Herbal remedies are the unregulated Wild West of medicine on clarkhoward.com

Are you among the 80% of Americans who takes an herbal remedy? Staffers recently suggested that Clark use Zicam when he was fighting a cold. (Editor's note: Zicam is a "homeopathic medicine" rather than an "herbal remedy," but Clark discussed his experience with it for illustrative purposes.)

People talk about Zicam like it's almost a religious experience! In fact, the consumer champ was floored when he went to the store and found the entire Zicam section was thinned out after a sale. The basic product claim here is that Zicam is supposed to shorten the length of a cold and reduce its severity.

But many claims made by herbal remedies are generally not verifiable. The Government Accountability Office has found there's a real problem here. Companies are not required to tell the FDA what ingredients they use; they're only required to report if someone is hospitalized or killed by their product -- after the fact!

USA TODAY now reports that the Center for Science in the Public Interest wants manufacturers to verify what's in their herbal remedies.

This is an industry that tried to self-regulate with the United States Pharmacopeia (USP), but by and large manufacturers still say anything they want about their products. This is like the Wild West of medicine. (Editor's note: You can learn more about herbal remedies through the federal government's Medline Plus website.)

Clark believes there are some folk remedies that could help certain people with certain conditions. But the problem is who and what can you believe when there's no cop on the beat?

Meanwhile, be sure to tell your doctor what you're taking in the way of herbal remedies so they can be aware of possible interactions with traditional medicine.

What others are saying

herbal combination remedies
Multiple combination herbal remedies work very well for long term treatment of conditions and cost a fraction of prescription medication. Prescription medications work very well for acute conditions and reduction of symptoms.

Why not use both for what they work best at...the only problem is that the pharmaceutical companies will make significantly less money. Using a combination of herbs to target an misfunctioning organ or tissue works well early in the condition. Prescription medications are often used long term, and often don't more than cover up a symptom. Would you wish to force your kidneys to work harder and have reduced function with a prescription diuretic, or would you like to have healthier kidney function with an herbal diuretic and increased function with the herbal remedy?

I have several condition and us multi-herb combination capsules to improve my condition (gout, diabetes,high blood pressure, enlarged prostate) and they all seem to work, each at about $5 a month...less than a co-pay for prescription medications.
By don stover @ 04/04/09 05:27:13 PMreport abuse
Closest to nature is best
Yeah Kyle and Joseph! All those artificial chemicals in the "regular" drugs---and that's supposed to be okay? To unbalance your whole system, go against nature and the very molecules you are made of? As organic creatures that we are, we need to be as close to nature as possible,which is always preferable to plastics, synthetics, dyes,etc.
By Dott @ 03/25/09 03:26:36 AMreport abuse
Herbal vs Pharma.....balance
First of all unless your a MD, you need to really know what is wrong with your body (not talking about the common cold - Zicam is great). Herb shops just like pharmacy companies are selling, that's what they do. Don't like the incense and supposed natural essence fool you while visiting any "natural or herb" place of business. They are their to make money just like the drug companies. I think there is a balance here - there are health issues that Pharmaceuticls help emmensely and herbs couldn't touch. And, they are probably some herbs or natural medicines that can help -BUT...don't depend on the herb seller to be your doctor. Also, there are some herb type medicines that are very dangerous ie: St. John's Wart. I read and head of numerous cases where people have self medicated with this, for depression (I think) and the results were close to dissasterous. Again, we need to use our HEADS and be BALANCED and feel comfortable in saying YES and NO when it comes to what we put in our body. Lastly, DIET- what we eat and drink, makes or breaks our health much of the time.
By Christine @ 03/23/09 03:35:20 PMreport abuse
ingredients testing
There is a wonderful group of people at ConsumerLab.com which has been testing and reporting for years. They test stated doses as well as for contaminants. This is the only reliable alternative I've seen to venturing in completely unprotected and uninformed....
By Whitney Miller @ 03/23/09 02:50:14 PMreport abuse
herbal remedies
I have used Zicam for years with excellent results compared to my history of colds without Zicam. Most other alternatives are ignored.
By melinda jones @ 03/23/09 01:58:27 PMreport abuse
"Alternatives" to what?
1. Western medicine is but one philosophy of healthcare, and it's basis is on treating symptoms, (which is tends to do quite effectively).
2. It is only ONE philosophy, and it's relatively new.
3. Herbal medicine has existed almost as long a humankind, itself. The fact that we haven't yet discovered each component of each and every herb is no reason to disregard it.
4. Usually, when an herb is considered "dangerous" it's only because it undermines the efficacy of or interacts poorly with a pharmaceutical drug. But it's never the pharmaceutical drug that is called into question - it's always the herb.
5. Since when have we believed that the chemistry lab of pharmaceuticals is more helpful, safe, and beneficial than plants?
6. When you add up the annual number of deaths due to pharmaceutical drugs, along with the annual deaths due to medical errors, Western medicine becomes darn near the leading cause of death in America, according to the Journal of the American Medical Association. (But let even ONE death occur from herbal medicine, and you can bet that the herb in question will be yanked from the shelves within a month. But with drugs? Who knows?)
7. As a former pharmaceutical rep and chemist, I can agree with an earlier statement which, in effect, said that some herbs don't work. Of course not! Name ANY medicinal substance that works every single time! Can't be done. In oncology, we were excited if we had a chemo drug work even 20% of the time! Why doesn't anyone ever call chemo into question, though? Even aspirin doesn't work ALL of the time for EVERY person.

