CBC’s Misleading Claim Re Effectiveness of Herbs & Vitamins
In a piece posted on CBC’s website today on a fifth estate investigation into Health Canada approval of natural supplements, the reporter makes some misleading and unsubstantiated claims. The most glaringly unsubstantiated claim is that many supplements simply don’t work. . . .
The piece states that “Some leading researchers also say there is mounting evidence that many of the most popular supplements don’t live up to their claims and could even be dangerous.” The report doesn’t tell who “some” of the “leading researchers” are or what the source of this cleaim is.
It cherry picks its refences by quoting only one person. Dr. Paul Offit says, “If you take a megavitamin you actually can hurt yourself. You actually can increase your risk of cancer, increase your risk of heart disease.” The one representative of “some of the leading researchers” makes this misleading claim ripped from the context of the research with no references or explanations.
How well do natural supplements actually work compared to pharmaceutical drugs? Look out drugs.
Cardiovascular Health
• Double-blind research shows hawthorn to be as good or better than the ACE-inhibitor captopril for congestive heart failure ( Munch Med Wschr 1994).
• Niacin has consistently beaten cholesterol drugs, including lovastatin and gemfibrozil (Arch Intern Med 1994;154:1586-95; Arch Intern Med 1994;154:7382; Arch Intern Med 2000;160;1177-84).
• Olive leaf extract reduces high blood pressure as well as captopril, but is superior because it reduces cholesterol and triglycerides significantly better than the drug ( Phytomed 2011). • Tea made from hibiscus extract is statistically similar to captopril in effectiveness for high blood pressure ( Phytomed 2004).
• Niacin has consistently beaten cholesterol drugs, including lovastatin and gemfibrozil (Arch Intern Med 1994;154:1586-95; Arch Intern Med 1994;154:7382; Arch Intern Med 2000;160;1177-84).
• Olive leaf extract reduces high blood pressure as well as captopril, but is superior because it reduces cholesterol and triglycerides significantly better than the drug ( Phytomed 2011). • Tea made from hibiscus extract is statistically similar to captopril in effectiveness for high blood pressure ( Phytomed 2004).
Psychological Health
• Valerian has proven as effective as, and safer than, the benzodiazepene oxazepan for insomnia in one study ( Forsch Komplement Klass Naturheilkd 2000) and more effective in another ( Eur J Med Res 2002).
•Valerian combined with passionflower and hops is as effective for insomnia as the drug zolpidem ( Indian J Pharmacol 2013).
Psoriasis
• Double-blind research has concluded that aloe vera is more effective than the drug triamcinolone acetonide for psoriasis ( J Eur Acad Dermatol Veneriol 2010).
Nausea • Several double-blind studies have proven ginger to be safer and as or more effective than Dramamine for motion sickness ( J Travel Med 1994; Euro Phytother 1999).
• Valerian has proven as effective as, and safer than, the benzodiazepene oxazepan for insomnia in one study ( Forsch Komplement Klass Naturheilkd 2000) and more effective in another ( Eur J Med Res 2002).
•Valerian combined with passionflower and hops is as effective for insomnia as the drug zolpidem ( Indian J Pharmacol 2013).
• St. John’s wort has either equalled Prozac ( Arzneim-Forsch Drug Res 199) or bettered it ( Int Clin Psychopharmacol 2000; J Clin Psychopharmacol 2005) in numerous head-to-head comparisons. It is also either equal to ( Clinical Therapeutics 2000) or better than ( Canadian Family Physician 2002; Pharmacopsychiatry 2005) Zoloft. It is better than Paxil ( BMJ on line edition 2005) and as good as Celexa ( Pharmacopsychiatry 2006). Add to that that St. John’s wort is safer than all of them. According to a meta-analysis of 17 double-blind studies conducted by the highly respected Chocrane group, St. John’s wort is equally effective as, and safer than, drugs ( Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews 2008). A second meta-analysis of 13 double-blind studies comparing St. John’s wort to SSRI’s, the leading class of antidepressant drug, concluded that it is as good but safer ( Prog Neuropsychopharmacol Biol Psychiatry 2009).
• 5-HTP worked better, faster and in more people than an SSRI in a head-to-head challenge ( Pshychopathology 1991).
• Curcumin is at least as effective as Prozac for depression ( Phytother Res 2013).
• Saffron is as effective, but safer, than imipramine for major depression ( BMC Complement Alternat Med 2004) and at least as good as Prozac ( Progr Neuropsychopharmacol Biol Psychiatry 2007; Phytother Res 2014).
