What is Codex Alimentarius - does it threaten to take away nutritional supplements?
In 1994, after enormous consumer pressure on Congress, the Dietary Supplement and Health
Education Act (DSHEA) was passed. Since then, the U.S. public has enjoyed free access to a gamut
of safe, legal and affordable vitamins, minerals, amino acids, Omega-3 oils and numerous other
supplements.
Now, the World Health Organization (WHO) and its arm the Codex Alimentarius Commission, with heavy
pressure from a number of European countries as well as the pharmaceutical industry, seek to limit
that access in the markets of all World Trade Organization (WTO) member countries. The Codex has been
assigned the rather tyrannical task of establishing international guidelines for foods, supposedly
to protect consumers and facilitate trade among WTO member nations.
The proposed regulations would strongly limit the potency of supplements. For example, Vitamin C
over 200 mg would be available by prescription only. Furthermore, the World Health Organization
is requiring technical dossiers or "monographs" of each supplement sold. Very few such documents are
being produced though because of the great expense of doing so. Such a legal maneuver is most perilous
for the generally small nutraceutical companies, but of course, could be accomplished within the
budgets of the global pharmaceutical giants.
Part of the rationale offered for tight worldwide regulation of supplements is that the WHO and many
of the world's largest economies continue to insist on trade harmonization laws. As global trade
increases, this becomes ever more the case. Robert Verkerk, PhD of the Alliance for Natural Health
asks, "But which harmonization standards should be applied? Those of countries with a long-held and
very restricted view on dietary supplements (e.g. Germany, France, Denmark) or which have traditionally
been more liberal, such as the USA, South Africa, UK and the Netherlands?" [1]
The other rationale for imposing such restrictions is safety. Although nutritional supplements have
an extraordinarily good safety record, having been shown to be even safer than foods, the safety of
supplements is ever more frequently called into question. The bogus Vitamin E criticism [2] of a few
months ago made headline news while smaller headlines announced that 55,000 were killed by Merck's drug
Vioxx, and neither Merck nor the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) are anywhere near being
prosecuted. Dr. Wallace Heath remarks "106,000 hospitalized patients per year (290 per day)! die from
adverse drug reactions, and two million more need more hospitalization for recovery. These were
FDA approved drugs, properly administered by competent professionals in hospitals - none were considered
malpractice! This is the fourth highest cause of death in the U.S. When combined, these account for 7%
of all hospitalized patients. This is equivalent to a 9-11 attack every ten days. There are NO
fatalities from supplements or the news would be on every front page. There is no need for more FDA
control of supplements than is already in place, which is substantial. Instead of drastically
restricting supplements, why doesn't the FDA better control and restrict the extremely dangerous
pharmaceutical drugs which are now killing us at the rate of a major airline crash per day?"
For further discussion of the Codex problem,
Dr. Verkerk's
article is very informative reading.
If you are a U.S. citizen, perhaps the best way to get involved in protecting consumer rights to
purchase nutritional supplements is to contact your senators and representative to oppose bills
S.722 and H.R. 3377. (These bills support the CODEX restrictions with U.S. laws, changing the DSHEA
law that we fought so hard for). They should also support H. R. 1146, which would restore the
sovereignty of the U.S. Constitution over CODEX.
For help
finding your senators.
For help finding your U.S. representative.
- Robert Verkerk BSc MSc DIC PhD, Executive Director, Alliance for
Natural Health, "Leading US doctors endorse Alliance for Natural Health."
http://www.alliance-natural-health.org/
- Miller ER; Pastor-Barriuso, Dalal D, Riemersma RA, Appel LA,
Guallar E. Meta-analysis: High-dosage Vitamin E supplementation may increase all-cause
mortality. Annals of Internal Medicine
2005; 142(1), in press
(electronic
version). Alliance for Natural Health
rebuttal.
National Vaccine Information Center calls "Anti-terror" bill unconstitutional - NVIC press
release
Washington, D.C. - The nation's largest and oldest consumer-led vaccine safety organization, the
National Vaccine Information Center, is calling a bill introduced into Congress by Senators Gregg and
Frist entitled "Protecting America in the War on Terror Act of 2005" (S.3) an "assault on the
Constitution" and a serious threat to protecting the health and informed consent rights of those who use
federally regulated vaccines and drugs.
"This bill is labeled as an 'anti-terror' bill," said NVIC president and co-founder, Barbara Loe Fisher,
"but it is power grab by the federal government and an assault on self-governance and the informed
consent ethic. It takes away the freedom of the people to make their voices heard through their elected
state representatives and protect themselves from unsafe drugs, such as Celebrex and Vioxx, and unsafe
vaccines, such as those that contain high levels of mercury. It gives unprecedented liability protection
to the drug industry and broad powers to federal officials to hide the truth from the people about
vaccine and prescription drug risks."