OBVIOUSLY, when we on the "natural" side use that term, we aren't saying that EVERYTHING natural is good or safe. Nobody is recommending poison ivy or hemlock, for example. But, with thousands of years of use, is anyone still wondering which plants are safe and which aren't? I think we're past that now. Let's agree together that herbs aren't patentable, and as such, are going to be the target of pharmaceutical company's scorn. Fine. Compete. But do so on the merits - and demerits - of your own side-effect riddled products. Demonize herbs and you're demonizing nature, itself.
By Kyle @ 03/23/09 12:46:58 PMreport abuse
FDA approved - bleah!
The FDA is no sure fire way to safe meds. How many lawsuits are there out there against drug companies that have been approved by the FDA now and in the past? How about AMA - how many lawsuits? Both change their approvals on a regular basis on what is good and what isn't. How many people have died from drugs approved by the FDA?

The FDA, drug companies, doctors (not all), etc. are after the almighty dollar. Why do you think there are so many more diabetics or folks with high blood pressure? It's because they keep lowering the so-called, "good range" that we're all supposed to fall into. To heck with individuality when it comes to people’s health, we’re all supposed to feel the same, look the same, and weigh the same, NOT.

It's all about staying informed and yes this has to be done by yourself, not the government, not your doctor, not your neighbor, etc. If you want to stay healthy then do your own research - take some personal responsibility.

OK, off the podium I step – but I raise my hand to better-informed people and better health! Good luck!
By Terri @ 03/23/09 12:33:49 PMreport abuse
Zicam & herbal medicine
I have had very good results from using Zicam but you must use it when there is just a hint of a cold(I prefer the nasal swabs). It stops it dead along with Cold-eze cough drops.I also have used alternative medicine(Traditional Chinese Medicine) & herbs for 15 years and saved the insurance companies a lot of money-they should be paying me. Dr. Wu at East West Healthcare has my complete respect. Her herbs and acupuncture has keep me happy and well. Don't knock properly prescribed herb. I think our western doctors need to broaden their education. Properly prescribed herbs refresh and strengthen the body "no" side effects. You actually feel no drug hangover and they do not exacerbate or create a problem in another part of the body quite unlike the synthetic drugs tend to do.
By Mary @ 03/23/09 12:24:20 PMreport abuse
Alternatives forever!
I'm not sure what Zicam is (I think it's a zinc-based cold remedy) but zinc tablets (yes, Clark, they are considered to be alternative medicine) have worked for me for years against colds.

So has echanacea for colds, goldenseal for viruses, calendula for bruises and scrapes and burns, arnica montana (homeopathic) for any kind of trauma, and many other "alternative" remedies.

Up until the American Medical Association waged war against the homeopathic-trained physicians in the 1930s, there were nearly 20 hospitals, clinic, and schools of homeopathy in the U.S.

Why are homeopathic medcine deemed "safe and effective"? Because some of the founders of the FDA were homeopathic physicians!

Folks, our mass medicine-big pharmaceutical healthcare failure, like the rest of U.S. life, isn't about health care but about one thing only:

You gue$$ed it!
By Joseph @ 03/16/09 12:23:25 AMreport abuse
Zicam studies prove effectiveness
Before dismissing the effectiveness of Zicam/zinc, you may want to read the results from the clinical trials. Numerous scientific studies over the years show conclusively that it works to shorten colds. Don't let the Big Pharma propaganda machines prevent you from doing your own research.

Here's a direct link to study results, from webMD: http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/491043_6
By Tom R. @ 03/13/09 03:37:29 PMreport abuse
Zicam worked for me
I was dubious too, but decided to try it. I had a cold and immediately started taking it, my cold was not very bad and it only lasted a mere 4 days. I believe it does work because it worked for me.
By Pat @ 03/13/09 03:16:47 PMreport abuse
FDA = Big Pharma
There's a LOT to be said about this but basically FDA is bought and paid for by Big Pharma lobbyists. The favor-trading and cushy pharma jobs for ex-FDA are criminal. Their mission is to bring down anything natural and get the country on a steady diet of DRUGS...poisons. Did you know only the USA and Great Britain allow Pharma ads on TV and radio?

