Recently the FDA has proposed new regulations concerning natural health products with the intent of providing more direction to the dietary supplement industry.These new regulations would classify many natural health supplements as drugs based on what they are used to treat. The following question illustrates.

Which of the following are diseases? a) Menopause b) Aging c) Headache d) Pregnancy. According to regulations proposed by the FDA (US Food & Drug Administration) all of the above would be considered diseases. Under these new regulations any herb, vitamin or mineral used to benefit a `DISEASE' would be regulated as a drug. This means that any dietary supplement providing benefit during menopause, aging, headaches or pregnancy could be considered a drug and therefore regulated as such. For instance the herb white willow, from which aspirin is obtained, could be classified as a drug because it is used to treat headaches.

To the consumer this would mean restricted access to vitamins, minerals, and herbs as well as higher costs and even less information on supplement labels.

For example under the proposed regulations the label on an herbal product for menopause might simply read `for women over 40', giving the consumer no real idea of its use. If the label claimed to have an effect on hot flashes or any other menopausal problem it would be classified as a drug.

A claim that a product was anti-depressant, laxative or even anti-viral in the case of the popular cold and flu herb echinacea, would cause it to be classified as a drug. The FDA also wishes to class adverse reactions to drugs or medical procedures as diseases. Therefore any products claiming to counter adverse reactions to drugs such as acidophilus to counteract upset stomach associated with antibiotic use could be considered a drug.

Products which use diseases in their names (e.g. `carpal tunnel syndrome' or `Hepatacure'-liver problems ) would constitute disease claims. Drug names in the label such as `Herbal Prozac' for St. Johns wort or products that claim to augment a particular drug action (e.g. `use as part of your diet when taking insulin to help maintain a healthy blood sugar level' ) would be considered the same way. All these labelling regulations mean that producers of dietary supplements will not be able to tell you how new scientific research has been linked to supplements that address menopause, aging, headaches, pregnancy and other conditions. Moreover dietary supplements that address these and other conditions would be regulated as drugs. This would mean visiting the doctor to obtain a prescription and then the pharmacy to fill it. A bottle of echinacea or even vitamin C could end up costing the consumer a considerable amount of time and money,provided you could even get these supplements. In my opinion, it seems as though everybody is benefiting except the consumer.

The FDA already has a full and wide ranging authority to ensure the safety of dietary supplements and claims regarding them. They have so much power, they even succeeded in seizing safe and effective remedies such as coenzyme Q 10 and evening primrose oi, because they did not approve of statements being made about these supplements. According to author and Ph.D J. Whittaker, `the extract of the saw palmetto berry has been shown by scientific studies to be about three times more effective than the Merck prostate drug Proscar, for alleviating the symptoms of prostate enlargement. Furthermore saw palmetto berry has no toxicity. The FDA recommended that saw palmetto be taken off the market while leaving proscar to remain available. According to summaries from the US Poison Control Center, one death was associated with the use of a nutritional supplement from 1983 to 1990. On the other hand pharmaceutical drug use causes fatal reactions in 44 percent of hospitalised patients . This transmits to about 130,000 deaths a year or 356 deaths every day'.

As science grants a new legitimacy to the traditional uses of plants, herbs are reclaiming their rightful place in natural health care.They are emerging as the medicine of the future as well as the past: a safe, effective approach to healing. Of course herbs like over the counter drugs need to be taken with caution , however it is my opinion that more regulation will only serve to restrict information and choice for the consumer and raise prices making the already wealthy pharmaceutical companies wealthier.

Camilla Macpherson co-owner of Nature's Chi Camilla Macpherson HEALTH HTH