Food for Thought. . .

“Variability is the law of life, and as no two faces are the same, so no two bodies are alike, and no two individuals react alike and behave alike under the abnormal conditions which we know as disease.”

What Do You Really Know About Your Dietary Supplements?

There’s a frightening and emerging trend plaguing the dietary supplement (DS) industry. Recent studies (conducted by independent labs, scientists, and/or newspapers) in which DS were randomly and independently tested have shown that DS products do not always contain the ingredients (or the purity of ingredients) stated on the product label. This concern goes across all supplements: vitamins, minerals, herbs/botanicals, and amino acids.

To complicate matters, manufacturers of DS are not required to submit products to the scientific scrutiny of the FDA because DS are regulated as a food product, not a drug. The Federal Trade Commission regulates advertising of product claims, but that has nothing to do with the purity and quality of the pill you’re taking. The FDA has the authority to spot-check supplements (and to remove products that violate certain regulations) but is not required by law to test, or require testing, on all over-the-counter supplements.

Several private groups, as well as the Government Accountability Office (Natural Resources and the Environment Division) want more done to hold supplement makers accountable for the purity of their products. It’s a heated debate, but as more clinicians, consumers, and retailers call for standardized practices for testing, producing, and marketing DS before they go on the market, the more confident we all can be about what we’re buying.

Be an informed consumer:

1. Read labels and understand what the terms on the label actually mean (See Diagram). Ingredients you don’t want to see include fillers, dyes, lead, dextrose, titanium dioxide, and magnesium stearate.
2. If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is
3. Look for a Quality Assurance seal of approval: Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) and the U.S. Pharmacopeia (USP).
4. Purchase products from your healthcare provider or a reputable company.
5. Research the product / company on the Internet: National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM). Look for product recalls and scams: FDA Health Fraud Scams & Tainted Supplements.

Your best source of educational support is your health care practitioner.

What’s Really in Your Herbal Remedy?

Herbal supplements (botanicals; plant-based medicine) have been used for medicinal purposes for thousands of years. Today they are recognized for having drug-like effects such as improving mood. Products that can have medicinal effects also carry risk, especially if taken with other medicines or supplements. However, most over-the-counter herbal supplements are not subjected to the same scientific scrutiny and aren't as strictly regulated as medications.

As noted in our article about dietary supplements, makers of herbal supplements are not required to submit their products for FDA approval before going to market. Their only requirement is to demonstrate their products meet quality manufacturing standards. Studies have shown this is not enough: Many over-the-counter herbals are contaminated or substituted with alternative plant species and fillers that are not listed on the label. According to the World Health Organization, this adulteration of herbal products is a threat to consumer safety.

Before buying herbal supplements, do your homework and investigate potential benefits and side effects. Follow our tips below to help identify quality herbal supplements. Before taking an herbal supplement, talk your health practitioner—especially if you take other medications, have chronic health problems, or are pregnant or breastfeeding.

Quality Factors: Look for products that indicate standardized extracts; no fillers, preservatives/additives; naturally harvested; fair-trade/sustainable manufacturing practices.

Quality Control: Quality control (QC) refers to processes for maintaining the purity of a product. Without QC, there is no assurance that the herb contained in the bottle is the same as what is stated on the outside. One of the key solutions to the QC problem that exists in the United States is for manufacturers and suppliers to adhere to standardized manufacturing practices.

Products should indicate they are third-party tested. Look for a USP (U.S. Pharmacopeia) seal of approval. Check products (and product recalls) on these websites: Council for Responsible Nutrition, ConsumerLabs, and the National Institutes of Health Dietary Supplement QA Program. Check the product website for more information.

References

Cupping, a Traditional Chinese Therapy

Cupping is one of the oldest methods of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) dating back to 300 A.D. It was first described in A Handbook of Prescriptions for Emergencies, written by Ge Hong, a noted Taoist herbalist. Historical texts describe the use of various types of cups including bamboo and pottery, and medicinal treatment for headaches, dizziness, respiratory illness, and abdominal pain.

Today, cupping methods vary by intensity, size of the cups, use of heat or air, cup movement, and whether or not acupuncture is combined in a treatment session. Glass or thick, clear plastic cups are preferred because they allow the practitioner to evaluate the effects of treatment.

Like acupuncture, cupping follows the lines of the meridians. There are five meridian lines on the back, and these are where the cups are usually placed. In TCM, cupping is believed to purge toxins and help to restore qi (life force energy) by opening the meridian channels so that qi flows throughout all tissues and organs to promote healing and vitality.

What Happens in a Cupping Session?

In a traditional cupping session (“dry” cupping), glass cups are warmed using a cotton ball that has been soaked in alcohol, is lit, and placed inside the cup. Burning a substance inside the cup removes all the oxygen, which creates a vacuum. Next, the practitioner turns the cup upside-down and places it over a specific area on the body. The back, chest, abdomen, and buttocks are the most common sites on which the cups are applied. The vacuum effect anchors the cup and pulls the skin upward inside the cup. Cups are left in place for 5–10 minutes (sometimes longer depending on the condition being treated). Several cups may be placed on a patient’s body at the same time. Small amounts of medicated or herbal oils may also be applied to the skin just before the cupping procedure; this allows a practitioner to move cups up and down meridians (“gliding” cupping).

In addition to “dry” cupping, some practitioners also use “wet” or “air” cupping. In “air” cupping, after the cup is applied to the skin, a suction pump is attached to the cup to create a vacuum. In “wet” cupping, the skin is punctured before treatment. When the cup is applied and the skin is drawn up, a small amount of blood may flow from the puncture site, which is believed to help remove harmful substances and toxins from the body.

What Does It Treat?

In China, cupping is used primarily to treat respiratory conditions such as bronchitis, asthma, and congestion; arthritis; gastrointestinal disorders; and for management of pain and swelling. Clinical studies are limited, though there is growing interest from researchers. For now, there isn’t conclusive data on the effects of cupping for specific health concerns.

Is Cupping Safe?

While cupping is considered relatively safe for most people, it can cause swelling and bruising on the skin where the cups were applied. Bruising may last anywhere from a few days to two weeks. You may feel sore after treatment, but this will subside within 24 hours after a session.

Cupping should not be performed on individuals with inflamed skin, high fever, or convulsions, or with persons who bleed easily or who are pregnant. It’s wise for you to learn about the credentials of any practitioner who offers cupping treatments.

References

Guiding Principles