Does anyone need any more evidence that herbal supplements are a scam?

There was a study done a couple of years ago, backed by the BBC, that amply demonstrated that homeopathy is complete bullshit, too, but the scammers are still going strong.
The retards that believe in this nonsense will never be convinced.

If you can buy it without a doctor’s authorization, it must be safe.

It has no contraindications on the bottle, so it must be safe.

It has no side effects, so it must be safe.

The “active ingredient” is the plant that XYZ culture has used for N years to treat ABC symptoms, so it must work.

Doctors only want to make money, so my herbal stuff must be better for me.

—Does this sound like the logic of people who read studies?

So what? All the evidence is the world isn’t going to convince the “true believers”. You’re pissing in the wind.

On something like this, which isn’t going to kill you (even if it doesn’t help you), users are going to cling onto whatever placebo they think is working. Criticizing them for it isn’t going to make a difference.

Sure, these are worthless. But to some of the population, these sorts of supplements give them meaning and purpose – almost like religion.

The most well thought out scientific study isn’t going to change minds. (Just look at climate change / global warming)

” Does anyone need any more evidence that herbal supplements are a scam? ”

True believers do not use evidence so It won’t make any difference to them at all.

Look at the idiots using ” food grade ” hydrogen peroxide as a supplement!

There are supplements that have benefits, and are backed by studies at this point. More are being studied all the time, some will shake out as ineffective, some will probably move mainstream.

Researching or relying only on pharmaceuticals or supplements will limit your options either way, why not look at evidence for either side and make your decision?

That’s not really what the article you linked is about though. Suppliers substituting ineffective ingredients and mislabeling them should be held accountable, just like selling horse meat as beef or selling vinyl as leather. Hopefully the resulting change will be some level of accountability from suppliers and a shakedown in that industry to come more in line with the rules they already have regarding making unwarranted claims.

@Seek_Kolinahr first? roshambo? meet me by the bike rack? thumb war at dawn?

You can’t lump all herbal supplements together, if something works for someone it works for someone, placebo or no, does it matter…

Yes, it matters.

Here’s your cheeseburger.
– Mmm! This is delicious!
It’s baby seal.
– But you said it was cheeseburger!
It’s baby seal cheeseburger.
– That’s horrific!
Well, you liked it. So what does it matter?

@Seek_Kolinahr, I am assuming of course that the product contains what it claims to, slightly different scenario I think. My comment refers to whether something works for someone or not and does it matter why exactly, if it works it works.

@ragingloli I have tried homoeopathy on several occasions and found it completely ineffective but I can’t get past the fact that several people I know use it on their dogs and find it very effective, no placebo effect involved?

Except when it isn’t harmless. Contaminated toothpaste, contaminated tylenol, contaminated cough syrup, and on, and on.

@Adagio How do they know “it” “works”? Do they ask the dog?

This http://www.consumerlab.com/m/

I read it.

That was a lot of words to say absolutely nothing about what the product is, what the active ingredients are, what it treats, and how it works.

And it appears to be an advert for an organic Windex. Well outside the scope if this question.

Oh yeah, and it is spam by definition.

@Quakwatch Yes, they ask the dog.

A herb is any plant with leaves, seeds, or flowers, so I wouldn’t lump in every herb as ineffective. Eating, for example, spinach (a plant) shows pretty clearly that it provides essential nutrients.

I happen to know someone who treated/cured her stage 3 cancer by eating all the essential nutrients in high doses, in raw form, and proportionally (veggies, fruits, grains, nuts, seeds, oils, eggs, seafood, poultry etc.). Dairy products were avoided, accept for fermented milk, like yogurt or kefir. Exercised a lot and lost a lot of weight. Similarly, she recommended this to someone she knew with stage 2 cancer, and it worked out for her as well.

Aside from those with 100% genetic predisposition, most people get sick from poor dieting and lack of exercise which is what medical science can’t stress enough. Exposing yourself to a lot of chemicals doesn’t help either, especially if you’re predisposed.

Some herbs work, some don’t. Depends on what, where, who and how it is used. For example, Aloe vera can cause some adverse effects when taken internally, but works well for external use (skin).