Report Calls for Tougher Oversight of Alternative Medicine

[HuckleB]

Report Calls for Tougher Oversight of Alternative Medicine

http://www.ajc.com/health/content/shared-auto/healthnews/altm/523380.html

"More than one-third of U.S. adults use alternative or complementary medicine, and an Institute of Medicine report released Wednesday calls for these treatments to be held to the same standards as conventional medicine.

In particular, the 327-page report recommends tougher oversight of dietary supplements. Among other actions, it asks Congress and others involved to amend the Dietary Supplement and Health Education Act of 1994, which classifies dietary supplements as foods instead of drugs, and doesn't require that manufacturers conduct efficacy or safety tests on their products.

For some advocates of alternative medicine, their own personal good experience is enough proof that it works, said Dr. Stuart Bondurant, executive dean at Georgetown University Medical Center, and chairman of the committee that wrote the report. For others, no amount of evidence is enough, he added.

..."

[Ian David]

1. Duplicate thead

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x1147435

[HuckleB]

3. No. It's not a duplicate thread.

This covers far more of what the panel is discussing. Further, an article covering the full spectrum of the panel's recommendations was posted in LBN before that article, which is focused on supplements, and it was moved to some dead forum for some bizarre reason.

Thank you to DU for unlocking the thread. This is an important issue, with many ramifications. In addition, there are many posters who spend time in GD without going to LBN, and vice versa.

[Name removed]

2. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[HuckleB]

4. I'm increasingly confused about things here.

Whenver there is a thread about malpractice and Bush's baloney tort reform, the thread goes through the roof. But when other medical issues are brought forth that also have a great effect, or could have a great effect, upon how health care is delivered in this country, on costs, etc... those threads seem to drop like lead.

Why is that? Are we unable to discuss the health care issue holistically at DU? I'm really confused.

[Ripley]

5. I think it's a real shame they lumped "Alternative Healing" in with

Astrology and Spirituality for a DU Group. Alternative and Holistic Medicine should be in a category by itself since it is becoming more mainstream, at least in an integrative way. Lumping it in with astrology is gives it the connotation of quackery to me.

Thanks for posting this. I'm sure big pharma has lots of lobbyists and spokespeople in the media trying to roll back the tide of Americans using more supplements and herbal treatments for preventative reasons. They don't want you to be healthy! They want you sick, sick, sick, so they can get you hooked on their drugs that often do more harm than good, even after their so-called FDA intensive review system.

[HuckleB]

6. Wow! I didn't know that DU had done that!

That is a shame. It's definitely a misrepresentation of Alternative Medicine.

There are definitely issues with competition fears from pharms and others, but I would like to see some more research myself. That which has been done on practices that I have found to be helpful has been positive, and it's good to have that research to back up discussions and recommendations, including to patients.

[indigobusiness]

7. Funny how conservative the thinking becomes, at times,

around here.

Herbal medicines have been used, for treating symptoms and healing ailments, since history began. Long, long before the pharmaceutical companys had their first thought of profit.

If they screw up alternative medicine, as they have mainstream medicine, it will be just another brick of tragedy in their wall of shame.

[HuckleB]

8. Indeed.