Natural solutions to health problems of ALL kinds are routinely suppressed. Even FDA's own staff are filing complaints about it.
"FDA Scientists Accuse Agency of Corruption, Intimidation"
http://www.naturalnews.com/025827.html

Big Pharma also wants lots of kids on mind-bending Psych Drugs, so the future population will be easier to control. Folks better wake up and speak out.
By Keith @ 03/13/09 09:36:06 AMreport abuse
herbal remedies
Oh yes by the way for those of you touting herbal remedies as the best thing ever, should not be regulated. Remember Phen Phen? Just because something is natural does not mean it is safe. There are plenty of natural things that come from natural sources that you would not want to take. Nature has its poisons too. The FDA has failed in some respects but remember that people are clamoring for instant cures to all that ails us. A lot of complaints have to do with how long it takes for new drugs to come to market that could possibly cure a dreadful disease. Occasionally something slips through and the results are terrible. So the FDA has to balance the need for new drugs that may help people with a health condition with safety concerns. Herbal product producers only have to come up with a new concoction that may or may not work and may or may not be safe. They don't have to prove anything in advance. They can put their product on the market, make their money, and pocket the profits. If problems arise later or the product is later shown to be ineffective they can simply disappear.
By Mary @ 03/13/09 01:31:44 AMreport abuse
Zicam
Zicam is a HOMEOPATHIC "remedy" in other words it is a SUGAR PILL. Absolutely worthless except as a placebo. Those of you who claim it worked for you remember the old saying "treat a cold and it will go away in 7 days, leave it alone and it will hang around for a week." Sure there are a lot of problems in the pharmaceutical industry but paying good money for a sugar pill is just a waste of money. If you don't want to take conventional medicine for your cold, fine, it will go away on its own and you will have saved lots of money by not buying Zicam either. Go to Quackwatch.com to learn the truth about homeopathy and a few other worthless remedies.
By Mary @ 03/13/09 01:18:16 AMreport abuse
drugs
The FDA has been in charge of keeping us healthy for 40 or 50 years. During that time there have been massive increases in various sicknesses such as cancer, diabetes, obesity, and tremendous increases in new diseases such as autism, AIDS, and Legionare's disease. Today more than 80 percent of people over the age of 50 are taking some form of prescription drugs. Ther are many countries which have a longer life expenctancy than the USA. Childhodd mortality rates are lower in America than a number of other countries. The average American spends $8,000 per year. The AMA admits that modern medicine and doctors are the third or fourth leading cause of death in the USA. I am 70 years old, work full time, take no drugs and use herbal products. God save me fro the modern American Medicine Man!
By stringman @ 03/13/09 12:00:07 AMreport abuse
I'm not surprised that Clark would trash Herbal remedies
The same man that eats fast food .
By Dave F @ 03/12/09 06:32:03 PMreport abuse
FDA
Did you read the article on lef.org? It's not from a while ago. It's dated March 2009. As reported in the "Associated Press just last year, it was revealed that a record number of FDA employees are leaving the agency to go to work for pharmaceutical companies." You DO realize that it's in the FDA employees' best financial interest to keep the drug companies happy since they are employing them (and much more lucratively than the FDA). I believe most people would call that a very big financial conflict of interest. Also, if you would objectively look at lef.org you would see that they never hesitate to recommend a pharmaceutical drug when it is safe, in fact so much so that they even have their own pharmacy. I understand your point of view because it comes from what is taught in medical schools which are funded in large part by pharmaceutical companies. The FDA has no interest in biting the hand that feeds them. Try to step back and look at it objectively instead of through the eyes of a medical student and you will see what lef.org is talking about. They are only pointing out the facts.
By Sharon @ 03/12/09 05:45:09 PMreport abuse
lef.org
Uhh... you realize that site sells supplements and it is in their best financial interests to slander the FDA, right? The FDA might have problems, but it doesn't have any financial (at least currently) conflicts of interest. This was from awhile ago, but the LEF doesn't come off looking too good in this article (not published by the FDA, by the way).
By Medical Student @ 03/12/09 05:03:38 PMreport abuse
"FDA Approved" Usually Makes Me Run The Other Way
It amazes me that people get so upset about supplements when "FDA Approved" drugs kill thousands of people each year. If you really want to spend your time doing something constructive, get upset about what the government is allowing to pass as "safe" in this country. http://www.lef.org/magazine/mag2009/mar2009_FDA-Ending-the-Atrocities_01.htm
By Sharon @ 03/12/09 03:23:43 PMreport abuse
Jamaica's remedy
I just got back from a Cruise to Jamaica and all the locals there swear that smoking marijuana cures everything. :)
By Melissa @ 03/12/09 02:17:52 PMreport abuse
More or less an echo...
Supplements can be benefical, but you want to make sure you're using them correctly, just like any other medicine. You wouldn't take chemotherapy to fix broken bones! You also want to make sure you're getting what you're paying for, ie purity, quantity, efficacy, etc etc. Zicam is essentially a different formulation of zinc. There are currently more studies against zinc than for it, regarding its use as a cold remedy. However, I'm not aware of how many or of what quality Zicam studies possess, but there could be something to it. Zinc is supposed to inhibit viral replication, but whether or not you can achieve this effect with a pill is unknown (to me, at least). So in the end, be safe and be smart about anything you put into your body, be it vitamins, supplements, food, or even prescription meds. If your doctor refuses to discuss medications with you, find another doctor!
By Medical Student @ 03/12/09 01:30:15 PMreport abuse
herbs and vitamins
As below, buy your product from a phamaceutical grade distributor and an herbalist or special dietician. There are many well produced products here in the USA, they do not have to be imported. They will cost more than the discount stores.. Purity is evaluated the dosage is accurate from pharmaceutical products. We dispense many from my office and I help the patient chose. Labels must be checked for overlapping and dosages and should be coordinated with all the other products taken. They should be evaluated regularly and rotated according to changes in the patients health. Some people respond to Red Yeast Rice and some repond to niacin to reduce cholesterol. There are 2 other products that will also help lower cholesterol. Tests should be done to check to see which works best---it will save you money if you only need one product. Try not to do the shot gun approach---5 products and the more the merrier. P)lease have someone qualified to help you==naturopath, herbalist, nutritionist, dentist, chiropracter or other health care professional.
By Dr. Julian Gray @ 03/12/09 01:01:11 PMreport abuse
Herbal Remedies
Herbal medicine/remedies have been around alot longer than industrialized medicine. It has stood the test of time in countless countries around the world.
I discovered the benefits of using natural products long ago. There are reputable companies that have all their ingredients developed here in the US. Research, read labels, know what you are buying.
Herbal VS Drugs...
Take a good look at someone who is taking a great deal of prescribed meds and notice there are many things about them that changes physically due to taking a toxic mixture of many medicines- physical appearance changes, moods change, energy changes...as a culture, it is pounded into our brains everyday when we watch television- commercials telling us that this drug or that drug is the one we need to take to 'feel better'. Of course they also are kind enough to tell us about all the side effects of those drugs to help us be more 'aware'.
Hooey!
Drug companies are playing roulette with other people's bodies by testing whatever new drug is on the market!
Herbal supplements may not always intantly rid your body of what ails you but at least, they are safer and more natural than their pharmacized counterparts and....and many of them work without the ill effects that drugs have. Sure, some drugs save lives, but not without toxic consequences.
Yes, the herbal supplement industry should have to be more transparent and be regulated better, just like anything else we consume.
In the end, they should do studies that are not funded by drug companies and see who was right.
We all know it's all about the money.
By J. Miller @ 03/12/09 11:20:22 AMreport abuse
Herbal stuff is a hoax
Those herbal people are CRAZY. If big pharma were selling this stuff you would be OUTRAGED! The stuff is GARBAGE!
By kathy @ 03/12/09 09:42:57 AMreport abuse
You People are Nutts
Anyone that takes a folk remedy is playing Russian roulette with their health. The vast majority of supplements and ingredients for supplements come from the same country that spiked your pet food with melamine, spiked dried milk products with melamine, and contaiminated your Heparin blood thinner medication. There are few if any good scientific studies on these remedies and the claims are generally way overboard. They remind me of all the diet supplements and plans that people try over and over again with little or no success of losing weight.

