It doesn’t take more than an evening of watching television or reading a few magazines to see that Big Pharma is trying to promote the mindset that there’s a pill for everything. But despite billions of dollars spent on consumer advertising, Washington lobbying, and the wooing or bribing of doctors right from the beginning of med school, the industry has some serious problems with credibility that may just eventually bring it down. Continue reading “FTC Censorship Delays Big Pharma’s Inevitable Failure to Dominate our Health”
Tag: FTC
Could FTC Censorship of Supplements Increase Violent Behavior?
When we think about dietary supplements, we usually think of our physical health. But our mental and emotional health can also be helped with vitamins, minerals, herbs, and so on. The usual prescription for our emotional health is drugs.
Antidepressants, for example, are the most widely prescribed type of drugs in the U.S. However, there are also several natural remedies for depression which studies show are as, if not more, effective than drugs. They are also safer than prescribed drugs for the patients. In fact, FTC censorship of natural remedies for depression could even put the family members, friends and neighbors of those patients in danger.
How are antidepressant drugs dangerous to the family, friends and neighbors of the depressed person? According to a recent study, antidepressant drugs are among the top 10 legal drugs linked to violence toward others.
The new study, conducted by the Institute for Safe Medication Practices and published in the journal PloS One, reviewed the items in the FDA’s Adverse Event Reporting System and isolated 31 drugs that have the most reports of violent behavior towards others.
Researchers point out that, although the drugs may sometimes be given to those who already have a history of violent behavior, the propensity to violent behavior while taking these particular drugs stands out – even when history and other factors are considered. In other words, it really looks like the drugs themselves might be the problem.
Here is the countdown on the top ten offenders:
10. Desvenlafaxine (Pristiq), an antidepressant and anti-anxiety drug, is 7.9 times more likely to be associated with violence than other drugs.
9. Venlafaxine (Effexor), also prescribed for depression and anxiety, is 8.3 times more likely than other drugs to be related to violent behavior.
8. Fluvoxamine (Luvox), another antidepressant, is 8.4 times more likely than other medications to be linked with violence.
7. Triazolam (Halcion), a benzodiazepine used to treat insomnia, is 8.7 times more likely to be linked with violence than other drugs.
6. Atomoxetine (Strattera), used to treat the symptoms identified as attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), is 9 times more likely to be linked with violence than the average medication.
5. Mefoquine (Lariam), a treatment for malaria, is 9.5 times more likely to be linked with violence than other drugs.
4. Amphetamines, various types, used to treat the symptoms identified with ADHD, are 9.6 times more likely to be linked to violence than other drugs.
3. Paroxetine (Paxil), another antidepressant, is 10.3 times more likely to be linked with violence. And, by the way, is also linked with more severe withdrawal symptoms and a greater risk of birth defects than other similar medications.
2. Fluoxetine (Prozac), the antidepressant everyone’s heard of, is 10.9 times more likely to be linked with violence than other drugs.
1. Varenicline (Chantix), the anti-smoking drug, is 18 times more likely to be linked with violence.
How’s that for depressing?
So, what are the natural remedies that could help with depression so we can avoid this violent behavior? According to the Mayo Clinic, a few of the common herbal remedies and other supplements you might try include the following:
“St. John’s wort. Known scientifically as Hypericum perforatum, this is an herb that’s been used for centuries to treat a variety of ills, including depression. It’s not approved by the Food and Drug Administration to treat depression in the United States. Rather, it’s classified as a dietary supplement. However, it’s a popular depression treatment in Europe. It may be helpful if you have mild or moderate depression.
“SAMe. Pronounced “sammy,” this is a synthetic form of a chemical that occurs naturally in the body. The name is short for S-adenosylmethionine. It’s not approved by the FDA to treat depression in the United States. Rather, it’s classified as a dietary supplement. However, it’s used in Europe as a prescription drug to treat depression.
“Omega-3 fatty acids. Eating a diet rich in omega-3s or taking omega-3 supplements may help ease depression and also appears to have a number of other health benefits. These healthy fats are found in cold-water fish, flaxseed, flax oil, walnuts and some other foods.”
The Mayo Clinic also mentions acupuncture, yoga and massage therapy as other options used to treat depression.
Studies have also shown exercise to be effective. In fact, more effective than antidepressants.
It’s not uncommon for depression to stem from physical conditions like nutritional deficiencies and imbalances, hormonal problems, allergies and so on. Strangely enough, antidepressant-deficiency isn’t among them.
Check with your health practitioner to get tested and find out if one of those physical conditions applies to you. Chances are your regular family doctor won’t be trained in how to do that kind of testing – and if he or she does, count yourself very lucky – so it might be best to find an alternative, integrative or functional medicine practitioner to dig in and find out what’s doing on.
When you get your recommended program, and if the FDA or FTC censorship hasn’t already put the manufacturers of these natural remedies out of business, you can follow your health practitioner’s advice and get the supplements you need. You may even get better, without side effects, and without giving your neighbor a black eye!
Creative Commons Attribution: Permission is granted to repost this article in its entirety with credit to Wellness Truth Network and a clickable link back to this page.