• For anxiety, double-blind research shows passionflower to be better than the benzodiazepine oxazepam because it is as effective but safer ( J Clin Pharm Ther 2001).
• 5-HTP worked better, faster and in more people than an SSRI in a head-to-head challenge ( Pshychopathology 1991).
• Curcumin is at least as effective as Prozac for depression ( Phytother Res 2013).
• Saffron is as effective, but safer, than imipramine for major depression ( BMC Complement Alternat Med 2004) and at least as good as Prozac ( Progr Neuropsychopharmacol Biol Psychiatry 2007; Phytother Res 2014).
• For anxiety, double-blind research shows passionflower to be better than the benzodiazepine oxazepam because it is as effective but safer ( J Clin Pharm Ther 2001).
Alzheimer’s Disease
• Ginkgo biloba is better than and safer than the cholinesterase inhibitor tacrine ( Psychopharmacol Bull 1998), as good as and safer than donepezil ( Phytomed 2000; Euro J Neurol 2006 ; Aging Mental Health 2009), and better than piracetam ( PLoS One 2013).
• Vitamin E protects against Alzheimer’s better than the drugs selegiline ( NEJM 1997) and memantine ( JAMA 2014).
• Ginkgo biloba is better than and safer than the cholinesterase inhibitor tacrine ( Psychopharmacol Bull 1998), as good as and safer than donepezil ( Phytomed 2000; Euro J Neurol 2006 ; Aging Mental Health 2009), and better than piracetam ( PLoS One 2013).
• Vitamin E protects against Alzheimer’s better than the drugs selegiline ( NEJM 1997) and memantine ( JAMA 2014).
Menopause
• Black cohosh is more effective than hormone replacement therapy for menopausal symptoms like hot flashes and sweating ( Gynecol 1982; Med Welt 1985; Therapeuticum 1987). Black cohosh is also better than estrogen at fighting osteoporosis ( Maturitas 2003). Perhaps most importantly, unlike estrogen, the herb does not cause breast cancer ( Menopause 2007) but actually inhibits it ( Arch Gynecol Obstet 1993; Phytomed e-pub 2007).
• Black cohosh is more effective than hormone replacement therapy for menopausal symptoms like hot flashes and sweating ( Gynecol 1982; Med Welt 1985; Therapeuticum 1987). Black cohosh is also better than estrogen at fighting osteoporosis ( Maturitas 2003). Perhaps most importantly, unlike estrogen, the herb does not cause breast cancer ( Menopause 2007) but actually inhibits it ( Arch Gynecol Obstet 1993; Phytomed e-pub 2007).
Fibroids
In menopausal women, black cohosh is more effective than the drug tibolone for shrinking fibroids ( Evid Based Complement Alternat Med 2014).
In menopausal women, black cohosh is more effective than the drug tibolone for shrinking fibroids ( Evid Based Complement Alternat Med 2014).
Enlarged Prostate
• For benign prostatic hyperplasia, saw palmetto berry is not only safer than Finasteride, it is as or more effective ( Phytomed 1991; Prostate 1996). Saw palmetto berry proved to be as good as the alpha-blocker Flomax while being way safer in two study ( Eur Urol 2002; Vojnosanif Pregl 2013) and more effective than it in another ( Int Urol Nephrol 2007).
• Saw palmetto combined with nettle root is as effective and safer than Flomax and Finasteride ( Urologe 1997; Br J Urol 2000; Arzneim Forsch 2006).
• For benign prostatic hyperplasia, saw palmetto berry is not only safer than Finasteride, it is as or more effective ( Phytomed 1991; Prostate 1996). Saw palmetto berry proved to be as good as the alpha-blocker Flomax while being way safer in two study ( Eur Urol 2002; Vojnosanif Pregl 2013) and more effective than it in another ( Int Urol Nephrol 2007).
• Saw palmetto combined with nettle root is as effective and safer than Flomax and Finasteride ( Urologe 1997; Br J Urol 2000; Arzneim Forsch 2006).
Osteoarthritis
• Glucosamine sulphate is superior to conventional medicine for osteoarthritis ( Curr Med Res Opin 1982; Osteoarthritis Cartilage 1994;2:61-9; Osteoarthritis Cartilage 1994;2(suppl1):56; Arzneim-Forsch 1998).