Even those of us that avoid all herbal remedies still get hit will all the fortification of foods from bread to cereal to milk. There is no requirement of a country of origin with fortifications like Vitamin C. Companies are suppose to inspect the fortified product but most just open the bag and throw it into the mixing vat to make your cereal.

http://www.usatoday.com/news/health/2009-03-03-fda-supplements_N.htm

http://wozhouchem.en.chemnet.com/suppliers/product/1225960/Vitamin-A.html
By Ben @ 03/12/09 08:59:52 AMreport abuse
Snake Oil and Real Products
I'm a quality control chemist for a pharma company. My employment history has included food quality, forensic chemistry, pharma, and some nutraceutical chemistry.

Zicam is one product that does work, at least for me. While not a religious experience, my own data shows their label claims to be true.

Lots of herbal remedies aren't worth the starch used as a binder.

By the way, phenylephrine (commonly advertised as "PE") has the same effect on the human body as a placebo. Stick with pseudoephedrine for your decongestant, even if you have to stand in line to get it from behind the pharmacist's counter.
By Doug @ 03/11/09 09:19:29 PMreport abuse
Zicam
TO save money on Zicam, buy generic zinc tablets and place one under your tongue to dissolve. It tastes a little nasty, but does the same thing and costs a lot less.
By J. Scott Lewis, Ph.D. @ 03/11/09 07:46:20 PMreport abuse
Remedies
Clark, Hope you get this message. Individual's should be using someone recommended to them that make herbal tinctures, not jsut buying them off the shelf. They do work, I can attest to that. We americans can do so much for ourselves instead of being "drugged" by the doctors and the drug companies! Check it out herbal, etc. works! You know your body. Check with a doctor if you like but try the herbals if you can.
By Cheryl Closs @ 03/11/09 06:23:46 PMreport abuse
Zicam & Herbal Remedies
There were some obvious mistakes in the report today. First of all, Zicam is an over-the-counter medication and is approved by the FDA. Herbal remedies that make structural, not drug claims, do not have to be approved by the FDA.

The FDA under the 1993 DHSEA regulations considers all supplements food. All ingredients are approved by the FDA but not the formulations. People die everyday from the use and abuse of perscription drugs everyday. No one died last year from the use of supplements. A few years back some died from the abuse of Ephedra - but they were taking 20-30 times the daily recommended amount. People die from taking too much aspirin all the time.

The drug companies want control of the supplement industry because you could take a relatively cheap supplement today and turn it into a relatively expensive supplement. Science increasingly is on the side of supplements. The FDA is even admitting this.

Americans do not want the FDA to start approving supplements. It would take the industry back into the dark ages. There are crooks in the supplement industry just like any industry. All we need is the FDA to enforce the current regulations and insure all products are made in FDA sanctioned GMP labs and we will do just fine.

