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If the FDA regulated natural supplements and herbal remedies, it would be because there would be some monetary advantage....just as there is with the pharmaceutical companies. Herbal remedies and homeopathic remedies were around long before "traditional medicine". It has only been since the turn of the twentieth century that traditional medicine has taken such a strong foot hold in our country.

While there are a number of great discoveries i.e. aspirin and penicillin, they are not the answer for everyone. Someone such as myself prefers to be drug free whenever possible, and that includes other-the-counter drugs. As long as supplements and herbal remedies are labeled adequately for proper usage, I see no reason why they should be further regulated. This is supposed to be a "free" country, and I fully expect to retain my rights to make my own choices.

My health is much better when I make efforts to eat better and take my supplements. Eating properly is challenging because of the herbicides, pesticides, antibiotics and preservatives we ingest....things the government regulates! Our bodies have to digest these things and still try to gain some benefit from the actual food itself. My guess is that we benefit minimally, especially with cooked foods. Heat often decreases the nutritional values of food. Our bodies have to work harder to counteract the effects of anything within the food that was used in its growth. Supplements are vital to proper nutrition. The government needs to keep its nose out of this area of health.

Many doctors will tell us that if we eat properly, we don't need vitamins. If we happen to clear up a health issue using alternative measures including supplements or herbal remedies,
some doctors would think of it as "coincidence". I am always amazed how quickly prescriptions are written. An example of this is when my husband suddenly developed high blood pressure. He was under extreme stress at work. He had also contracted Lymes Disease and suffered with a severe headache from it. Aside from the antibiotic which I agree he needed to combat the Lymes, the doctor handed him a script for blood pressure medication. I aksed my husband if the doctor asked about his lifestyle i.e smoking, drinking, eating, exercise etc. The doctor asked none of these questions and prescribed the latest state-of-the-art medication for which there was no generic version. The price was outrageous. Also amongst the questions the doctor didn't ask was what my husband did for a living. He works outside. This prescription warning stated that he should stay out of the sun.

We have since done much research about various medications. A basic water pill keeps the blood pressure in check, but mostly cutting back on salt and salty foods made the biggest difference. He takes various supplements which balance his electrolytes which are often affected by water pills.

These are our choices to make the best decisions for ourselves with regard to our health issues. Any regulation of supplements and herbal remedies would most likely cause a major uproar in this country. I hope and pray it never happens!

Learn more about this author, Nancy Lynam.
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