HSI ephedra and cigarettes

[Guest guest]

I had to post this, you would kinda think maybe a somethin wrong

wrong with our goverment.

Yikes !!

Pam

 

 

 

 

In recent e-Alerts I've discussed the addictive aspects of

cigarette smoking and the FDA's ban of ephedra. An e-mail from

an HSI member named Donna brought the two issues together with

this interesting comment:

 

" Even though cigarettes contain nicotine, a deadly poison, the

FDA has not seen fit to remove them from the shelves. Let's do a

comparison of deaths due to cigarettes vs. anything containing

ephedra. I'd be interested in seeing that report. "

 

That's a good analogy, Donna. Ephedra is being banned because it

CAN be banned. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (the

regulatory agency that oversees tobacco) can't ban tobacco

because the tobacco lobby wouldn't allow it.

 

According to a 2000 report from the Centers for Disease Control

and Prevention (CDC), an estimated " 10 million people have died

from smoking-related diseases in the United States - heart

disease, lung cancer, emphysema, and other respiratory diseases "

since the release of the first Surgeon General's report on

smoking in 1964.

 

Staggering, isn't it? Ten million.

 

If deaths associated with ephedra products numbered well over 10

million (rather than a total of 155), and if ephedra makers had

a lobby to rival the tobacco lobby, then you can be sure that no

one would be talking about an ephedra ban.

 

It's all about perspective. And, of course, campaign donations.

 

 

To Your Good Health,

 

Jenny Thompson

Health Sciences Institute