Clark needs a better eduction when he talks about supplements because every time I have heard him talk he makes multiple errors in his information sources as well as his conclusions.
By Steve Bruner @ 03/11/09 05:41:54 PMreport abuse
Zicam
Zicam is great. When I first tried it I was highly skeptical. But clearly it worked wonders. Within 48 hours my nasty cold was gone.

Clark seems to be implying that it does not work. I am telling you that it works like nothing I have ever tried before. Not vitamin C, nothing works near as well as Zinc. It works a lot better if you catch your cold in its early stages, but it always works!
By Buzz G @ 03/11/09 04:02:58 PMreport abuse

herbal combination remedies

Multiple combination herbal remedies work very well for long term treatment of conditions and cost a fraction of prescription medication. Prescription medications work very well for acute conditions and reduction of symptoms.

Why not use both for what they work best at...the only problem is that the pharmaceutical companies will make significantly less money. Using a combination of herbs to target an misfunctioning organ or tissue works well early in the condition. Prescription medications are often used long term, and often don't more than cover up a symptom. Would you wish to force your kidneys to work harder and have reduced function with a prescription diuretic, or would you like to have healthier kidney function with an herbal diuretic and increased function with the herbal remedy?

I have several condition and us multi-herb combination capsules to improve my condition (gout, diabetes,high blood pressure, enlarged prostate) and they all seem to work, each at about $5 a month...less than a co-pay for prescription medications.

By don stover @ 04/04/09 05:27:13 PMreport abuse

Closest to nature is best

Yeah Kyle and Joseph! All those artificial chemicals in the "regular" drugs---and that's supposed to be okay? To unbalance your whole system, go against nature and the very molecules you are made of? As organic creatures that we are, we need to be as close to nature as possible,which is always preferable to plastics, synthetics, dyes,etc.

By Dott @ 03/25/09 03:26:36 AMreport abuse

Herbal vs Pharma.....balance

First of all unless your a MD, you need to really know what is wrong with your body (not talking about the common cold - Zicam is great). Herb shops just like pharmacy companies are selling, that's what they do. Don't like the incense and supposed natural essence fool you while visiting any "natural or herb" place of business. They are their to make money just like the drug companies. I think there is a balance here - there are health issues that Pharmaceuticls help emmensely and herbs couldn't touch. And, they are probably some herbs or natural medicines that can help -BUT...don't depend on the herb seller to be your doctor. Also, there are some herb type medicines that are very dangerous ie: St. John's Wart. I read and head of numerous cases where people have self medicated with this, for depression (I think) and the results were close to dissasterous. Again, we need to use our HEADS and be BALANCED and feel comfortable in saying YES and NO when it comes to what we put in our body. Lastly, DIET- what we eat and drink, makes or breaks our health much of the time.

By Christine @ 03/23/09 03:35:20 PMreport abuse

ingredients testing

There is a wonderful group of people at ConsumerLab.com which has been testing and reporting for years. They test stated doses as well as for contaminants. This is the only reliable alternative I've seen to venturing in completely unprotected and uninformed....

By Whitney Miller @ 03/23/09 02:50:14 PMreport abuse

herbal remedies

I have used Zicam for years with excellent results compared to my history of colds without Zicam. Most other alternatives are ignored.

By melinda jones @ 03/23/09 01:58:27 PMreport abuse

"Alternatives" to what?

1. Western medicine is but one philosophy of healthcare, and it's basis is on treating symptoms, (which is tends to do quite effectively).
2. It is only ONE philosophy, and it's relatively new.
3. Herbal medicine has existed almost as long a humankind, itself. The fact that we haven't yet discovered each component of each and every herb is no reason to disregard it.
4. Usually, when an herb is considered "dangerous" it's only because it undermines the efficacy of or interacts poorly with a pharmaceutical drug. But it's never the pharmaceutical drug that is called into question - it's always the herb.
5. Since when have we believed that the chemistry lab of pharmaceuticals is more helpful, safe, and beneficial than plants?
6. When you add up the annual number of deaths due to pharmaceutical drugs, along with the annual deaths due to medical errors, Western medicine becomes darn near the leading cause of death in America, according to the Journal of the American Medical Association. (But let even ONE death occur from herbal medicine, and you can bet that the herb in question will be yanked from the shelves within a month. But with drugs? Who knows?)
7. As a former pharmaceutical rep and chemist, I can agree with an earlier statement which, in effect, said that some herbs don't work. Of course not! Name ANY medicinal substance that works every single time! Can't be done. In oncology, we were excited if we had a chemo drug work even 20% of the time! Why doesn't anyone ever call chemo into question, though? Even aspirin doesn't work ALL of the time for EVERY person.

OBVIOUSLY, when we on the "natural" side use that term, we aren't saying that EVERYTHING natural is good or safe. Nobody is recommending poison ivy or hemlock, for example. But, with thousands of years of use, is anyone still wondering which plants are safe and which aren't? I think we're past that now. Let's agree together that herbs aren't patentable, and as such, are going to be the target of pharmaceutical company's scorn. Fine. Compete. But do so on the merits - and demerits - of your own side-effect riddled products. Demonize herbs and you're demonizing nature, itself.

