Letters to representatives

[Guest guest]

When we post calls to action on the FDA issue I think it is a good idea to

post (every time) the web links to resources to find your local & federal

representatives. I will often forward important information on this issue

to groups of people urging them to act. I think the easier it is for them

to follow through (e.g. sample letters, gov't contacts, etc) the more likely

it will be that they will contribute to the effort.

 

Can someone repost the Gov sites that contain this info? Also, more sample

letters would be great. There are a couple posted at

http://www.americanchinesemedicineassociation.org/. These are great

letters, but I wonder if they are perhaps a bit wordy for inclusion in the

letter writing campaign. A short note from a concerned citizen seems

appropriate, with the wordy explanations coming from the larger companies,

organizations, etc.

 

Regarding the letters recently posted, my understanding is that a) ban xia

was not specified in the ban, & b) prepared medicinals with ban xia contain

no statistically significant ephedrine alkaloids. Therefore, should we

exercise care in how we mention it in our letters? Comments?

 

Tim Sharpe

 

 

Sean Doherty

Saturday, March 27, 2004 8:15 AM

had already forwarded one letter at the end of one of his posts, I

think it was from Blue Poppy:

Example of letter to be sent: (cut and paste it)

 

Date xxx

 

I am a Licensed Acupuncturist in your voting district and would like to

voice my opinion regarding the final FDA ruling declaring Dietary

Supplements containing Ephedrine alkaloids adulterated. The FDA has banned

the use of Ephedra (Ma Huang) and Pinellia (Ban Xia) because they contain

ephedrine alkaloids. There are no Adverse Event Reports regarding the herbs

Ephedra (Ma Huang) and Pinellia (Ban Xia), from a practitioner-restricted

product. In other words, the FDA has not followed due process with this

herb.

 

I use Ephedra (Ma Huang) occasionally and Pinellia (Ban Xia) regularly in my

practice and these herbs are administered safely according to my extensive

traditional Chinese herbal training and national certification. Please

communicate to FDA on my behalf. I would like to request that this recent

ban be revised, to allow access to dietary supplements that contain

ephedrine alkaloids in my practice, for use in traditional formulas and for

traditional uses.

 

Sincerely,

 

 

 

John Doe

Your Address

 

 

 

 

 

CC: Senator, Congressman, FDA Personnel