4 Herbal Supplements Your Doctor Hates

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Thank You for the informative article. Homeopathy, Aruyvedic medicene has been around for years. But like everything else, it is often misunderstood. What is good for one is not always good for all ?
Why would the medical field intraveneously provide Vitamin A, Vitamin B, Vitamin C, D & E etc... if there were no positive benefits ?
Personally I have been using vitamin c for periodontal disease for years and have found it effective. Without it I have problems.
What I have found is that the field lacks consistent information and marketing. All products are not the same. ie. 400 mgm of valerian one company markets may not be the same as 400 mgm that another company markets of the same drug.
I personally appreciate all information the field offers. Granny's spice rack included.

Annette Loescher of WA 12:12AM March 13, 2012

This article is garbage. Garbage, garbage, garbage. Makes me mad how she thinks we are so stupid.

Marchi of CA 12:09AM March 13, 2012

I KNOW that some herbs work. I have heart palpitations and have found that 1 capsule of cayenne pepper with yogurt in the morning and night makes my heart beat nearly normal and I feel good. I am young but inherited a bad heart. I work with a cardiologist and take a prescription drug, but the pharmaceuticals do not work this well.

Lisa of VT 11:39PM March 12, 2012

This article is absolute Garbage. It is based on corporate propaganda and it is getting old. My family and I have used Ginko and SJW. While we hit hard times in the economic crisis I was prescribed an antidepressent by a Doctor who attended University of Chicago. Gained 24 lbs and would feel hopelessness if and when I didnt take the medication for a day or two....after 2 months of being on it. I went to a Alternative Med Doctor and was told to take St. Johns Wort and would not believe the difference. Since lost the weight and feel stronger then ever. My wallet is also taking a lot less of a beating. Thank you Real Medicine!!!! Pharmaceuticals are good, but you should be EDUCATED above all else about your options.

Chris Majers of IL 10:47PM March 12, 2012

Models create their own reality. These comments are all from people who hold the allopathic, (Western) medical model of treatment.
Regarding health or treatment, their belief is that is they didn't invent and endorse it, it can't be good. Acupuncture was thought to be a sham when it was introduced to this country.
One physician said it best: The herbal remedies might interfere with the treatments (pharmaceuticals) we give them.
This feels so similar to relgious disagreements: My religion (model of spirituality) is the true one. My treatments and (allopathic) model are the true ones.
Models are not known for their "truth." Their power is in their USEFULNESS.
The last year for which we have reliable data was 2007 and in that year we spent $2.3 TRILLION for healthcare and we are only the ELEVENTH healthiest country in the world.
Clearly, something about the way we think and practice regarding health and health care is not working, but it's damn hard to get physicians to see what even ordinary people can see, viz. that Western medicine doesn't work well for every condition or for everyone and that to find another model that works better is the essence of being responsible for your own health.
Physicians are not in charge of our health; we are.
Physicians should be used like consultants. We might value what they see, but in the end, we are responsible to listening to ourselves regarding what is the best choice for us.
I myself take the least medicine I can. I let the body work itself out. I spend between $30-50/mont for supplements like Vit. D., C0 q10, fish oil, resversatrol, etc. that are known to be preventatives, to eliminate toxins and free radicals, and in general, bolster my health.
It is not a question for me of waiting to become ill and starting treatment. I am always wanting to be out in front of that and support my health and wellbeing at elevated levels.
At this level, it is not about treatment; it is about taking a leap into a level of thriving that we would all desire.
Finally, to say that at age almost 66, I have health and vitality that give me the air of a man ten to fifteen years younger. I have vibrant sexual health and intelligence and emotionality. (I feel sad to see men my own age who look old enough to be my father.)
You can do your best when you become ill, but you can also spend your time bolstering everything so that you enjoy the kind of health that doesn't go away.
I realize more and more that the years (decades) I've spent paying attention to the food I eat, the energy I have, the physical need for action and rest, and my spirit have all paid off.
I truly don't know what a man who has let that go can do, but I do know if I were he, I would start immediately to "feed" my body at higher and higher levels of nourishment and fortification and prevention, under the care of someone who knows that area. A step in the right direciton.

Bill Lamond of CA 10:46PM March 12, 2012

You should be fired for writing an article like this. I am a Doctor of Naturopathic Medicine and advise you and your superiors to look into PubMed.gov, where ever you received your information from incorrect and absolutely biased. Please use Government Certified Evidence based trials when educating the uninformed. I have lost much respect for MSN.

Dr.Mozd of IL 10:32PM March 12, 2012

Anna, how much did the big pharma pay you for this article?

Graham Hoffman of CA 9:38PM March 12, 2012

It's amazing someone is actually feeding the public this info.....The only point the article does make (that actually makes sense to me) Is that supplements are NOT tested by the FDA, and SOME vendors have taken advantage of this therefore putting heavy fillers, metals, etc in the supplement. But I feel like that is most likely solved with common sense, buy your supplements at a health food store by companies that show/prove their integrity. I don't want to see cheap, badly made supplements on the market, mostly because eventually the FDA will take over and sabatoge/control a lot of amazing remedies useful for the general public and all because some money hungry grocery store/Drugstore/etc wants to make profit off the ever growing non-tradional type healing/supplementation.

BG of CO 9:13PM March 12, 2012

Ugh. Completely biased and un-researched article; lousy journalism at its best (worst?) Wonder which pharmaceutical company(ies) advertises with U.S. News & World Report???

linds of CO 8:33PM March 12, 2012

I see that most comments indicate they believe in supplements and so do I! Tell me how many vitamin salesmen visit physicians to tell them the benefits of vitamins and minerals, right---none! Physicians get their pharmaceutical education from salesmens, that's where the money is, not supplements. Also the medical establishment doesn't want the great unwashed masses "self medicating." Supplements have helped me, do your homework and get a doctor that's not prejudiced, mine isn't.
like the

majordad48 of GA 8:18PM March 12, 2012