By Kyle @ 03/23/09 12:46:58 PMreport abuse

FDA approved - bleah!

The FDA is no sure fire way to safe meds. How many lawsuits are there out there against drug companies that have been approved by the FDA now and in the past? How about AMA - how many lawsuits? Both change their approvals on a regular basis on what is good and what isn't. How many people have died from drugs approved by the FDA?

The FDA, drug companies, doctors (not all), etc. are after the almighty dollar. Why do you think there are so many more diabetics or folks with high blood pressure? It's because they keep lowering the so-called, "good range" that we're all supposed to fall into. To heck with individuality when it comes to people’s health, we’re all supposed to feel the same, look the same, and weigh the same, NOT.

It's all about staying informed and yes this has to be done by yourself, not the government, not your doctor, not your neighbor, etc. If you want to stay healthy then do your own research - take some personal responsibility.

OK, off the podium I step – but I raise my hand to better-informed people and better health! Good luck!

By Terri @ 03/23/09 12:33:49 PMreport abuse

Zicam & herbal medicine

I have had very good results from using Zicam but you must use it when there is just a hint of a cold(I prefer the nasal swabs). It stops it dead along with Cold-eze cough drops.I also have used alternative medicine(Traditional Chinese Medicine) & herbs for 15 years and saved the insurance companies a lot of money-they should be paying me. Dr. Wu at East West Healthcare has my complete respect. Her herbs and acupuncture has keep me happy and well. Don't knock properly prescribed herb. I think our western doctors need to broaden their education. Properly prescribed herbs refresh and strengthen the body "no" side effects. You actually feel no drug hangover and they do not exacerbate or create a problem in another part of the body quite unlike the synthetic drugs tend to do.

By Mary @ 03/23/09 12:24:20 PMreport abuse

Alternatives forever!

I'm not sure what Zicam is (I think it's a zinc-based cold remedy) but zinc tablets (yes, Clark, they are considered to be alternative medicine) have worked for me for years against colds.

So has echanacea for colds, goldenseal for viruses, calendula for bruises and scrapes and burns, arnica montana (homeopathic) for any kind of trauma, and many other "alternative" remedies.

Up until the American Medical Association waged war against the homeopathic-trained physicians in the 1930s, there were nearly 20 hospitals, clinic, and schools of homeopathy in the U.S.

Why are homeopathic medcine deemed "safe and effective"? Because some of the founders of the FDA were homeopathic physicians!

Folks, our mass medicine-big pharmaceutical healthcare failure, like the rest of U.S. life, isn't about health care but about one thing only:

You gue$$ed it!

By Joseph @ 03/16/09 12:23:25 AMreport abuse

Zicam studies prove effectiveness

Before dismissing the effectiveness of Zicam/zinc, you may want to read the results from the clinical trials. Numerous scientific studies over the years show conclusively that it works to shorten colds. Don't let the Big Pharma propaganda machines prevent you from doing your own research.

Here's a direct link to study results, from webMD: http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/491043_6

By Tom R. @ 03/13/09 03:37:29 PMreport abuse

Zicam worked for me

I was dubious too, but decided to try it. I had a cold and immediately started taking it, my cold was not very bad and it only lasted a mere 4 days. I believe it does work because it worked for me.

By Pat @ 03/13/09 03:16:47 PMreport abuse

FDA = Big Pharma

There's a LOT to be said about this but basically FDA is bought and paid for by Big Pharma lobbyists. The favor-trading and cushy pharma jobs for ex-FDA are criminal. Their mission is to bring down anything natural and get the country on a steady diet of DRUGS...poisons. Did you know only the USA and Great Britain allow Pharma ads on TV and radio?

Natural solutions to health problems of ALL kinds are routinely suppressed. Even FDA's own staff are filing complaints about it.
"FDA Scientists Accuse Agency of Corruption, Intimidation"
http://www.naturalnews.com/025827.html

Big Pharma also wants lots of kids on mind-bending Psych Drugs, so the future population will be easier to control. Folks better wake up and speak out.

By Keith @ 03/13/09 09:36:06 AMreport abuse

Oh yes by the way for those of you touting herbal remedies as the best thing ever, should not be regulated. Remember Phen Phen? Just because something is natural does not mean it is safe. There are plenty of natural things that come from natural sources that you would not want to take. Nature has its poisons too. The FDA has failed in some respects but remember that people are clamoring for instant cures to all that ails us. A lot of complaints have to do with how long it takes for new drugs to come to market that could possibly cure a dreadful disease. Occasionally something slips through and the results are terrible. So the FDA has to balance the need for new drugs that may help people with a health condition with safety concerns. Herbal product producers only have to come up with a new concoction that may or may not work and may or may not be safe. They don't have to prove anything in advance. They can put their product on the market, make their money, and pocket the profits. If problems arise later or the product is later shown to be ineffective they can simply disappear.

By Mary @ 03/13/09 01:31:44 AMreport abuse

Zicam

Zicam is a HOMEOPATHIC "remedy" in other words it is a SUGAR PILL. Absolutely worthless except as a placebo. Those of you who claim it worked for you remember the old saying "treat a cold and it will go away in 7 days, leave it alone and it will hang around for a week." Sure there are a lot of problems in the pharmaceutical industry but paying good money for a sugar pill is just a waste of money. If you don't want to take conventional medicine for your cold, fine, it will go away on its own and you will have saved lots of money by not buying Zicam either. Go to Quackwatch.com to learn the truth about homeopathy and a few other worthless remedies.