• Curcumin has proven more effective than ibuprofen in double-blind research ( Arthritis Rheum 2001; Clin Intrerv Aging 2014). • Devil’s claw has also proven to be more effective and safer than drugs for osteoarthritis ( Phytomed 2000).
• Glucosamine sulphate is superior to conventional medicine for osteoarthritis ( Curr Med Res Opin 1982; Osteoarthritis Cartilage 1994;2:61-9; Osteoarthritis Cartilage 1994;2(suppl1):56; Arzneim-Forsch 1998).
• Curcumin has proven more effective than ibuprofen in double-blind research ( Arthritis Rheum 2001; Clin Intrerv Aging 2014). • Devil’s claw has also proven to be more effective and safer than drugs for osteoarthritis ( Phytomed 2000).
Diabetes
• Berberine is as good as the diabetes drugs metformin and rosiglitazone with the advantage that is also lowers cholesterol and triglycerides ( Metabolism 2008; Metablolism 2010).
• Berberine is as good as the diabetes drugs metformin and rosiglitazone with the advantage that is also lowers cholesterol and triglycerides ( Metabolism 2008; Metablolism 2010).
Colitis
• Andrographis has proven to be more effective for colitis than mesalazine in double-blind research ( Aliment Pharmacol Ther 2011).
• Andrographis has proven to be more effective for colitis than mesalazine in double-blind research ( Aliment Pharmacol Ther 2011).
Irritable Bowel Syndrome
• Enteric-coated peppermint oil and caraway oil has been proven in doubleblind research to be superior to the drug cisapride ( Arzneim-Forsch Drug Res 1999).
• Enteric-coated peppermint oil and caraway oil has been proven in doubleblind research to be superior to the drug cisapride ( Arzneim-Forsch Drug Res 1999).
Colic
• Peppermint oil is as effective as simethicone for treating colic ( Evid Based Complement Alternat Med 2012).
• Peppermint oil is as effective as simethicone for treating colic ( Evid Based Complement Alternat Med 2012).
Hay Fever
• Butterbur works as well as antihistamines without causing drowsiness ( BMJ 2000; Phytother 2005).
• Butterbur works as well as antihistamines without causing drowsiness ( BMJ 2000; Phytother 2005).
Bronchitis
• Ivy leaf has been shown in a doubleblind study to be as effective as ambroxyl for bronchitis ( Zeits Allergereinmed 1993).
• Ivy leaf has been shown in a doubleblind study to be as effective as ambroxyl for bronchitis ( Zeits Allergereinmed 1993).
Sore Throat • An echinacea/sage throat spray works as well as chlorhexidine and lidocane sprays for sore throat, according to a double-blind study ( Eur J Med Res 2009).
Ear Infection
• Ear drops made of garlic, mullein, calendula and St. John’s wort in olive oil is as good as an anesthetic eardrop in children with ear infections ( Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med 2001). A similar ear drop with the addition of lavender and vitamin E worked even better than eardrops alone or eardrops with antibiotics ( Pediatrics 2003).
• Ear drops made of garlic, mullein, calendula and St. John’s wort in olive oil is as good as an anesthetic eardrop in children with ear infections ( Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med 2001). A similar ear drop with the addition of lavender and vitamin E worked even better than eardrops alone or eardrops with antibiotics ( Pediatrics 2003).
Ulcers
• Head-to-head research has repeatedly shown licorice to be as or more effective than ulcer medications like cimitidine, ranitidine and antacids ( Practitioner 1975; Practitioner 1979; Gut 1982; Lancet 1982; Irish Med Journ 1985).
• Head-to-head research has repeatedly shown licorice to be as or more effective than ulcer medications like cimitidine, ranitidine and antacids ( Practitioner 1975; Practitioner 1979; Gut 1982; Lancet 1982; Irish Med Journ 1985).
Migraine
• 5-HTP is as effective and safer than the most effective migraine drug ( Eur Neurol 1986).
• 5-HTP is as effective and safer than the most effective migraine drug ( Eur Neurol 1986).
Psoriasis
• Double-blind research has concluded that aloe vera is more effective than the drug triamcinolone acetonide for psoriasis ( J Eur Acad Dermatol Veneriol 2010).
Nausea • Several double-blind studies have proven ginger to be safer and as or more effective than Dramamine for motion sickness ( J Travel Med 1994; Euro Phytother 1999).
Maybe it’s Mrketplace and not Health Canada that checks its facts too quickly!
(These head-to-head comparissons are exerpted from Vol 18 No 8 of our newsletter, The Natural Path).