The Government needs to regulate herbal supplements

Yes, I agree yet, PBS should NOT have fired Juan Williams for comments made on Fox!

I thought he worked for NPR.

I don't think NPR wants to encourage bigotry in America.

That and it sounded to me like he broke the terms of his contract with them which I'm guessing required him to not be a bigot on other stations. Contracts have to be read so carefully!

He was otherwise rather not bigoted. It's a shame he decided to jump on the right wing "bash Muslims" bandwagon going on right now.

He has a right to voice his opinion on an issue if he is NOT acting as a Journalist! What he said was no more bigoted than sharing fear of any other entity which has been associated with violence!

Jonice is correct. Being afraid for you life is not being a bigot if all the criteria of the past has shown us that it might be a wise thing to be fearful for your life .... I'm leary of them just as I'm leary of pit bulls. You just never know anymore .....! AND I am not a bigot! I don't like beets either!

I do not agree with his feelings or opinion, I do believe that anyone who is NOT on the payroll, as in representing the company they work for should be able to share their opinion, even if I disagree!

Juan Williams works for several media outlets yet, NPR\PBS is the only outlet which reacted to the issue.

Here's a nice discussion on that issue, if you want to dive in:

http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474978622537

the problem is that government regulators are stupid -- we'll end up with "herbal" supplements made from chemicals synthesized in a lab -- I grow my own herbs whenever possible

The government regulators would not replace the herbs with chemicals from a lab. The regulators would just randomly test the product to make sure it contains what it says it does.

Growing your own is the only way you'll not get ripped off, in these times.

they certainly need to make sure consumers are aware

I hate it when they make billions selling us all tea bags of lawn grass, and junk!!!

I disagree. Too many herbs and supplements are being ban by the government. Since most are ban, due the drug companies wanting us to buy their expense and sometime very dangerous drugs.

Yes sometime we are taken. but it should be up to us to investigate and research the products.

How are you going to test the DNA of a product?

From what I've read in the past, Peter, the Germans did a lot of research and documentation of herbs back in the late 1800's through the early 1900's when they were looked to as having the highest standards of medicine. So the knowledge exists.

Government regulation of herbs is difficult because many of them can be grown in pots on window sills and people will eat or smoke anything when it comes down to battling ills.

If you grow your own herbs then you don't need the government regulation. You know what it is (unless you're growing a copycat looking weed by mistake). And you also have "fresh" (I bet fresh is always better, too).

Like making your own sausage! Ha ha. I bet people are glad that is government regulated!

I bet with the internet we can access the German research.

There's where it could get sticky, Peter. If the government regulates too much, then there would probably be a class of herbs you could grow, and a class you couldn't. Then there are herbs from other parts of the world that can't be grown but people like for the effects. I enjoy Kava Kava. There was talk of severely restricting it because some of us can get to feeling pretty damn happy on it. I can't grow it here.

It sounds like the very opposite of what solves the problem best - just grow your own!

But some people can't.


I never heard of Kava Kava.

Kava kava is from the Pacific islands and has been used there for centuries. It helps some people relax. My friend and I tried it years ago and it did nothing for her, but it kept me from killing. ;-)

I have another friend who gave up marijuana because Kava made her feel even better.

And guess what I read about it at wikipedia:

"Safety concerns have been raised over liver toxicity largely due to the use of stems and leaves by supplement makers, as opposed to solely the root of the plant as dictated by traditional uses"

If it was regulated then it could be safe.

Oh yes, as with all herbs, one must educate self on the risks. I looked into before I took it. Never have had a problem with it at all.

Alcohol also messes with the liver as does ibuprophen. That's way moderation in everything is good.

Alcohol and Tylenol will always mess with the liver no matter what (so NEVER do them together!!!). It sounds like Kava Kava is very nice and safe, if you can just get the root.

i have been told not to talk any herbs or supplements because they might not mix well with my meds......also if you are taking supplements surgery will sometimes be postponed...

If you take meds, then, yes, herbal pills can clash in a bad way. It's medicine after all!

I think it's good if it's tested and the manufactures have to put the results of the testing on the package so the consumer can be aware of what they are getting. I'm not so sure I'd like to see the government decide what I can and cannot use. If the government eventually is in charge of a nationwide mandatory health plan, after having driving out the private sector in lower costs (tell me how many employers would not switch their employees to a government plan if it was a lower cost?) There could be a desire on their part to control any alternative and that is concerning.

Yes, I want to use safe products, but I don't want the government deciding that I should be on medicine not trying alternatives. Right now for years I've used drinking coffee to help me breath better and I prefer that over using steroids. Coffee opens up the airways while steroids make my sugar levels go up. Because of the miracle I had in Oct 2009, I have not had insulin since...and my recent operation left my surgeon saying, "I don't know what you are doing but keep it up" when it came to my no longer taking 60 units of lantus twice a day. But I am wise enough not to do things to mess up my sugar levels. Don't want to lose my miracle, but so many people take medicine and don't realize what it can do to their other organs...and using natural things, if they work, is so much better for us.

Good article, Peter!

I want MORE choices and SAFER choices. I don't like that we have to worry about regulating, or not, giving us either more unsafer pills or else less safer pills.

many "natural" things do just as much damage is used improperly

I don't do any herbal stuff, but I don't do any medical stuff either, except for Aleve ... Woo Hoo for Aleve.

many of the harshest medications are herbs look at digitalis it is from the foxglove plany

plant not plany LOL

When I last had surgery, speaking to the anesthesiologist before as to what I could take or not leading up to the op, they had a printed list of herbal supplements you should not take prior to procedures, so, if the medical community acknowledges that these herbs are not to be taken for fear of inter=reaction, I would think those are the very herbs that do work, see what I mean?

Herbs work! It's just a question of the dose being what it says it is, in the labeling. The anesthesiologist is assuming you're getting 100% of what it promises, it looks. In real life you usually don't get 100%.

This is very frustrating for those of us like myself who prefer to rely on holistics. I have a scientist friend (thank goodness) who I call whenever I have questions. His labs actually break down herbs and study them to determine their origin. Without him, I would be lost.

I also discovered like anything else, you get what you pay for when it comes to certain homeopathic remedies. It seems to be on the consumer to research, research, research before taking any type of herbs or meds...improved scrutinization by the FDA would help.