The Tenth Amendment to the Constitution specifies that "The powers not delegated to the United States
by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the states, are reserved to the states respectively, or to
the people." Protecting the public health was not delegated to the federal government and public health
laws, including laws governing use of vaccines, have always been under the control of citizens residing
in each state.
Of major concern to vaccine safety advocates, are the following provisions in S.3:
-
Eliminates a state's right to more strictly regulate vaccines and drugs and more fully inform
their citizens about vaccine and drug risks than does the federal government. Laws already passed
in California and Iowa limiting mercury content in vaccines would be repealed.
- Gives comprehensive liability protections to drug companies. Eliminates a citizen's right to
seek justice in state courts for drug and vaccine injuries and deaths and limits awards in
federal courts. Gives tax credits, grants and patent extensions to the drug industry.
- Allows the Department of Health and Department of Justice, the defendants in the federal
Vaccine Injury Compensation Program, to write the terms of their own defense in order to
further limit awards to vaccine injured children.
- Creates and funds a mandatory, national electronic tracking system operated by the Centers for
Disease Control (CDC) to monitor vital records of citizens relating to both notifiable and
non-notifiable diseases and "new trends" and "patterns in public health." Creates penalties
for states and health care providers not reporting in a "timely manner" to the national tracking
system. There are no provisions for mandatory reporting of serious health problems following
vaccine and prescription drug use or punishments for not reporting serious side effects.
S.3 is being promoted by sponsors as a military veteran benefit bill because it raises the death
benefits and other financial support for the families of soldiers who lost their lives in the war in
Iraq.
"The irony of this bill is that it is using the families of citizens who have given their lives to
defend our nation's freedom in order to take rights and freedoms away from other families. Military
veterans should not be used to protect the drug industry and take away the freedom for all Americans
to have their voices heard through their elected state representatives," said Fisher. "In his Inaugural
speech, President Bush said 'there is no justice without freedom.' This bill does not serve justice or
freedom."
The National Vaccine Information Center (NVIC) is a national, non-profit organization founded in 1982
by parents of vaccine injured children. NVIC worked with Congress on the National Childhood Vaccine
Injury Act of 1986 and has worked with families in states to protect informed consent rights, including
the right to have full and accurate information on vaccine benefits and risks prior to vaccination and
make informed, voluntary vaccine decisions. NVIC worked with families in California on the Mercury Free
Act of 2004, which limited the amount of mercury in vaccines sold in that state.
For further information including the text of Senate Bill 3, the NVIC press release and a
point-by-point summary to S.3 please visit the National Vaccine Information Center at
http://www.nvic.org (3.62 MB PDF). Please note that the text of
Senate Bill 3 is approximately 3.6 MB and will take 18 minutes to download over a 28.8 Kbps (dialup)
connection.
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What does naturopathic medicine have to offer?
1st prize - Naturopathyworks essay contest
Alicia Myers
The practice of Naturopathic Medicine is a delicate understanding of a human language that transcends
region, race, gender, and creed. The human body speaks a complicated language that has developed over
millions of years. The body speaks to the mind in the form of empathy and intuition. It speaks to
others with gestures, posture, and facial expression. In addition to these things, the body speaks
when it is polluted, malnourished, and overstressed. Together, these factors make up the language of
the body. Humans need this language to function properly. A Naturopath is a translator that helps the
patient understand how to interpret what the body is asking for. The ultimate goal is not to foster
dependence on the wisdom of the doctor. Instead, the practitioner is to teach the patient to keep their
body in a state of health and balance. Recognizing the causes of illness and responding to the body
when it is in distress achieve this. Balance is reached by a variety of means including the use of
herbs, nutrition, acupuncture, and lifestyle changes. Each patient receives a program that is
specifically designed for the needs of the individual. With the knowledge obtained from a Naturopathic
Physician, the patient is empowered to change from the inside out. What greater sense of efficacy than
learning to heal yourself? When one learns to nurture the needs of the body, new levels of health
and satisfaction can be reached.
The current medical model is not based on education. It does not strive to interpret the needs of
the body. Instead, the goal is to get rid of the symptoms of illness. These symptoms are the language
the body uses to ask for help. In the current model, the body cries out and medical doctors are
snuffing out the sound. Meanwhile, the health of the body continues to deteriorate. Patients see
their doctors for only a few minutes. In this time, the doctor orders a lab test or a drug. The
patient is not seen as a complex person with individual health care needs. Each person is treated as
a symptom that needs to be eradicated. By treating symptoms first, we are losing touch with a
language that is more deeply rooted within us than the words we use every day. The language of the
body cannot be ignored. Naturopathic Physicians strive to change the materials used in medicine to
safer, gentler alternatives. More importantly, they strive to change the philosophy and practice of
medicine. This vision is one of higher standards of patient care. It goes beyond the dollars and cents
that rule the health care industry. The Naturopathic vision seeks better relationships with their
patients through in depth analysis of each patient. The foundation of Naturopathic treatment is
personalized and compassionate care for the growing populations of Americans that suffer from chronic
illness and chronic pain without hope of a cure.
