Philippine Daily Inquirer
Richard Yu’s brilliant letter today about the use of herbal medicines by generations of users in the Philippines strikes a chord with me. He mentions TCM —traditional Chinese medicine—which was a godsend to me. I stumbled upon a Western doctor in South Australia who learned acupuncture in Hong Kong and used it to treat cigarette addiction. It worked like a charm for me—three needles in my ear and some smoke in my face and—presto!—it worked. Don’t ask me how, but if something has been working for millions of people for thousands of years, why would Western medicine continue to begrudge it? Maybe because Western medicine can’t make a profit out of it? Or is just jealous?
My wife has malunggay trees growing in the garden: wonderful stuff, even drunk as tea. And what about virgin coconut oil (VCO)? I had a raspy throat a couple of months ago and had a few thimblefuls of VCO, and the raspiness disappeared.
Not all Western medicine is profit driven, you just have to look at how much more effective the Mayo Clinic model is. As well, not all herbal medicines are effective, some are just useless placebos, but there are enough proven herbal alternatives that do work—and continue to work—despite the non-acceptance by traditional Western medicine, which keeps chanting the mantra of “no proven therapeutic value.”
We owe it to ourselves to keep an open mind and look at herbal medicines as a healthy alternative. Do I miss not smoking since Feb. 20, 1986?
—WALTER P. KOMARNICKI,
Block 10 Lot 19,
Scions Kauswagan,
Cagayan de Oro City 9000
Monday, October 26, 2009
Sunday, October 25, 2009
Efficacy, safety claims re herbal products without scientific basis
Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 00:22:00 10/15/2009
This is a reaction to Richard Yu’s letter titled “Safety of herbal drugs proven through generations.” (Inquirer, 09/29/2009)
Protecting the industry, abundant sources, cheap herbal supplements, and “generations of common-sense” don’t justify the distribution of a product for human consumption. The claimed benefits from herbal products by herbalists and users are, in fact, only anecdotal testimony of people allegedly cured, not based on scientific research. I commend the Department of Health and Bureau of Food and Drugs (BFAD) for regulating the production and sale of herbal products.
The following scientific information should warn the public about herbal supplements and alternative medicine:
(1) A review of scientific literature on our herbal products yielded the following number of articles in valid publications (i.e., published in international medical journals, whose standards have not yet been met by any Philippine medical journal): sambong (2), lagundi (9), akapulko (20), and ampalaya (115). Only three of these 146 articles have Filipino authors—akapulko (1) and ampalaya (2). Only the ampalaya studies have been reviewed in an international medical journal, which concluded that adequate clinical trials are needed to properly assess its safety and efficacy. For more on these four herbal products and virgin coconut oil, read “Research on medicinal plants” at, http://www.philippinestoday.net/index.php?module=article&view=238.
(2) Recent international reviews of the scientific literature on other herbal medicinal products warn: They are not free of risk. One such review was conducted by scientists from the Department of Complementary Medicine, Universities of Exeter and Plymouth, United Kingdom and was published in the journal Pharmacoepidemiology and Drug Safety in 2004. The study concludes that some herbal drugs have the potential to cause serious adverse events and fatalities and that more research and more information are required to ensure consumers’ safety.
(3) The Commission for Scientific Medicine and Mental Health in the United States, a panel that includes prominent physicians, scientists, and Nobel prize winners, has this to say about alternative medicine: Despite the phenomenal success of science-based medicine, we are seeing a reversion to irrational and superstitious approaches to medical practice. There are 29,000 nutritional supplements now marketed in the United States. In 2003, the industry made nearly $20 billion in sales. Federal law now leaves the safety of these products up to the scruples of marketers. Many of these products do not contain the amount of active ingredients listed on the label; some don’t have any at all. Recent studies have shown that many herbal remedies from India and China contain harmful levels of lead, mercury, arsenic, or other toxic substances.
For some additional examples of how the public is being endangered by alternative medicine at, http://www.csmmh.org/special.htmlSafety of herbal drugs proven through generations
First Posted 00:22:00 10/15/2009
This is a reaction to Richard Yu’s letter titled “Safety of herbal drugs proven through generations.” (Inquirer, 09/29/2009)
Protecting the industry, abundant sources, cheap herbal supplements, and “generations of common-sense” don’t justify the distribution of a product for human consumption. The claimed benefits from herbal products by herbalists and users are, in fact, only anecdotal testimony of people allegedly cured, not based on scientific research. I commend the Department of Health and Bureau of Food and Drugs (BFAD) for regulating the production and sale of herbal products.