FDA and FTC Censorship Does Not Focus on Preventing Real Health Risks
Years ago, a doctor told me to stay away from hospitals. He was an M.D. – you would think his attitude would be somewhat different. What was the reasoning behind that advice? Patient deaths, injury and other mishaps were rampant in the hospital setting. As studies were done and the problems in hospitals were exposed, action was apparently taken to protect patients. However, according to recent studies, there has been very little improvement. Shouldn’t the focus of the FDA and FTC censorship be on protecting us from these dangers? Continue reading “FDA and FTC Censorship Does Not Focus on Preventing Real Health Risks”
FTC Censorship Has Its Site Set on the Wrong Target
One of the worst things about FTC censorship of supplements is the attempt to take control of our health out of our hands and put it into the hands of those who may not have our best interests at heart. Many notables have warned us of this possibility. Some warnings were as long ago as the founding of the country. Continue reading “FTC Censorship Has Its Site Set on the Wrong Target”
UK to Run Huge Campaign to Convince Citizens that Organic Food is Better
On the heels of the new Food Safety Modernization Act, which threatens the health of Americans and the livelihood of small and organic farmers, comes a wonderful story from the UK: The European Union is actually co-funding a $2.8 million campaign to spread the word in the UK that organic food is better for you. Continue reading “UK to Run Huge Campaign to Convince Citizens that Organic Food is Better”
FTC Censorship Alive and Well With Unethical Food Companies
NaturalNews) A Food Investigations mini-documentary released today exposes the “blueberry deception” in name-brand cereals, bagels, breads and bars. Continue reading “FTC Censorship Alive and Well With Unethical Food Companies”
FTC Censorship of Nutritional Supplements That Help Diabetes
When you’re talking about patrolling your street to ensure no one is breaking into your home or, once the deed is done, tracking down your stolen merchandise and the responsible criminals, ‘to serve and protect’ is a welcome mission statement. We all want to live in safe areas, and we’re willing to pay through our taxes for that protection. But some government involvement in our lives not only fails to serve and protect, it even prevents us from serving and protecting ourselves. Continue reading “FTC Censorship of Nutritional Supplements That Help Diabetes”
Do You Have a Prescription for Those Walnuts? Wellness Truth Network challenges FTC censorship
PASADENA, CALIFORNIA–(Marketwire – Jan. 5, 2011) – According to recent statements by the Wellness Truth Network (WTN) in Pasadena, CA., the FTC and FDA, who have a long history of censorship of natural remedies, are attempting to classify natural substances which are proven to help in the prevention of heart disease as drugs.
As the US population ages, big Pharma stands to make billions of dollars from patentable drugs for heart disease and other ailments related to aging. According to Bob Held, CEO of WTN, the actions of the FTC in suppressing and over-regulating natural remedies acts to protect the profits of the corporations to the detriment of the American population.
Held is embroiled in his own fight with the FTC over the promotion of natural remedies for Diabetes, which he is challenging in court.
“If it can’t be patented by a pharmaceutical company, the chances are good that any health solution found in nature is being attacked by the FTC and FDA. A fifth grader could figure out who they are protecting, and it’s not the American people.”
As an example, Held points out, Diamond Foods, makers of Diamond Culinary Nuts, has cited clinical studies and other scientifically validated data on their web site, showing that the Omega 3 fatty acids found in walnuts “can help lower cholesterol; protect against heart disease, stroke and some cancers; ease arthritis and other inflammatory diseases; and even fight depression and other mental illnesses.”
Earlier this year the company received a warning letter from the FTC stating that “Because of these intended uses, your walnut products are drugs within the meaning of section 201 (g)(1)(B) of the Act [21 U.S.C. § 321(g)(B)]. Your walnut products are also new drugs under section 201(p) of the Act [21 U.S.C. § 321(p)] [and] may not be legally marketed with the above claims in the United States without an approved new drug application.”
The absurdity of classifying a nut as a drug is not lost on Held. “According to this thinking, we’re not allowed to say that heart healthy foods provided by nature can be an option to the expensive and questionable pharmaceutical ‘solutions’.
“The tyranny of FTC censorship, and the threat they hold of financial ruin for anyone who dares say that healthy foods can help your body, has to end.”
Creative Commons Attribution: Permission is granted to repost this article in its entirety with credit to Wellness Truth Network and a clickable link back to this page.
Big Agri Works with FTC Censorship to Destroy the Health of Americans
A friend was recently in Canada visiting friends and family. While there, she was thrilled to receive many jars of her friend’s mother’s jams, jellies and preserves. Rhubarb, strawberry, wild blueberry – she said they were delicious. The family used to have a fruit farm and they really know how to make delicious food with fresh, safe, natural ingredients. She also scored a big jar of raw, unprocessed honey, straight from one of the three hives owned and operated by her friend’s son. Continue reading “Big Agri Works with FTC Censorship to Destroy the Health of Americans”
FTC Censorship Missing When We Really Need It
From CBS business network, BNET, an article titled: WebMD’s Depression Test Has Only One (Sponsored) Answer: You’re “At Risk”. In this case, we could really use some FTC censorship or exposure or threats or fines as the FTC is so fond of doing with the natural supplement sector. Continue reading “FTC Censorship Missing When We Really Need It”