Naturopathic Medicine is more than just a sentimental ideal. It is based upon carefully considered
manipulation of the body's chemistry. Vitamins, minerals, and fatty acids are the pieces needed for
the chemical reactions within us. Using these substances, we can feed metabolic pathways,
anti-inflammatory pathways, or feed the immune system. Using the principals of homeopathy, the body's
own defense system is stimulated rather than using a drug that alters the body. Herbs can be used as
a safe alternative to treat a broad spectrum of conditions. A multitude of herbs have been used safely
over centuries and carefully studied by herbalists and researchers alike. Many Naturopaths practice as
primary care physicians. In this way, they can use all of these techniques and more to promote better
health in patients. In addition, they are able to monitor the health of the patient while coordinating
care with specialists. In many states, Naturopathic Physicians are qualified to prescribe medications
as a last resort.
The Allopathic medical system has made amazing strides in emergency medicine over the last century.
It saves lives every day. Thanks to our current system, children are born with an excellent chance
of survival. People are living longer and fuller lives than their predecessors. Acute diseases and
physical trauma can be corrected by emergency medicine. Many people that are born with significant
defects can live normal lives. The consequence of these changes is a shift toward more chronic types
of illnesses that the Allopathic doctors are not treating as effectively. This is because a chronic
condition cannot be evaluated in a quick visit. The solution to chronic conditions is usually much
more complicated than a quick prescription. Chronic pain, fatigue, skin conditions, immune deficiency,
and chronic infection all require individualized treatment. They are generally a result of consistent
disturbances in the patient's body including allergies, environmental sensitivities, inactivity,
dietary problems, or unmanaged stress. Millions of chronically ill Americans are crying out for a
solution to their problems. The rise in the availability and education level of Naturopathic Medicine
is an answer that can finally offer hope.
Alicia Myers is currently enrolled in the Naturopathic Medical degree program at Southwest College
of Naturopathic Medicine in Tempe, Arizona. She is looking forward to practicing naturopathic
medicine in the Kansas City area upon graduating in 2007.
Vitamin C: superior to statins for beating heart disease
A recent study in The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition reviewed nine different studies on
Vitamin C and cardiovascular disease [1].
Their findings: Adults who regularly take Vitamin C pills providing greater than 700 milligrams
per day will experience a 25% drop in their risk for coronary heart disease.
Contrast this with a study in the Journal of the American Medical Association [2].
Their findings: "Studies have demonstrated that statins administered to individuals with risk factors
for coronary heart disease (CHD) reduce CHD events. However, many of these studies were too small to
assess all-cause mortality or outcomes in important subgroups. Pravastatin did not reduce either
all-cause mortality or CHD significantly when compared with usual care in older participants."
-
Knekt P, Ritz J, Pereira MA et al, "Antioxidant vitamins and coronary heart disease risk:
a pooled analysis of 9 cohorts;" 2004; 80(6):1508-1520
-
Major outcomes in moderately hypercholesterolemic, hypertensive patients randomized to
pravastatin vs usual care. JAMA 2002; 288: 2998-3007
Quick tip for a healthy and satisfying treat!
If you have access to raw goat or sheep milk, good for you! This is probably the best dairy
available anywhere. If you do not have a goat share or other access to such dairy, you can also use
cow milk for his snack. Cow dairy can be problematic for those not of Northern European ancestry.
Goat proteins are considerably smaller, more easily absorbed and seem to be less allergenic for many
people. If you can tolerate it, raw organic cow milk, as well as many other dairy products, including
colostrum, is shipped throughout the U.S. by Organic
Pastures.
I like to take about 3 tablespoons of raw organic cream. Raw milk will also do. Add 2 scoops of
probiotic soil organisms, such as Primal Defense and a half-teaspoon of carob powder. If constipation
is an issue, use moderation with carob powder, as large quantities can have a constipating effect.
Stir well. No sweetener is needed for this creamy, delightful treat, which is thick enough to be eaten
as a pudding.
Have you ever sought a physician who learned the following in medical school:
- Nutrition
- Herbal Medicine
- Acupuncture
- And the many other natural time-honored therapies
Look no further: the American Association of Naturopathic Physicians
www.naturopathic.org
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