by Carol H. Morgan

Created on: May 07, 2008   Last Updated: May 08, 2008

Warning: The following contains words that may be considered offensive in hopes of getting more readers.

Just kidding. Honestly, I wish I hadn't even had to think about this much less write about it. I was minding my business writing on light and appropriate topics when an infomercial came on that made certain things very clear about how naturopathy is marketed. Gross, but clear.

I know that there are some unusual campaigns of these products, because they have to aoid tricky rules against making any actual health

"Apply directly to the forehead."

Now considering the ubiquity of this product, it has had some success considering the fact that THE COMMERCIALS NEVER MENTION WHY ANYONE WOULD WANT TO DO THAT! It could very well be at least from the content of the ads that there is NO REASON WHATSOEVER TO DO THIS! They probably enjoy the fact that consumers march out like sheep to buy it anyway. Because they were told to, and with no other reason or justification, much less proof of any effectiveness. The ad I heard last night took the cake, however:

"No one used to believe things like something you could get in a pill could enhance penis size." (sorry I had to drop the P bomb, it had to be done).

This statement is the only one that actually introduces the issue of why someone might take this pill. The rest of the following statements nor any other claim or testimonial refer to it again EVER. Tricky little devils. Because it is true that probably at one point or another, depending on how educated or critically thinking or not concerned with such things a member of the public we are talking about, few thought this. Obviously they have tricked a lot of people NOW because....

"But now (certain kind of pill, I won't give it publicity) has sold over X million bottles."
[Using the fact that a bunch of consumers have stampeded like cattle to buy it as some kind of reason that there should be one more lemming off the cliff.]

"And the main ingredient in (whatever kind of pill) has been SCIENTIFICALLY PROVED [those words are always double emphasized in the con-mercials] to enhance a certain part of the male anatomy." [They are only relying on the fact that however many millions of sheep they are trying to sell their wares to don't notice or know that 'enhance' is not a medical claim, nor do they even specify which part of the 'anatomy' they are talking about when they say 'enhance.']

And thus they continue with innuendo as they discuss their actual product and offer it for sale. Laugh it up, I do, the sad thing is that these same people sell their stuff to the genuinely sick and dying with the same tactics. I think it should be criminal. It is the main problem that I have with Orin Hatch and his conservative ilk that think these people shouldn't have to be regulated. They should be strapped with at LEAST as much restriction and regulation as the genuine medicines that we can actually use to save our lives such as antibiotics and BP meds.

Because mainline medicine has the requirements of health claims and testing and 'natural' products are considered to be automatically 1. safe, 2. preferable to 'non natural' medicine (if that distinction is even possible) there is a double disincentive to use medicine.

I get frustrated by that, because I don't feel like a company called 'Nature's Wonder' or whatever is going to cure cancer or come up with a vaccine for avian flu or the next health threat. The pharmaceutical industry is. So I think it is unfortunate that they are roped with restrictions while the prospects of these potency pills are augmented by a double dose of legislation leniency and public gullibility.

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