Newsletter Extra 092603

Newsletter Extra 092603
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Doctor Yourself Newsletter **EXTRA** (Vol. 3, No 22-A) September 26, 2003

Written by Andrew Saul, PhD, of http://www.doctoryourself.com , a free online library of over 350 natural healing articles with nearly 4,000 scientific references.

SUPPLEMENT RESTRICTION: AMERICA IS THE NEXT TARGET

Make no mistake about it: there is a movement afoot to take away your access to vitamin supplements in the USA, as in Europe. If passed, Senate bill S. 722, the so-called "Dietary Supplement Safety Act of 2003" will insure that this happens.

For example, this proposed law contains the following words: `SEC. 416. ADVERSE EXPERIENCES WITH DIETARY SUPPLEMENTS. (a) DEFINITIONS

"(1) ADVERSE DIETARY SUPPLEMENT EXPERIENCE- The term `adverse dietary supplement experience' means an adverse event that is associated with the use of a dietary supplement in a human, without regard to whether the event is known to be causally related to the dietary supplement."

Think about that and re-read it. This is federal legislation based on hear-say. Do you think that is a good idea?

How about this section:

`(d) SAFETY REVIEW FOR POSSIBLY DANGEROUS DIETARY SUPPLEMENTS

`(1) IN GENERAL- If a clinical evaluation by the Secretary (of the FDA) of 1 or more serious adverse events indicates that a dietary supplement or a dietary ingredient contained in a dietary supplement appears to present a significant or unreasonable risk of illness, the Secretary may require the manufacturers of the dietary supplement, or of a dietary ingredient contained in a dietary supplement, to submit to the Secretary data demonstrating that the dietary supplement containing the dietary ingredient is safe.

`(2) APPROVAL OR DISAPPROVAL OF CONTINUED MARKETING- As soon as practicable after receiving data required under paragraph (1), the Secretary shall review the data and issue a determination that--

`(A)(i) the dietary supplement is safe; and

`(ii) the continued marketing of the dietary supplement is approved; or

`(B)(i) the dietary supplement is not safe or has not been shown to be safe under ordinary or frequent conditions of use; and

`(ii) the continued marketing of the dietary supplement is disapproved.'.

THIS WORDING GIVES THE SECRETARY OF THE U.S. FOOD AND DRUG ADMINISTRATION ABSOLUTE POWER TO REGULATE EVERY SINGLE SUPPLEMENT.

Do you think that is right?

Read the full text of this proposed law at http://thomas.loc.gov/ by typing in "S. 722." 722 alone will not work. You have to type "S. 722." ("S" indicates Senate.)

http://www.greatestherbsonearth.com/nsparticles/ama_dshe a.htm contains a good commentary article on S. 722, with a ready-to-print-and-use form letter provided at http://www.greatestherbsonearth.com/nsparticles/s722_letter .htm so you can write to your senator immediately. (I have no financial connection with this website, and make no recommendation or endorsement of its products or other commercial content.)

You can send your comments electronically, by email, for free, at http://www.congress.org . I just cut-and-pasted the form letter into a plain text format ("Notepad") and then edited it a bit. You can, too, or if you prefer you can just use my letter, below, which I have already to both my U.S. Senators.

Here it is:

Dear Senator:

I respectfully urge you to do all in your power to kill S-722 (the "Dietary Supplement Safety Act of 2003," introduced March 26th, 2003 by Senator Richard J. Durbin (D-IL). The bill's intent is to overturn the main provisions of the Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act of 1994 (DSHEA).

I think S-722 and its congressional backers will be very unpopular with the American people. I can say this because more citizen letters were sent to Congress in 1992-1994 in support of DSHEA than over any other issue in American history. If you have a hand in overturning the freedoms that DSHEA provides, voters will strongly disapprove.

DSHEA was enacted after years of debate in Congress. During the process, it became very clear that there was overwhelming public support for ensuring free access to dietary supplements.

S-722 would give the FDA the potential power to remove thousands of herbs and other dietary supplements from the marketplace, as it has tried to do many times already, literally for decades. S-722 would give FDA complete discretion to make such a determination. That is wrong. It was the will of the people and of Congress, as stated in DSHEA, that supplement availability in America is not to be regulated or restricted.

S-722 would require premarket approval for caffeine in herbs and dietary supplements but would specifically exempt manufacturers of drugs and foods like coffee, tea, and soft drinks from that requirement. Do you really think that is right?

You are almost certainly most concerned with the safety of your constituents, but you may not be aware of this: There is not even one death per year from vitamins. S. 722 gives FDA power to control access to vitamins, and not just other, more questionable products. And as for unsafe products, you should be fully aware that DSHEA already provides FDA with very ample authority to remove any dangerous product at any time. FDA has always had this authority. They still have it. S. 722 is essentially a power grab that undermines DSHEA and the rights of your constituents.

Please oppose S. 722, and please write back to me on this subject.

Respectfully yours, Andrew W. Saul

My Senator's office tells me that we can check and see to what extent this bill is making progress at http://thomas.loc.gov/

There is more information, and important links, concerning attempts to restrict access to vitamin supplements at http://www.doctoryourself.com/news/v3n21.txt and http://www.doctoryourself.com/supplement_limit.html .

Abram Hoffer, M.D., offers this comment on Europe's recently approved, continent-wide ban on consumer access to vitamin supplements:

"Your recent newsletter (http://www.doctoryourself.com/news/v3n21.txt) proves very clearly that modern medicine is not scientific, that it is full of prejudice, illogic and susceptible to advertising. Doctors are not taught to reason. They are programmed to believe in whatever their medical schools teach them and the leading doctors tell them. And over the past 20 years the drug companies with their enormous wealth have taken medicine over and now control its research, what is taught and the information released to the public. Very important information in your newsletter. If the European Union has its way, all consumer access to nutrients throughout Europe will be prohibited, while the massive drug companies will still be permitted to experiment all they like with their dangerous potions."

Please write to both your Senators today. And how about sending a letter to your local newspaper? My easy how-to hints to help you are at http://www.doctoryourself.com/write_now.html

"When I feel the heat, I see the light." (Senator Everett Dirksen)

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Copyright  C  1999 and prior years Andrew W. Saul. 

Andrew Saul is the author of the books FIRE YOUR DOCTOR! How to be Independently Healthy (reader reviews athttp://www.doctoryourself.com/review.html) and DOCTOR YOURSELF: Natural Healing that Works. (reviewed at http://www.doctoryourself.com/saulbooks.html )

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