By Mary @ 03/13/09 01:18:16 AMreport abuse

drugs

The FDA has been in charge of keeping us healthy for 40 or 50 years. During that time there have been massive increases in various sicknesses such as cancer, diabetes, obesity, and tremendous increases in new diseases such as autism, AIDS, and Legionare's disease. Today more than 80 percent of people over the age of 50 are taking some form of prescription drugs. Ther are many countries which have a longer life expenctancy than the USA. Childhodd mortality rates are lower in America than a number of other countries. The average American spends $8,000 per year. The AMA admits that modern medicine and doctors are the third or fourth leading cause of death in the USA. I am 70 years old, work full time, take no drugs and use herbal products. God save me fro the modern American Medicine Man!

By stringman @ 03/13/09 12:00:07 AMreport abuse

I'm not surprised that Clark would trash Herbal remedies

The same man that eats fast food .

By Dave F @ 03/12/09 06:32:03 PMreport abuse

FDA

Did you read the article on lef.org? It's not from a while ago. It's dated March 2009. As reported in the "Associated Press just last year, it was revealed that a record number of FDA employees are leaving the agency to go to work for pharmaceutical companies." You DO realize that it's in the FDA employees' best financial interest to keep the drug companies happy since they are employing them (and much more lucratively than the FDA). I believe most people would call that a very big financial conflict of interest. Also, if you would objectively look at lef.org you would see that they never hesitate to recommend a pharmaceutical drug when it is safe, in fact so much so that they even have their own pharmacy. I understand your point of view because it comes from what is taught in medical schools which are funded in large part by pharmaceutical companies. The FDA has no interest in biting the hand that feeds them. Try to step back and look at it objectively instead of through the eyes of a medical student and you will see what lef.org is talking about. They are only pointing out the facts.

By Sharon @ 03/12/09 05:45:09 PMreport abuse

lef.org

Uhh... you realize that site sells supplements and it is in their best financial interests to slander the FDA, right? The FDA might have problems, but it doesn't have any financial (at least currently) conflicts of interest. This was from awhile ago, but the LEF doesn't come off looking too good in this article (not published by the FDA, by the way).

By Medical Student @ 03/12/09 05:03:38 PMreport abuse

"FDA Approved" Usually Makes Me Run The Other Way

It amazes me that people get so upset about supplements when "FDA Approved" drugs kill thousands of people each year. If you really want to spend your time doing something constructive, get upset about what the government is allowing to pass as "safe" in this country. http://www.lef.org/magazine/mag2009/mar2009_FDA-Ending-the-Atrocities_01.htm

By Sharon @ 03/12/09 03:23:43 PMreport abuse

Jamaica's remedy

I just got back from a Cruise to Jamaica and all the locals there swear that smoking marijuana cures everything. :)

By Melissa @ 03/12/09 02:17:52 PMreport abuse

More or less an echo...

Supplements can be benefical, but you want to make sure you're using them correctly, just like any other medicine. You wouldn't take chemotherapy to fix broken bones! You also want to make sure you're getting what you're paying for, ie purity, quantity, efficacy, etc etc. Zicam is essentially a different formulation of zinc. There are currently more studies against zinc than for it, regarding its use as a cold remedy. However, I'm not aware of how many or of what quality Zicam studies possess, but there could be something to it. Zinc is supposed to inhibit viral replication, but whether or not you can achieve this effect with a pill is unknown (to me, at least). So in the end, be safe and be smart about anything you put into your body, be it vitamins, supplements, food, or even prescription meds. If your doctor refuses to discuss medications with you, find another doctor!

By Medical Student @ 03/12/09 01:30:15 PMreport abuse

herbs and vitamins

As below, buy your product from a phamaceutical grade distributor and an herbalist or special dietician. There are many well produced products here in the USA, they do not have to be imported. They will cost more than the discount stores.. Purity is evaluated the dosage is accurate from pharmaceutical products. We dispense many from my office and I help the patient chose. Labels must be checked for overlapping and dosages and should be coordinated with all the other products taken. They should be evaluated regularly and rotated according to changes in the patients health. Some people respond to Red Yeast Rice and some repond to niacin to reduce cholesterol. There are 2 other products that will also help lower cholesterol. Tests should be done to check to see which works best---it will save you money if you only need one product. Try not to do the shot gun approach---5 products and the more the merrier. P)lease have someone qualified to help you==naturopath, herbalist, nutritionist, dentist, chiropracter or other health care professional.