The following scientific information should warn the public about herbal supplements and alternative medicine:
(1) A review of scientific literature on our herbal products yielded the following number of articles in valid publications (i.e., published in international medical journals, whose standards have not yet been met by any Philippine medical journal): sambong (2), lagundi (9), akapulko (20), and ampalaya (115). Only three of these 146 articles have Filipino authors—akapulko (1) and ampalaya (2). Only the ampalaya studies have been reviewed in an international medical journal, which concluded that adequate clinical trials are needed to properly assess its safety and efficacy. For more on these four herbal products and virgin coconut oil, read “Research on medicinal plants” at, http://www.philippinestoday.net/index.php?module=article&view=238.
(2) Recent international reviews of the scientific literature on other herbal medicinal products warn: They are not free of risk. One such review was conducted by scientists from the Department of Complementary Medicine, Universities of Exeter and Plymouth, United Kingdom and was published in the journal Pharmacoepidemiology and Drug Safety in 2004. The study concludes that some herbal drugs have the potential to cause serious adverse events and fatalities and that more research and more information are required to ensure consumers’ safety.
(3) The Commission for Scientific Medicine and Mental Health in the United States, a panel that includes prominent physicians, scientists, and Nobel prize winners, has this to say about alternative medicine: Despite the phenomenal success of science-based medicine, we are seeing a reversion to irrational and superstitious approaches to medical practice. There are 29,000 nutritional supplements now marketed in the United States. In 2003, the industry made nearly $20 billion in sales. Federal law now leaves the safety of these products up to the scruples of marketers. Many of these products do not contain the amount of active ingredients listed on the label; some don’t have any at all. Recent studies have shown that many herbal remedies from India and China contain harmful levels of lead, mercury, arsenic, or other toxic substances.
For some additional examples of how the public is being endangered by alternative medicine at, http://www.csmmh.org/special.htmlSafety of herbal drugs proven through generations
Pfizer-Unilab row reaches retail sector
By Abigail L. Ho
Philippine Daily Inquirer
THE patent battle between Pfizer Inc. and United Laboratories Inc. has moved beyond the courtroom and into the drugstore space, with Pfizer threatening legal charges against those that continue to sell Unilab’s Avamax.
Pfizer external legal counsel Esguerra & Blanco Law Offices on Oct. 7 sent letters to various drugstore chains in Metro Manila and the provinces, demanding that these stores stop selling Unilab’s generic version of Pfizer’s popular anticholesterol drug Lipitor.
Among the drugstores that received Pfizer’s demand letter were Watsons Personal Care Stores (Philippines) Inc., South Star Drug Inc., Amesco Drug in Davao City and Rose Pharmacy Inc. in Cebu City.
According to the letter, a copy of which was obtained by the Inquirer, Atorvastatin Calcium, the drug Pfizer marketed under the brand Lipitor and which Unilab started selling this month under the name Avamax, was still under patent with Warner Lambert, a company that Pfizer bought in 2004.
The letter said Warner Lambert continued to hold the patent for Atorvastatin Calcium and that Pfizer held its exclusive distribution rights in the Philippines.
“We demand that upon receipt of this letter, you immediately cease and desist from further distributing or selling these generic versions of Atorvastatin Calcium as you and your personnel are contributing to the infringement of valid and existing patent and exclusive distribution rights, thus causing grave and irreparable damage and injury to them,” the letter said.
“We likewise demand that you inform us in writing of your compliance with the foregoing, and of your willingness to execute an undertaking whereby you will forever desist from promoting, advertising, distributing or selling these generic versions of Atorvastatin Calcium within five days from receipt of this letter,” it added.
The letter said drugstores that would continue to carry Unilab’s Avamax would face legal action.
Asked for a response, Watsons senior regulatory affairs manager Belinda Pesayco said the drugstore chain had decided to continue carrying Avamax despite the warning as this provided a cheaper alternative to consumers taking anticholesterol medicine.
“Both Pfizer and Unilab are longstanding partners of ours in the business. But after thoroughly studying the matter, we decided to continue carrying Avamax because it is cheaper. We just want to fulfill what (RA 9502, or the Universally Accessible and Quality Cheaper Medicines Act) aims to do—to make affordable, good quality medicine accessible to as many consumers as possible,” she said in a telephone interview.
