simple yet effective natural treatments.

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Dennis Cutforth is a researcher and writer with over 35 years experience in health-care sales, marketing and research in pharmaceuticals and natural health. Dennis will cut through all the propaganda and give you the real facts about what really works to make you healthier and happier. Visit his Blog at Better Life Blog.

Studies indicate that some Herbal Supplements are relatively safe and as effective as prescription drugs for Alzheimer’s or Dementia patients. Since they are actually being recognized as drugs by the authorities it would make sense to treat them as such. It would also make sense to seek out a knowledgeable Integrative Medicine physician who has training in herbs and nutritional treatments.

After a person has been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease or non-Alzheimer’s dementia he or she and their loved ones may feel desperate and frustrated with their physician’s recommendations. Dietary supplements are an interesting option or add on to medications and may offer hope for individuals and families. However, consider all of the facts before trying one of these treatments and seek reliable information. Any drug or herb has benefits or risks attached and in combining them their can be possible interactions as well.

The Integrative Medicine Approach

Since herbs, vitamins, antioxidants and fatty acids etc. are increasingly being studied for their potential benefit to patients it would make sense to go to physicians with training in this area. If you want cosmetic surgery you aren’t going to seek out a physician who doesn’t have any training in this area. Therefore you cannot rely on the advice of any physician who hasn’t had training with nutritional approaches and in fact may be biased against non-drug treatments. He/she may be unaware of the up to date scientific information which has shown herbs and nutrients to be helpful for brain disorders.

The type of physician that you should seek out is an Integrative Medicine physician. These physicians use a blended approach to healthcare, combining Conventional Medicine with appropriate Complementary and Alternative Medicines. This approach has proven to be safe and effective for a number of medical conditions. Taking over the counter herbal products without the advice of these experts could cause problems though.

A study in the Jan-Feb 2005 American Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease found - “Results show that the integrative treatment not only protracted [prolonged] cognitive decline for 24 months but even improved cognition, especially memory and frontal lobe functions.”

The American Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease and Other Dementias of Mar-Apr 2006 stated – “Although some Food and Drug Administration-approved drugs are available for the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease, the outcomes are often unsatisfactory, and there is a place for alternative medicine, in particular, herbal medicine.”

What does the Scientific Medical Literature say about herbs?

Let’s look at the two most studied herbs with the best available information here, because there is a lot of scare mongering about the effectiveness and safety of herbal therapies.

Gingko Biloba is it an Herb or Drug?

Recent studies have shown positive results with a specially formed Ginkgo formula. The European Journal of Neurology in September 2006 reported in a randomized placebo-controlled double-blind study that Ginkgo was as effective as the drug donepezil.

In fact the herb Ginkgo biloba is sold and regulated as a drug in Germany. This means that it should be treated as a drug and used with caution when combined with medications such as aspirin and other anticoagulant drugs and under the guidance of a physician.

Galantamine is it a Drug or an Herb?

The British Medical Journal (BMJ) in December of 2000, reported that galantamine appears to slow the decline in both cognition and functional ability in Alzheimer’s patients. This was a large 653 study from 86 clinics, with patients suffering from mild to moderate disease.

Interestingly, if herbs are as ineffective as critics say then why has this herb been granted FDA approval for sale as a prescription drug under the brand name Razadyne (formerly Reminyl). It is ironic that galantamine with over a 50 year history of use as a natural herbal product, from the snowdrop plant, is recognized as a drug but is still available without a prescription.

In fact the drug Razadyne (Galantamine) is an herb. The drug is exactly the same as the herbal extract except for the price, naturally, pun intended.

Before adding any supplements to Alzheimer’s or dementia treatment plans, consult with an Integrative Medicine physician to make sure it’s safe, right for you and won’t interfere with any other medications. There are other promising herbs these physicians will be aware of to inform you about. Ask questions so you have a realistic expectation of what supplements can achieve as there is no cure, however you can enjoy a better quality of life.

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About the Author

Dennis Cutforth is a researcher and writer with over 35 years experience in health-care sales, marketing and research in pharmaceuticals and natural health. Dennis will cut through all the propaganda and give you the real facts about what really works to make you healthier and happier. Visit his website Get A Better Life Today.

Most physicians are reluctant to recommend herbs and or vitamin supplements. However what is their personal consumption of these products.

An interesting study was published by the The Journal of Herbal Pharmacotherapy in 2006 (PubMed), on the use of herbs by health care professionals. Now this doesn’t necessarily apply to all such workers. The survey was for those with an interest in herbal therapies. These individuals who took the initiative to enroll in courses on herbs would be higher than the norm. However the number of these participants using herbs was extremely high and the breakdown was most interesting.

Results of the survey of 1249 health care professionals -
51% reported using an herb in the last week.

The breakdown –

• physician assistants or
• nurse practitioners (63%)
• clinical nurses (59%)
• HCP students (52%)
• physicians (48%)
• dietitians (40%)
• pharmacists (37%)

Common herbs taken were -

• green tea (24%)
• flax seed (18%)
• chamomile (11%)
• aloe vera (8%).

Factors associated with herb use among others included having increased knowledge of herbs and dietary supplements.

The impressive part is that knowledgeable health care workers including physicians take herbs even with the continual negative propaganda that spews forth from the Medical Establishment through the Major News Media backed by Federal Agencies and Big Pharma, that tries to paint such products as dangerous.

Cardiologists Take Vitamin E to Heart

Despite the scare that has been in the literature by the Medical Establishment that caused many people to stop taking Vitamin E, Cardiologists (heart doctors) continued to take Vitamin E for prevention. According to a 2001 American Journal of Cardiology survey almost 50% of these specialists take this supplement, more than double the general population. As reported in PRNewswire/ via NewsEdge Corporation-

“More cardiologists take antioxidant supplements than take aspirin as a preventive measure against heart attacks,” the Cornell publication noted, citing a study published in the American Journal of Cardiology.

“Among l8l doctors surveyed, 44 percent take Vitamin E, Vitamin C or beta- carotene (alone or in combination) while 42 percent take aspirin. About 28 percent take both
antioxidants and aspirin.

“Vitamin E was the most common antioxidant vitamin taken, most often at a daily dose of 400 IU (international units).”

Perhaps this is because they are aware of the properly done studies that showed the good results in prevention of heart attacks, like the study reported in the New England Journal of Medicine.

Patients studied - “…39,910 U.S. male health professionals 40 to 75 years of age who were free of diagnosed coronary heart disease, diabetes,”

They achieved – “…lower risk of coronary disease among men with higher intakes of vitamin E…”

The results – “…provide evidence of an association between a high intake of vitamin E and a lower risk of coronary heart disease in men.”

What was surprising was that about 40% of Cardiologists recommend Vitamin E supplements, which is much higher than family physicians.

Many physicians may not say to take vitamins and or herbs but - Do As They Do, Not As They Say. Take supplements if you need them.