Quote from Andocrates:

The herbal drug business is a $5 Billion a year racket. So they operate on the same concepts you accuse doctors of, more so when you realize doctors make a lot of money already. I think herbal medicines are far more toxic then FDA approved medicines. Ecstasy started as a supplement to promote well-being (which it certainly did) There are often extremely high levels of mercury in Fish Oil supplements and sea weed. Ephedra was only banned after it destroyed many lives, not only in America but more so in Japan and China. Many of these things Ginko Baloba can cause internal bleeding, potassiam levels that can kill. There are so many risks to that lifestyle. It's your choice of course, but it's far from "natural."

Hey sweetie, just trying to help. But for your information, fish oil isn't an "herb". I agree, some herbs can be toxic in concentrated form, the strongest herb I take myself is chammomile tea, which is so mild it isn't funny.

Mercury? THis is why you get a good brand, pharmaceutical grade which are purified. Or, there is also a brand, Nature's bounty, which is from salmon. Salmon is one of the fish that has no mercury, most charts on mercury show "ND", meaning non-detectable.

I am more into food supplements; now, even vitamins can be toxic but I'm sorry dear, you really have to be a nut to get to that sort of level (yes, there are mega-dosing nuts out there) You just won't have any problems if you take as directed, and most vitamins just wash through the system that aren't needed except for only a few like Vit. A and E.

Pharmaceutical psych drugs are another story. They are extremely toxic, even in theraputic doses. If they weren't, you could get them over the counter.

As far as the whole racket thing goes, many vitamins/herbs are made by, guess who, pharmaceutical labs. THey got everyone. At least most herbs will not cause the damage pharmas will; ephedra was an exception.

For every ephedra incident, there are several pharmaceutical counterparts. Pharma drugs have more incidents of damage compared to anything over the counter. The commercials by all these lawyer's firms are always showing up because of yet another pharmaceutical drug that is under lawsuit.

The latest I know of are Zyprexa, for causing diabetic coma and diabetes and Neurontin, for suicidal feeling and idealization. Both are psychoactive drugs used for mental "disorders".

I like how you used potassium levels as an example of a side effectof ginko, since my mother in law just had the same problem that put her in the hospital, but it wasn't Ginko that caused it,(she doesn't take that), it was a PRESCRIPTION her doctor gave her. Oh my. ;)

And internal bleeding??? What about that drug they advertise on T.V that can cause that very thing? They even mention it on the commercial as a serious side effect!

So don't preach about herb dangers to me, :nono: they are far less likely to cause harm than prescriptions by a landslide dear!!!!