CALL TO ACTION on FDA Ephedra Ban

[Guest guest]

All,

 

I strongly urge you to write your Congresspeople about the FDA's ban of Ban Xia

in all dietary supplements, including all ready-made

(i.e., Chinese patent) medicines. If this ruling is implemented and allowed to

stand, it creates a precedent whereby the FDA can pick

off one herb after another. Because of concern about herb-drug interactions,

more an more information is being published about the

active constituents of our meds. That means that the FDA will increasingly be

able to identify which herbs it thinks should be

reclassified as medicines. Zhi Shi, which contains sinefrin, is a case in point.

Once reclassified as a medicine (whether OTC or

scheduled), there's no way we can use it without millions of dollars of

research. If you think you can live without Zhi Shi, yesterday I

read that Chen Pi also contains sinefrin. So does Zhi Ke, and those are just the

tip of the iceberg in terms of similar such problems.

0bviously, our meds work because they contain biologically active chemical

constituents.

 

This is no joke. Please write your representative today. Your ability to

prescribe and dispense any and all ready-made Chinese

medicinal remedies is on the line.

 

Bob Flaws

[Guest guest]

From what I heard today from some other herb companies who have also called upon

all their customers to write letters to the FDA

and their Congressional representatives, only a small handful of people have

done so to date. Anyone who thinks this is all going to

blow over without each of us having to exert themselves on behalf of our

profession and our patients is dreaming. Please, please,

please write, e-mail, or call your representatives as well as the AAOM, National

Alliance, AT, and your state orgs. We've got to get

our heads out of the sand and mobilize. This is the time and this is the issue

which may very well determine the long-term future of

Chinese medicine in the U.S.

 

All ready-made Chinese medicines sold legally in this country are sold under

DSHEA as " dietary supplements. " If the FDA ruling

stands as is, you will not be able to prescribe and sell anything other than

bulk-dispensed Chinese herbs to your patients, and how

many of them are going to be willing to take their Chinese meds that way? This

has nothing to do with your scope of practice or any

state laws. The FDA trumps all that.

 

Bob

[Guest guest]

I'll work to get people in Austin TX to send in letters if someone posts a

couple of good options. I think Jason/Chip's idea about patient petitions

is worth pursuing as well.

 

-tim sharpe

 

 

Musiclear

Saturday, March 27, 2004 6:25 AM

 

We could use ready made copy to pass out. Marketing has been the down

fall of many a practice. Could be the case here.

[Guest guest]

For a sample letter and how to/who to send it to, go to: www.bluepoppy.com

 

Bob