Wow pretty strong opinion. I am hoping you advocate for nutritionists. Meanwhile complementary medicine in all its forms is not going away and is appreciated by a growing number of people all around the world. I for one am glad of this. Of course the WHO may be just making up the statistics…
https://www.who.int/traditional-complementary-integrative-medicine/WhoGlobalReportOnTraditionalAndComplementaryMedicine2019.pdf?ua=1
This is probably the most important lesson so far in this thread. When undergoing any significant medical treatment it doesn’t hurt to get a second opinion and see what each practitioner says about the other’s ideas. (alternative or otherwise)
Each practitioner will be affected by their own anecdotes and pre-existing perceptions of a situation. This is very different to “doctor shopping” (where you go to different ones until someone tells you what you already decided). Especially if you’d like to try a complimentary medicine as part of your treatment, a GP may be able to advise on current scientific research around it vs what a naturopath may state.
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The recent published paper by the AW Morrow Gastroenterology and Liver Centre, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Sydney Medical School at the University of Sydney and Medical Data Analytic Centre and Institute of Digestive Disease at the Chinese University of Hong Kong, provides strong evidence to why herbal and dietary supplements need to be regulated.
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Lack of evidence does not stop the industry finding new ways to promote products of doubtful health benefit.
The Guardian article included the following commentary. It explains why we can purchase the products and how they pass TGA regulation. IE a tick of approval - but only that the product is unlikely to cause serious harm. Other than to your shopping budget?
To get a ‘natural’ brain boosting product listed on the Australian Register of Therapeutic Goods, manufacturers only have to show that the ingredients in their products are all permitted in Australia; that they are manufactured according to the principles of good manufacturing practice; and that the health claims made are within the range of ‘low-level indications’ set by the Therapeutic Goods Administration. This applies to claims such as helping mind relaxation, enhancing brain health, increasing cognitive performance and reducing cognitive fatigue.
…
Companies don’t actually have to provide evidence that the product does what they claim it does.
Had anything really changed?
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