“Tested and Proven” doesn’t necessarily mean better

Let’s say a college professor who had been teaching calculus for many years wrote a calculus test for his class to take. And let’s say a 10 year old boy was given the test and managed to pass it. Would that “prove” that the 10 year old has more knowledge and ability in calculus than the professor because he passed the test and the professor hasn’t? Just because the professor hasn’t taken the test doesn’t mean he can’t get a better grade than his students. The professor hasn’t taken the test because he has no incentive to do so.

In a similar way, herbs and traditional medicines have been used for thousands of years for a variety of health problems. Yet, many physicians indoctrinated into mainstream thinking act as though synthetic drugs are better than natural medicines at restoring health, since drugs have been through testing for safety and efficacy required by the FDA to sell synthetic drugs on the market.

Herbal companies do not have the same incentive to go through the testing process required by laws in order for them to be able to talk about the medical problems that herbs have been used to treat for thousands of years. That testing costs millions and herbs are not patentable and so the companies cannot recoup their investment in the testing.

However, we see in the news, from time to time, big name synthetic drugs being taken off the market because of the unforeseen damage they are doing to people. Each one of these drugs had been through the safety and efficacy testing required by the FDA for drug companies to make health claims.

Obviously, passing the safety and efficacy testing process doesn’t prove a drug will restore health and doesn’t prove a drug won’t cause unforeseen damage. And, because an herbal medicine hasn’t gone through the FDA process for drugs doesn’t mean that it has been proven ineffective or harmful.

Is it possible that in some situations that “unproven” herbal medicines can restore health better and more safely than “proven” drugs? I assure you it is. I’ve seen it in others and I’ve experienced it myself.

Best always,
Denis Wilson, MD