By Dr. Julian Gray @ 03/12/09 01:01:11 PMreport abuse

Herbal Remedies

Herbal medicine/remedies have been around alot longer than industrialized medicine. It has stood the test of time in countless countries around the world.
I discovered the benefits of using natural products long ago. There are reputable companies that have all their ingredients developed here in the US. Research, read labels, know what you are buying.
Herbal VS Drugs...
Take a good look at someone who is taking a great deal of prescribed meds and notice there are many things about them that changes physically due to taking a toxic mixture of many medicines- physical appearance changes, moods change, energy changes...as a culture, it is pounded into our brains everyday when we watch television- commercials telling us that this drug or that drug is the one we need to take to 'feel better'. Of course they also are kind enough to tell us about all the side effects of those drugs to help us be more 'aware'.
Hooey!
Drug companies are playing roulette with other people's bodies by testing whatever new drug is on the market!
Herbal supplements may not always intantly rid your body of what ails you but at least, they are safer and more natural than their pharmacized counterparts and....and many of them work without the ill effects that drugs have. Sure, some drugs save lives, but not without toxic consequences.
Yes, the herbal supplement industry should have to be more transparent and be regulated better, just like anything else we consume.
In the end, they should do studies that are not funded by drug companies and see who was right.
We all know it's all about the money.

By J. Miller @ 03/12/09 11:20:22 AMreport abuse

Herbal stuff is a hoax

Those herbal people are CRAZY. If big pharma were selling this stuff you would be OUTRAGED! The stuff is GARBAGE!

By kathy @ 03/12/09 09:42:57 AMreport abuse

You People are Nutts

Anyone that takes a folk remedy is playing Russian roulette with their health. The vast majority of supplements and ingredients for supplements come from the same country that spiked your pet food with melamine, spiked dried milk products with melamine, and contaiminated your Heparin blood thinner medication. There are few if any good scientific studies on these remedies and the claims are generally way overboard. They remind me of all the diet supplements and plans that people try over and over again with little or no success of losing weight.

Even those of us that avoid all herbal remedies still get hit will all the fortification of foods from bread to cereal to milk. There is no requirement of a country of origin with fortifications like Vitamin C. Companies are suppose to inspect the fortified product but most just open the bag and throw it into the mixing vat to make your cereal.

http://www.usatoday.com/news/health/2009-03-03-fda-supplements_N.htm

http://wozhouchem.en.chemnet.com/suppliers/product/1225960/Vitamin-A.html

By Ben @ 03/12/09 08:59:52 AMreport abuse

Snake Oil and Real Products

I'm a quality control chemist for a pharma company. My employment history has included food quality, forensic chemistry, pharma, and some nutraceutical chemistry.

Zicam is one product that does work, at least for me. While not a religious experience, my own data shows their label claims to be true.

Lots of herbal remedies aren't worth the starch used as a binder.

By the way, phenylephrine (commonly advertised as "PE") has the same effect on the human body as a placebo. Stick with pseudoephedrine for your decongestant, even if you have to stand in line to get it from behind the pharmacist's counter.

By Doug @ 03/11/09 09:19:29 PMreport abuse

TO save money on Zicam, buy generic zinc tablets and place one under your tongue to dissolve. It tastes a little nasty, but does the same thing and costs a lot less.

By J. Scott Lewis, Ph.D. @ 03/11/09 07:46:20 PMreport abuse

Remedies

Clark, Hope you get this message. Individual's should be using someone recommended to them that make herbal tinctures, not jsut buying them off the shelf. They do work, I can attest to that. We americans can do so much for ourselves instead of being "drugged" by the doctors and the drug companies! Check it out herbal, etc. works! You know your body. Check with a doctor if you like but try the herbals if you can.

By Cheryl Closs @ 03/11/09 06:23:46 PMreport abuse

Zicam & Herbal Remedies

There were some obvious mistakes in the report today. First of all, Zicam is an over-the-counter medication and is approved by the FDA. Herbal remedies that make structural, not drug claims, do not have to be approved by the FDA.

The FDA under the 1993 DHSEA regulations considers all supplements food. All ingredients are approved by the FDA but not the formulations. People die everyday from the use and abuse of perscription drugs everyday. No one died last year from the use of supplements. A few years back some died from the abuse of Ephedra - but they were taking 20-30 times the daily recommended amount. People die from taking too much aspirin all the time.

The drug companies want control of the supplement industry because you could take a relatively cheap supplement today and turn it into a relatively expensive supplement. Science increasingly is on the side of supplements. The FDA is even admitting this.

Americans do not want the FDA to start approving supplements. It would take the industry back into the dark ages. There are crooks in the supplement industry just like any industry. All we need is the FDA to enforce the current regulations and insure all products are made in FDA sanctioned GMP labs and we will do just fine.

Clark needs a better eduction when he talks about supplements because every time I have heard him talk he makes multiple errors in his information sources as well as his conclusions.

By Steve Bruner @ 03/11/09 05:41:54 PMreport abuse

Zicam is great. When I first tried it I was highly skeptical. But clearly it worked wonders. Within 48 hours my nasty cold was gone.

Clark seems to be implying that it does not work. I am telling you that it works like nothing I have ever tried before. Not vitamin C, nothing works near as well as Zinc. It works a lot better if you catch your cold in its early stages, but it always works!

By Buzz G @ 03/11/09 04:02:58 PMreport abuse

Listen Live:

Clark On Demand:

Clark's Advice:

Consumer Action Center:

Quick Links:

Clark Media:

Call The Show:

Mar 11, 2009 -- Herbal remedies are the unregulated Wild West of medicine

Add your comment

What others are saying