Consumer's Union

[Guest guest]

Hi, Attilio, and all,

Although I agree with you about banning herbs, over-regulation, etc., I

would like to comment on Consumers' Union.

This is an organization that began publishing a magazine in the 1930's, I

think, testing ptroducts and services. It has absoulutely no advertising,

and is run on donations and subscriptions to the magaxine, Consumer Reports.

It is an excellent source of more reality-based information about everything

grom toothpaste to cars.

In recent years, they have taken on a more political role in some of their

articles about medicine, insurance, nursing homes, etc.However, they have no

relation to labor unions or anything like that.

They have had quite a number of court battles, maintaining freedom of the

press, inclusding one that has been going on since the mid-80's, due to a

review of the Isuzu Trooper, which they rated unacceptable because it tipped

up on two wheels frequently, and they believe it was a safety hazard, know

to the manufactuer, who sold them anyway.

The Western medical model that they represent is the mainstream American

viewpoint, which I see that every day as a nurse. They have advisory boards

for different areas, so I would think that is where to approach them, rather

than in an adversarial way. Education of the editoral staff might bring some

changes, or at least opening of minds.

Because safety legislation may be necessary to make car manufacturers have

adequate safety and pollution standards doesn't mean the same madel has to

apply to health care. Prescription drugs have caused all sorts of illness

and death, not to mention just being a patient in a hospital. Some

comparison might be quite educational to them and the public. Obviously, the

mainstream way is not meeting people's needs, or these herbal products

wouldn't be selling so well.

My understanding of the herbal/supplement industry is that there are few

people with training in handling and produing many of these products. For

example, I have been told that last year more " St. John's Wort " was sold in

this country than was produced in the world. So what was in those

capsules???!

At Tai Sophia Institute, (where I go to school), they are in the 3rd or 4th

year of a Masters program in Botanical Healing, which is intended to provide

training to people who would work in this industry, from horticulture to

processing to research. It is quite an intense program, and includes a

clinical track for those who would work as Herbalists with patients. I know

the leaders of the school are very involved in health care issues, although

I don't know where they are on this issue.

Sue

 

 

-- In Chinese Medicine , " Attilio

DAlberto " <attiliodalberto> wrote:

> Ahhh, now it seems were getting to the root of the problem in the

> US, with the consumer's union. Has anyone got any more info on this

> organisation? Or any method of tackling it?

>

> Attilio

>