Why are vitamins that have been used worldwide for centuries not evaluated and approved by the FDA in the US??

Question

Europe, China and India have used herbal treatment for thousands of years & their pharmacies carry herbal medicines. Herbs like Ginko Biloba, which has had over 300 tests done in german and france, are prohibited in the US from being marketed as medicines and cant claim any illness fighting properties on the label. Why is it that the FDA isnt willing to consider safer, more natural medicines, but spends decades approving drugs which turn out to be harmful, with ridiculous side effects and later sometimes have to be recalled? Can anyone answer this, why are vitamins and natural herb supplements not considered to have medical benefits by the FDA????

Answer 1

Wow... there's a LOT of misinformation out there. There are a lot of conspiracy theorists out there that say it's because the doctors here want to keep you a little sick so you'll keep coming back, and some that say it's only about the money and the government doesn't really care about people.... but I'm just going to cover facts, not suspicions and theories.


The actual reason that the FDA won't approve them is because they don't produce the same results in as many people as drugs do.

The reason for that is because different people respond differently to different supplements.... and that's really because supplements work to help the CAUSE of a problem, while drugs work to help the SYMPTOMS of a problem.

If you wanted to take something for lowering Cholesterol (as an example), you could take a drug that will specifically lower your Cholesterol.
On the other hand, you could try one of a few supplements that give nutritional benefits that may help the problem that's causing your Cholesterol to be high. If the increase in Cholesterol is caused by something that the first one doesn't help, it won't help. If you don't know the cause of the problem, it's hard to find the natural supplement that would help it.

...Here's the kicker.... the way that drugs work is that they literally turn off some natural process in your body to reach a desired result. In the same example of Cholesterol, those drugs turn off the part of your body that makes Cholesterol. Now, in theory, that may sound like a good way to do it, but your body NEEDS some level of Cholesterol.... just turning that off creates a lot of problems.
THAT is the reason that drugs have SOOOO many side effects, while supplements only have most side effects from allergic reactions and some medical conditions or drugs that may interact with it (which isn't the supplement itself).


Most other countries actually see the horrible side effects from drugs and the very minimal side effects from supplements, so they make supplements more common and educate their doctors. Their doctors in turn can look at the causes of problems and actually know what will help the problem from a natural source. Some might say that's because those governments pay all the health care and want it to be cheaper.... but that's another theory ;-)

Answer 2

Vitamin/supplements are classified as food in the U.S by federal law. The FDA wanted to change the classification in the early 90s, and have them subject to the same rules and regulations as OTC medications, but due to clever advertising, Congress stepped in and stopped the FDA. So, the FDA regulates them like food; even though, they are not. Out of the hundreds of studies done with supplements, only about 2 have shown to have significant positive effect. Some, like megadoses of antioxidants, actually decrease your life expectancy. There have also been some sad stories about people dying or getting seriously hurt by bad supplements.
With Ginkgo Biloba, the studies have been inconclusive. That's why a large multi-centered study is being conducted on it right now.
The supplements are not free from side effects and drug interactions. St. John's Wort is one of the worst drug-drug interacters known. Ginkgo Biloba interacts with Warfarin.
Natural does not equal safe. Read about the tryptophan supplement issue.
Supplements should be regulated more.

Answer 3

There is a difference between a vitamin and an herb. Diet supplements are not controlled, but when you make "medical" claim, the law is YOU have to prove its effectiveness as a drug, and that can cost millions.

Herbs have the problem of not being standardized, nor even tested to determine if they contain what is advertised. You are trusting the company that produced them to be telling the truth.

Many herbs do have a positive effect, but there are many herbs that have some severe side effects as well. Herbs are NOT a free lunch!

If you purchase from well known companies, there is a good chance that you are getting what is advertised, but make very sure you know the risks as well as the benefits. Risks are not usually covered by someone promoting the use of a product.

Answer 4

Supplements have already completed pharmaceutical studies, just look at a government site called Medline.com or the NIH government web sites and you will see studies on natural supplements that work.

Its just that if there is no toxicity level, you are not allowed to show the studies to prove that it works, even if it cures cancer. Because, pharmaceutical companies are too powerful and pay off the law makers to keep natural healing from the rest of us.

Think about it... 1/5 of our kids have Autism and 1/2 of our nation is on anti depressants. They don't want us to think!

The FDA has it set up to where nutritional companies can volunteer to have their products meet FDA guidelines. The ones that are legitamate have nothing to hide and will comply.

Here is the government web site: http://www.fda.gov/CDRH/DEVADVICE/32.html#introduction

So, when purchasing a vitamin/mineral products, look for the FDA GMP on the label.

“The human body heals itself and nutrition provides the resources to accomplish the task”
Roger Williams Ph.D. (1971)

http://www.healthfreedomusa.org/index.php You need to be aware that your freedom of choice for supplementation is under threat.

Answer 5

Because then pharmaceutical companies couldn't line their pockets with profits from brand new "miracle drugs." I don't know about you, but I'm turning from lab-mad medications to more natural remedies. The lab-made drugs aren't helping anyway, so why not trust nature?

Old time kid: some supplements and alternative therapies do work as well as traditional drugs, and sometimes better. It's not that we think doctors want us to stay sick so we'll keep coming back. It's that pharm companies give them free samples, buy them lunch, and market their drugs like crazy. The drugs work, so that's what the doctors prescribe. They're not doing much harm--it's not a conspiracy theory. But, alternative therapies should be tried before harsh drugs. It's partly the fault of the people too, because everyone wants a magic pill and nobody wants to believe that some herb can do just as well.

Answer 6

of course there is a political battle between the fda and natural remedies. however as someone has already posted these herbs and supplements must be proved to have a consistent medicinal effect on people. herbs and supplements tend to react differently to various people. herbs have side effect very serious ones. so just because its natural doesnt mean its safe. you should always research herbs and supplements very carefully before taking them and talk with you doctor if you can.

ps - the poster above me is speaking in half truths.

Answer 7

The FDA pretty much gets paid off to pass drugs. Records show that they usually get a large "donation" before they pass a new medicine. Just research these drugs on qualified alternative medicine websites, or better yet, just go check out your local health food store and ask for advice!

Answer 8

Lawmakers pass the bills saying what can and can't be used in the United States. Pharmaceutical companies support lawmakers. Lawmakers aren't going to cut off the funding they receive from the pharmaceutical companies by telling the public that natural remedies can be used in place of pharmaceutical drugs... Its a racket.

Answer 9

count your blessings.you really do not get it,vitamins/supplements are food.why would you want the gov,fda screw up the supplement business.want to buy your vitamins by prescription and pay at least ten times more ? wake up!

Answer 10

because these aren't regulated by the FDA. the only "proof" they have that they work is personal testimonials. until the companies that produce the vitamins complete studies like pharmaceutical companies and work on quality control they won't ever be approved by the FDA.