not sure if this is good or bad....

[Guest guest]

2. FDA's new approach to botanicals spurs research programs

The FDA's new approach to Chinese botanical therapies produced its first

approval late last year. The agency OK'd Veregen from Germany's Medigene, an

ointment for genital warts that is derived from green tea leaves. The FDA's new

approach--which required the agency to hire herbal experts to provide expert

guidance--is a sharp departure from its standard approval process, which

requires researchers to identify the exact active ingredient that is responsible

for a therapeutic response. And companies have responded by putting some 250

botanical therapies in the pipeline, according to The Wall Street Journal. The

UK's Phynova, for example, has received approval to begin testing on a botanical

drug for hepatitis.

bob

 

mike Bowser <naturaldoc1 wrote:

 

Bob,

Thanks for the info but at present time, the herbal education and licensure (or

regulation) is lacking and that determines a profession more then simple

individuals. For example, the state of MN does not recognize LAc when it comes

to insurance coverage of acupuncture but does so for MD/DO/DC who perform

acupuncture. Therefore, in the insurance point of view we are not the

professionals and they do not have to pay us as they are not mandated to do so.

Kind of sad, I know. Yet the point is similar with the herbalists, who have no

real educational standards, licensure/govt regulation, etc. I think that there

is a potential for turf struggles with OM practitioners, who also use herbs, and

this can create problems that will continue. Regulation of herbalists, if it is

designed to deal with OM herbs will create a lot of in-fighting and educational

concerns. Is the herbalist profession ready to attack the OM community over this

issue? As mentioned below, patients do want formal

education and direct clinical experience in their providers. I happen to agree

with this.

 

Mike W. Bowser, L Ac

 

________________________________

> Chinese Medicine

> boblindeherbalist

> Wed, 7 Mar 2007 01:03:24 -0800

> RE: Re: herb sales online

>

> They actually require 4 years clinical experience and some type of training,

formal or informal, case studies, and essay questions. Most folks are turned way

the first time aswell for a lack of experience, this material is looked at by a

3 tiered review board as well as a requirement for continuing education.

> B

> anne.crowley wrote:

> Bob:

> I respectfully disagree. To sit for the exam, you need so many clinical hours.

I think when people go to see a professional , they expect them to have attended

some formal training, hopefully college. Granted the RH may have a lot of

knowledge but I also want to see the formal training.

> Anne

> -------------- Original message ----------------------

> " Bob Linde,AP, Herbalist " <boblindeherbalist

> > Actually the herbalists are getting well organized and setting a standard of

> > profesionalism check out www.americanherbalistsguild.com the idea is that if

we

> > don't regulate herbalisms from within at some point the feds will try and do

it

> > for us....I'm guessing we will not like the standards they will set. The

> > professional status they set is Registered Herbalist (RH) which i consider I

> > higher standard thay CH since that board exam merely shows that you can

memorize

> > and that you sat in class.

> > bob

> > www.acuherbals.com

> >

> > mike Bowser <naturaldoc1 wrote:

> > Attilio states,

> >

> > " If herbal medicine was regulated, like in Europe, then only those deemed as

> > herbalists can prescribe and sell medicinal herbs. "

> >

> > That is not likely to happen here in the US, as CAM is becoming more the

talk

> > you will see more interest from the MD, who have no training. Herbalists

> > do not exist as any kind of entity and are in a much worse place than the

LAc

> > as far as professional stature. What you will see is one profession

dominated

> > and taken over by another, and maybe even eliminated unless you also have

> > an MD license. Politics and money determine a lot. Mike W. Bowser, L Ac

> >

> > :

> > attiliodalberto: Tue, 6 Mar 2007 13:56:18 +0000TCM

-

> > Re: herb sales online

> >

> > It's all about how herbs are classified and regulation of herbal medicine.

At

> > the moment in the US, herbs are classified as foods, which means anyone can

sell

> > and not just herbalists. If herbal medicine was regulated, like in Europe,

then

> > only those deemed as herbalists can prescribe and sell medicinal herbs.I'm

sure

> > the US will follow Europe and regulate herbal medicine, its just a question

of

> > when.Attiliowww.chinesemedicinetimes.com --- In

> > Chinese Medicine , " Diane Notarianni "

> > wrote:>> I guess that's really my question...why is this happening? I know,

> > after talking with these > very reputatable companies that they say they

don't

> > sell to non practitioners but here is an > example of just that. I won't use

one

> > company just because they have no policy to be > suppliers for practitioners

> > ONLY. When money overrides people's health, I begin to > wonder what this is

all

> > about?> > Chinese Medicine ,

> > anne.crowley@ wrote:> >> > I don;t know how it happens but I did tell a

story

> > of a patient who bought Calm Spirit by > Health Concerns online.> > > > She

said

> > " Oh, I ran out so I bought a big bottle. " I explained that it was prescribed

for

> > > her, so a health practitioner should be giving instructions on it. > > > >

I

> > refer people to lots of over the counter natural products but really don't

like

> > them > taking these formulas on their own. > > > > Anyone know of why it's

> > happening.> > > > > > > > -------------- Original message

> > ----------------------> > " Diane Notarianni " > > > I came across a

> > website (wellnessworks.net) selling what looks like one of the > > > most >

> >

> > comprehensive lists of all the herbs and herbal companies that we use. I was

> >

> > > under the > > > conception that good companies like Kan, Health Concerns,

> > Chinese Modular > > > Solutions and > > > many others were NOT selling to

the

> > general public. > > > Can anyone explain to me if this is

> > legal or what this is about? I don't think > > > I need to mention > > > how

> > this can affect the patient nor us as practitioners. Diane> > > > > > > > >

> >

> > > > > > >