Words and Legalities & Therapeutic

[Guest guest]

Howdy Pam,

 

> I thought I read somewhere that you couldn't use the word

> 'therapeutic' when advertising your eo's ... is that true - and if

> so, where can I find the skinny on that in legaleze.

 

I know of no specific laws or regulations prohibiting use of the term

" Therapeutic " .. but there are laws and regulations that can get us in a bind if

we use it to support false claims.

 

What I believe and in some cases even know and are more than certain of .. and

what I can prove are not the same things.

 

I've not used such terms since opening shop in 1995 and it has never slowed me

down .. we have customers in 50 U.S. states and 90 other countries. I get

inquiries from time to time from rookies asking if my oils can be ingested or

are they a Grade that does not exist .. or approved by one of the many

organizations that some con artists claim approve or certify theirs ..

organizations that IN FACT do not approve or certify anything. I am asked if

alcohol is used in the distillation and if the Oregano is first distillation and

other such nonsense. All of this tells me that they know NOTHING about EO and

are shopping for cheaper prices because they have been paying far more than

actual value for oils from outfits who use such Bovine Excrement and false

claims in their ads.

 

Some of these amateurs get upset when I tell them like it is rather than how

they want to hear it .. so they don't come back. Their loss it is .. not mine.

Odds are that use of EO is a fad for them and they will soon move on to some

other venture .. like basket weaving or scrap booking.

 

If one wants to be a successful con artist in business or a successful dictator

in politics they must have an extremely good memory .. being a pathological liar

helps to some degree because they can believe their own lies .. being a

charismatic is a must. Your lies must be consistent .. not easy to do this.

Reminds me of a friend in the Istanbul Covered Bazaar .. he has an old copper

shop .. hundreds of pieces and some were actually antique .. others produced

last week. Each piece had a unique story and over a beer or chi he could relate

that story to a buyer and make an offer they couldn't refuse. The amazing part

was that next week he could relate the exact same story for the exact same piece

to a different buyer .. and this was very important because the second buyer

might work in the same Embassy shop as the first and they could compare notes on

that antique wine goblet that once belonged to Sultan Mehmet's oldest daughter.

;-)

 

1. There is no Therapeutic Grade of EO in the U.S.A. The closest to grades we

should get to is Aromatherapy Grade and Commercial Grade and these two are not

codified in law .. but they are accurate in distinguishing between qualities.

 

2. When we say an oil is Therapeutic we are walking on egg shells because we

then might need to say .. for what? And when we answer that question we are

most likely making a medicinal claim .. and we can not make medicinal claims

unless they have been approved by the FDA. Well .. not exactly true .. we can

make claims .. just as we can drive drunk or speed .. but we might get our butt

in a bind if we are caught.

 

Even medical doctors can get in hot water if they make unproved medical claims

... they are allowed to PRACTICE medicine using humans as Guinea Pigs and they

have a lot of room to " practice " .. but they can be held accountable if they

practice outside the realm of what has been approved or sanctioned by the powers

that be. Witness the doctor now being raked over the fire in the Michael

Jackson case.

 

And .. if July last year, ex-doctor Cass Igram and his partner, Judy Gray .. of

North American Herb & Spice .. in a court case brought by the FDA and FCC were

fined $2.5 million for making false claims.

http://www.ftc.gov/os/caselist/0623214/index.shtm

 

There are many other examples.

 

If we are asked to prove a claim we are generally not going to be able to do it.

With some exceptions (few is probably more correct) we can not PROVE that our

oil is therapeutic .. or for what .. or more therapeutic than another company's

oil. We can prove purity and even quality (all pure oils are not quality oils)

... and in my less than humble opinion a pure & quality oil will have far more

potential therapeutic properties than one that is not both pure and high in

quality .. but finding credible studies to support this is a horse of a

different color.

 

That is an answer but not the only answer. Some folks love to live on the edge

of the law and take risks but I think they are gambling. If they are a small

business the risk is probably smaller .. unless they make enemies. More than

one small outfit has been called down and warned by the government to cease and

desist or prove their case. Responsible business folks need to cover their butts

... important that is .. but for me personally .. maintaining credibility is even

important. My memory is not so great so I must tell it like I really believe ..

or know .. it is. Otherwise .. credibility is shot.

 

My introduction to new wholesale buyers (via e-mail .. not on my web site)

states .. in part:

 

" Please note that I do not make any claims of Essential Oils having healing

properties.

 

I am not a medical doctor and I don't make claims. Those who choose to make

such claims place themselves in harm's way because in the U.S.A. it is illegal

to do this.

 

Etc., etc., etc.

 

Quality of Essential Oils offered: I deal only in Aromatherapy Grade Essential

Oils .. they must be pure and high in quality. There's a difference between

purity and quality ... an Essential Oil can be a pure but mediocre oil.

 

My oils are natural, unadulterated, not manipulated in any manner and my

analysis tests prove that the chemical profiles are well within that range

considered as having optimum value.

 

Etc., etc., etc.,

 

> thanks

> pam

 

Welcome for sure.

 

Y'all have a good one .. and keep smiling. :-)

 

Butch ... http://www.AV-AT.com