Philippine Daily Inquirer
THE patent battle between Pfizer Inc. and United Laboratories Inc. has moved beyond the courtroom and into the drugstore space, with Pfizer threatening legal charges against those that continue to sell Unilab’s Avamax.
Pfizer external legal counsel Esguerra & Blanco Law Offices on Oct. 7 sent letters to various drugstore chains in Metro Manila and the provinces, demanding that these stores stop selling Unilab’s generic version of Pfizer’s popular anticholesterol drug Lipitor.
Among the drugstores that received Pfizer’s demand letter were Watsons Personal Care Stores (Philippines) Inc., South Star Drug Inc., Amesco Drug in Davao City and Rose Pharmacy Inc. in Cebu City.
According to the letter, a copy of which was obtained by the Inquirer, Atorvastatin Calcium, the drug Pfizer marketed under the brand Lipitor and which Unilab started selling this month under the name Avamax, was still under patent with Warner Lambert, a company that Pfizer bought in 2004.
The letter said Warner Lambert continued to hold the patent for Atorvastatin Calcium and that Pfizer held its exclusive distribution rights in the Philippines.
“We demand that upon receipt of this letter, you immediately cease and desist from further distributing or selling these generic versions of Atorvastatin Calcium as you and your personnel are contributing to the infringement of valid and existing patent and exclusive distribution rights, thus causing grave and irreparable damage and injury to them,” the letter said.
“We likewise demand that you inform us in writing of your compliance with the foregoing, and of your willingness to execute an undertaking whereby you will forever desist from promoting, advertising, distributing or selling these generic versions of Atorvastatin Calcium within five days from receipt of this letter,” it added.
The letter said drugstores that would continue to carry Unilab’s Avamax would face legal action.
Asked for a response, Watsons senior regulatory affairs manager Belinda Pesayco said the drugstore chain had decided to continue carrying Avamax despite the warning as this provided a cheaper alternative to consumers taking anticholesterol medicine.
“Both Pfizer and Unilab are longstanding partners of ours in the business. But after thoroughly studying the matter, we decided to continue carrying Avamax because it is cheaper. We just want to fulfill what (RA 9502, or the Universally Accessible and Quality Cheaper Medicines Act) aims to do—to make affordable, good quality medicine accessible to as many consumers as possible,” she said in a telephone interview.
Saturday, October 24, 2009
Food supplements.............
Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 02:16:00 09/29/2009
Why would the Department of Health and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) go after the Filipino makers of herb supplements when they’re just trying to sell their products? People are familiar with herbal drugs, especially those that have been around for generations. Our country is gifted with abundant sources of herbal medicine. These herbs are common, cheap and free of side effects, unlike chemical medicines.
What the DoH and FDA officials won’t admit is that they are yielding to pressure from greedy multinationals whose share of the market for expensive drugs is being eaten up by these very common herbs. Unlike former Health Secretary Juan Flavier who encouraged the use of alternative cures, the present DoH and FDA officials are anti-Filipino and pro-greedy multinationals. Multinational drug makers always raise the issue that herbal supplements didn’t go through years of laboratory research. Well, they have gone through generations of common-sense, valid observation by herbalists and users; they are known to be safe and without side effects. So why go suddenly strict about the use of herbal medicines? Because multinational drug makers are telling them to do so? Allow me to remind the DoH and FDA that Filipino farmers and growers are going to lose their jobs if they clamp on the local herbal drugs industry.
There is a potential export market for Filipino herbs, especially in the West, because herbs are becoming popular and chemical drugs are suddenly be unpopular because of their price and side-effects. In the United States and Europe, herbal makers are generally left alone and are making a serious dent on the sales of chemical drug makers. In Switzerland and Germany, herbs and supplements are a multi-billion dollar industry.
Combined with generics and the Minimum Retail Price, our thriving herbal industry can counter the multinational drug maker’s greed. We should encourage the Filipino herbal industry so it will thrive even more. Look at TCM (traditional Chinese medicine) and Ayurveda medicine. They have become multibillion-dollar industries in their own right. Sure, sometimes unsafe ingredients are found in them but they are quickly removed. The more than 1.3 billion Chinese people can’t be wrong about their TCM; neither can the 1 billion Indians be wrong with their Ayurveda medicine.
The health secretary and FDA director must be reminded that they are employees of the Filipino people and work for the Filipino people, not for the multinational drug makers.
