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Drug Giants vs. Supplement Makers
By Linda | February 22, 2010
Two health news stories ironically hit the Internet at the same time today. The first is about how the drug giant GlaxoSmithKline published flawed safety studies conducted on their diabetes drug Avandia and how they threatened doctors who suggested the drug was causing heart attacks.
This immediately brings to mind the giant Vioxx scandal in 2004 in which more than 27,785 heart attacks occurred before Merck & Co.’s arthritis drug was pulled.
The second story is about legislation John McCain is pushing that will restrict your access to nutritional supplements. The ironic part is that certain supplements can reverse type 2 diabetes and even arthritis, quite easily, and with no side effects.
Should the government control your access to supplements, especially while allowing deaths to happen so easily with drugs? I suppose you could take a bottle of vitamin A pills and overdose, or take a handful of vitamin C and get temporary diarrhea, but a heart attack? Sudden death? Never heard of this. Drinking a liter of vodka might lead to death; Should we outlaw vodka?
Here’s what I have experienced with supplements, which you won’t read about because supplement companies do not have funds to conduct multimillion dollar studies nor to run fancy TV ads showing healthy actors claiming drugs are keeping them this way:
I have a female client, just 18 years old, who came to me with such severe rheumatoid arthritis, she needed 15 pills per day to keep the pain at bay. Some days she was unable to open a door. After 2 months of diet therapy and supplements she is off all her meds but one, and she not only opens doors, but can now drive and is going back to college.
A fit, normal-weight middle-aged male client came to me not long ago with diabetes. He was taking 3 medications to stabilize his disease. These meds were leading to new health complications, fatigue and liver damage. After a few months of supplements and some changes in his fat and protein choices, he is off all the meds and said with surprise, “My doctor told me I don’t have diabetes anymore.”
“If supplements were so great, my doctor would have told me about them.” I hear this kind of proclamation once a month or so. In truth, your doctor could lose his or her medical license by telling you to load up on minerals and herbs that can reverse diabetes, or any supplement therapy, even if it works! It isn’t “standard of care.”
Are you using supplements to treat a medical problem? Do you want to know how to get off dangerous drugs using supplements? Share here.
Topics: Drugs, Uncategorized, Vitamins vs. Drugs |
February 22nd, 2010 at 12:16 pm
I emailed John McCain about his co-sponsored bill to extend the FDA’s jurisdiction over supplements. Of course, I have not received a response. Isn’t jurisdiction a legal term? Never forget that these people are not on your side, but on the side of a government that increasingly considers your food choices their legal jurisdiction.
A few days ago, after a binge on chips and salsa, I had a gouty big toe. Gross, I know, but my recent research on the multitude of uses of plain old baking soda got me thinking. I mixed up 1/4 - 1/2 teaspoon of it with 6 ounces of warm water, drank it, repeated it several times and, within 24 hours all sign of the gout was gone. I enjoyed the confidence from this experience and will continue to use baking soda for a number of ailments. A great food cure!
February 22nd, 2010 at 12:41 pm
I have taken quite a large number of high-quality vitamins for several years. Some are the basics (calcium, D, C, multi, fish oil, etc.) but some are more specific to fibromyalgia and blood sugar. They must be helping because I haven’t taken an anti-biotic in YEARS! Nor have I had flu, or any respiratory problem. (I do take something for hypothyroid but that’s it.) I also do massage, acupuncture and use “home remedies” that work great without the side effects. For instance, I had a problem with a tooth and gum area.I used a couple of Edgar Cayce remedies and my problem went away practically over-night. There are many other things to use besides drugs!
February 22nd, 2010 at 2:58 pm
I really appreciate those who take the time to contact our government representatives. Thank you. That kind of feedback/pressure is what helps change.
And, I agree it seems government increasingly considers our food choices their legal jurisdiction. So then we are back to needing to find our own way to safe and effective health treatments, which both of you are.
I have heard about baking soda for gout, Glad it worked! Many claim vitamin C and cherry juice can work too.
I have also seen use of vitamins and minerals, especially fish oil, D, C, and zinc help keep immunity boosted so antibiotics aren’t needed so often. Also massage and acupuncture are such ideal ways to stay in balance. Cary - you are on a great health path!
A suggestion for hypothyroid: iodine. A product called Iodoral, which is a high dose of iodine and iodide together, enables many people to come off their thyroid drugs. It is useful to add in some extra selenium (Brazil nuts and garlic) and vitamin A (egg yolks and butter) so the iodine has what it needs to do the job. It’s worth a try.
February 23rd, 2010 at 7:28 am
It’s interesting you suggest iodine, as I’ve read pros and cons of taking it. Where do you get it and would I need to talk to my doc about this first? I do take extra selenium, zinc and chromium now.
February 23rd, 2010 at 7:37 am
I had read pros and cons as well but after using Iodoral with clients, I have seen some amazing turnarounds, like people no longer needing their armour or synthroid, PCOS and skin boils disappearing… Then I listened to a lecture by David Brownstein, a doctor who has researched iodine extensively - very impressive. You can google him and Iodoral. A small percent of the population may be allergic to iodine, so that may be a risk. I am not sure what your doctor would know about it - the iodine research is not part of med school and is fairly new. Part of the problem is iodine has been disappearing from our food supply and the fluoride and bromine added to food and water now is depleting our stores even more so a lot of people are just deficient.
February 23rd, 2010 at 3:09 pm
I read about the iodoral. There is also something called Atomic Iodine by Baar. (My boyfriend has studied Edgar Cayce’s remedies for years and has worked at several vitamin shoppes. He reminded me of the A. I.) You may want to research it; it has to be taken very carefully or you can get too much. It can be taken internally but only 1 drop in some water 3-4 times a week.
By the way, I bought Live the Balance…and am getting a lot out of it. I’ve cut out most wheat, and dairy and some sugars, as a start. I need to keep refining and become more creative with shopping/cooking/eating.
February 24th, 2010 at 7:09 am
I will check out the Atomic Iodine. Thanks for that. I do think Edgar Cayce was very insightful. The concentration of the AI is a bit intimidating: we are all so different in our needs. I have some clients who need 3-4 Iodoral pills per day and others that see great results with 3/week. One drop would be harder to work with.
You are on a great path with your eating! Keep it up - the creativity part is key. I occasionally take a cooking class for new ideas.