gingagirl
08-04-04, 08:31 PM
Hi everyone,
I started out writing this in response to a post about "Focus Formula", but then decided it applied to all herbal remedies, so I'm posting it as a new thread.
Natural remedies are not researched as thoroughly as pharmaceutical drugs are researched because they CANNOT be patented.
Research cost an incredible amount of money.
Most drug treatments that are researched are not successful ...so, companies often spend money on researching drugs that end up not working.
Drugs that do work can be patented.
The drug companies have exclusive rights to patented drugs for x number of years (I think 10 - 15 years).
They can charge whatever they like for the drug without having to compete with a cheaper manufacturer ...and thereby make a profit.
Without the ability to patent drugs, the drug companies have no incentive to research drugs. Without patents, they'd end up spending all this money on research, but wouldn't be able to reap the rewards.
Natural remedies CANNOT be patented because they are naturally occuring substances ...things that can be found in the real world ...things that do not have to be created in a laboratory. Since natural remedies cannot be patented, there is no real motivation to conduct research.
There are some laws about what type of medical claims can be made about natural remedies, but I'm not really clear on those laws.
Many manufacturers of herbal supplements make no medical claims whatsoever. People just hear that "XYZ herb" is good for memory, concentration or whatever, so they go out and buy an "XYZ herbal supplement" in the hopes that it helps them.
Other remedies may have minimal research to support a medical claim.
Or the medical claim may be worded in an indefinite way, worded in a way that by-passes the legal requirements for research to back up their claims.
There has been an increase in research of herbal remedies, but it is no where near the amount of research for drugs that are patent-able. IMO, there needs to be some other funding source for research for natural remedies. I do believe some of the herbal remedies are effective, but I won't spend my money on them because there is no way to determine the good from the bad.
Other issues of concern:
Natural remedies/herbal supplements CAN HAVE MEDICAL SIDE EFFECTS, just like regular drugs. Unfortunately, without adequate research, there no way to determine what the side effects are.
The potency of herbal supplements can vary substantially because supplements are not regulated.
I started out writing this in response to a post about "Focus Formula", but then decided it applied to all herbal remedies, so I'm posting it as a new thread.
Natural remedies are not researched as thoroughly as pharmaceutical drugs are researched because they CANNOT be patented.
Research cost an incredible amount of money.
Most drug treatments that are researched are not successful ...so, companies often spend money on researching drugs that end up not working.
Drugs that do work can be patented.
The drug companies have exclusive rights to patented drugs for x number of years (I think 10 - 15 years).
They can charge whatever they like for the drug without having to compete with a cheaper manufacturer ...and thereby make a profit.
Without the ability to patent drugs, the drug companies have no incentive to research drugs. Without patents, they'd end up spending all this money on research, but wouldn't be able to reap the rewards.
Natural remedies CANNOT be patented because they are naturally occuring substances ...things that can be found in the real world ...things that do not have to be created in a laboratory. Since natural remedies cannot be patented, there is no real motivation to conduct research.
There are some laws about what type of medical claims can be made about natural remedies, but I'm not really clear on those laws.
Many manufacturers of herbal supplements make no medical claims whatsoever. People just hear that "XYZ herb" is good for memory, concentration or whatever, so they go out and buy an "XYZ herbal supplement" in the hopes that it helps them.
Other remedies may have minimal research to support a medical claim.
Or the medical claim may be worded in an indefinite way, worded in a way that by-passes the legal requirements for research to back up their claims.
There has been an increase in research of herbal remedies, but it is no where near the amount of research for drugs that are patent-able. IMO, there needs to be some other funding source for research for natural remedies. I do believe some of the herbal remedies are effective, but I won't spend my money on them because there is no way to determine the good from the bad.
Other issues of concern:
Natural remedies/herbal supplements CAN HAVE MEDICAL SIDE EFFECTS, just like regular drugs. Unfortunately, without adequate research, there no way to determine what the side effects are.
The potency of herbal supplements can vary substantially because supplements are not regulated.