—RICHARD YU,
richyu1980@yahoo.com
First Posted 02:16:00 09/29/2009
Why would the Department of Health and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) go after the Filipino makers of herb supplements when they’re just trying to sell their products? People are familiar with herbal drugs, especially those that have been around for generations. Our country is gifted with abundant sources of herbal medicine. These herbs are common, cheap and free of side effects, unlike chemical medicines.
What the DoH and FDA officials won’t admit is that they are yielding to pressure from greedy multinationals whose share of the market for expensive drugs is being eaten up by these very common herbs. Unlike former Health Secretary Juan Flavier who encouraged the use of alternative cures, the present DoH and FDA officials are anti-Filipino and pro-greedy multinationals. Multinational drug makers always raise the issue that herbal supplements didn’t go through years of laboratory research. Well, they have gone through generations of common-sense, valid observation by herbalists and users; they are known to be safe and without side effects. So why go suddenly strict about the use of herbal medicines? Because multinational drug makers are telling them to do so? Allow me to remind the DoH and FDA that Filipino farmers and growers are going to lose their jobs if they clamp on the local herbal drugs industry.
There is a potential export market for Filipino herbs, especially in the West, because herbs are becoming popular and chemical drugs are suddenly be unpopular because of their price and side-effects. In the United States and Europe, herbal makers are generally left alone and are making a serious dent on the sales of chemical drug makers. In Switzerland and Germany, herbs and supplements are a multi-billion dollar industry.
Combined with generics and the Minimum Retail Price, our thriving herbal industry can counter the multinational drug maker’s greed. We should encourage the Filipino herbal industry so it will thrive even more. Look at TCM (traditional Chinese medicine) and Ayurveda medicine. They have become multibillion-dollar industries in their own right. Sure, sometimes unsafe ingredients are found in them but they are quickly removed. The more than 1.3 billion Chinese people can’t be wrong about their TCM; neither can the 1 billion Indians be wrong with their Ayurveda medicine.
The health secretary and FDA director must be reminded that they are employees of the Filipino people and work for the Filipino people, not for the multinational drug makers.
—RICHARD YU,
richyu1980@yahoo.com
Mushrooms help prevent allergies
By Cory Quirino
Philippine Daily Inquirer
THE “BER” months have arrived and this means cooler temperatures and longer nights. During this time, your body begins to adjust to the changes. With every season, there’s a host of health challenges.
Allergies
Allergies come in many forms and symptoms and the causes are many such as MSG, food-coloring preservatives, eggs, chicken, seafood, peanuts, alcohol, chocolate, environmental chemicals, pollution, dust, mold and spores, pets and animal hairs. Not only people get allergies. Even animals do, would you believe? Your pet could be allergic to something if it keeps sneezing.
If you have an allergy, it is best to see your doctor. Ask about a blood test that will provide you with an accurate reading of your sensitivity to certain substances. The ImmunoCAP machine from Sweden can detect allergies and auto-immune diseases like lupus and rheumatoid arthritis within the day. It is available at Makati Medical Center, Asian Center, Medical Center and UP PGH. (For more info, call Trianon at 815-3239.)
A surefire preventive measure is to maintain a clean environment. Studies have shown that the greatest cause of allergies is unclean surroundings. Do you know that every day, your body is bombarded by fungus and microbes? Your best defense is to keep your immune system in good condition. Remove all the irritants inside your home.
One of the best ways to rid your residence of pests is the latest, state-of-the-art air and room cleaning system called Hyla NST, a portable heavy-duty cleaning machine. It is a 4-in-1 equipment – air purifier, vacuum cleaner, floor polisher and more importantly a bed, carpet, curtain and upholstery cleaner. It literally sucks out the dirt and dust mites. (Dust mites are one of the main causes of asthma, rhinitis and respiratory ailments.)
Air is drawn into the cleaner with a rotating separator that turns an amazing 25,000 rpm/second or 416 times a second. It successfully removes dust particles from the air and binds them to water inside the machine. The end result is pure cleanliness.
Annie Santos, a 54-year-old housewife, had been suffering from severe asthma for 10 years. Each time she’d have an attack, she would have to be rushed to the emergency room. Upon discovering the Hyla cleaning system, her bed has been cleansed of dust mites and she has since banned her pet dog from sleeping in her bedroom. Her trips to the emergency room have stopped. (Call Rotarian Gerry Gamez of Gammonco Trading Co. for a free demo, 092-28903367.)
According to Dr. Earth Mindell’s “Vitamin Bible for the 21st century,” a nutritional defense versus allergies includes vitamin B complex, 50 mg, twice a day; pantothenic acid, 500 mg, twice a day, Vitamin C, 1000 mg, once daily.
According to Japanese and Chinese traditions, reishi, shiitake, maitake, agaricus and cordyceps are also effective. This is surprisingly found in a 5-in-1 supplement called Multi Five. (Call World of Wellness, 332-3864/723-3878.)
Anti-allergy regimen
1. Wake up in the morning with happy thoughts and a smile on your face.
2. Drink one cup of lukewarm water with 1 tsp apple cider vinegar and 1/2 tsp honey.
3. Drink 2 full glasses lukewarm water. Drink water every 1 1/2 hours until bedtime.
4. Increase hydration through juicing (fresh is best).
5. Eat healthy.
Affirm today: “I am healthy and happy.”
Love and light!
—FLOR LACANILAO,
retired professor of marine science,
University of the Philippines, Diliman, QC
Philippine Daily Inquirer
THE “BER” months have arrived and this means cooler temperatures and longer nights. During this time, your body begins to adjust to the changes. With every season, there’s a host of health challenges.
Allergies
Allergies come in many forms and symptoms and the causes are many such as MSG, food-coloring preservatives, eggs, chicken, seafood, peanuts, alcohol, chocolate, environmental chemicals, pollution, dust, mold and spores, pets and animal hairs. Not only people get allergies. Even animals do, would you believe? Your pet could be allergic to something if it keeps sneezing.
If you have an allergy, it is best to see your doctor. Ask about a blood test that will provide you with an accurate reading of your sensitivity to certain substances. The ImmunoCAP machine from Sweden can detect allergies and auto-immune diseases like lupus and rheumatoid arthritis within the day. It is available at Makati Medical Center, Asian Center, Medical Center and UP PGH. (For more info, call Trianon at 815-3239.)
A surefire preventive measure is to maintain a clean environment. Studies have shown that the greatest cause of allergies is unclean surroundings. Do you know that every day, your body is bombarded by fungus and microbes? Your best defense is to keep your immune system in good condition. Remove all the irritants inside your home.
One of the best ways to rid your residence of pests is the latest, state-of-the-art air and room cleaning system called Hyla NST, a portable heavy-duty cleaning machine. It is a 4-in-1 equipment – air purifier, vacuum cleaner, floor polisher and more importantly a bed, carpet, curtain and upholstery cleaner. It literally sucks out the dirt and dust mites. (Dust mites are one of the main causes of asthma, rhinitis and respiratory ailments.)
Air is drawn into the cleaner with a rotating separator that turns an amazing 25,000 rpm/second or 416 times a second. It successfully removes dust particles from the air and binds them to water inside the machine. The end result is pure cleanliness.
Annie Santos, a 54-year-old housewife, had been suffering from severe asthma for 10 years. Each time she’d have an attack, she would have to be rushed to the emergency room. Upon discovering the Hyla cleaning system, her bed has been cleansed of dust mites and she has since banned her pet dog from sleeping in her bedroom. Her trips to the emergency room have stopped. (Call Rotarian Gerry Gamez of Gammonco Trading Co. for a free demo, 092-28903367.)
According to Dr. Earth Mindell’s “Vitamin Bible for the 21st century,” a nutritional defense versus allergies includes vitamin B complex, 50 mg, twice a day; pantothenic acid, 500 mg, twice a day, Vitamin C, 1000 mg, once daily.
According to Japanese and Chinese traditions, reishi, shiitake, maitake, agaricus and cordyceps are also effective. This is surprisingly found in a 5-in-1 supplement called Multi Five. (Call World of Wellness, 332-3864/723-3878.)
Anti-allergy regimen
1. Wake up in the morning with happy thoughts and a smile on your face.
2. Drink one cup of lukewarm water with 1 tsp apple cider vinegar and 1/2 tsp honey.
3. Drink 2 full glasses lukewarm water. Drink water every 1 1/2 hours until bedtime.
4. Increase hydration through juicing (fresh is best).
5. Eat healthy.
Affirm today: “I am healthy and happy.”
Love and light!
—FLOR LACANILAO,
retired professor of marine science,
University of the Philippines, Diliman, QC
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