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CAFTA aside, I've come to believe that the supplements business is dominated by cons and scam artists.

Examples: Body Solutions, CortiSlim. Both made megamillions, both have been shown to have made totally unsupportable claims for weight loss. The first shut down a few years ago, the second is well on its way. Both co-opted and duped a few celebrities, ponied up some incomplete and shoddy "studies," and made their mint. Both sets of owners are, I am quite sure, filthy rich for having provided nothing of value even after having been shut down, or being near it.

Another example: St. John's Wort. Touted as an energy and memory enhancer as I recall. Comprehensive studies proved it worthless.

The unregulated supplements business gives crafty scam artists who can fool a few famous people the ability to dupe consumers, provide no benefit, and become rich through immoral means. I'd rather have no regulation, but no regulation, which is where the supplements industry has been for about 12 years, hasn't worked. I'm sure there are good supplements out there, but at this point they are all being tarred because of the snake-oilers.

If CAFTA effectively puts supplements back under FDA, I would have to reluctantly say that's a good thing.

Next, we can have a discussion about what level of proof the FDA should consider acceptable. Yes, their standards are in some cases too high, and their reluctance to make treatments and perhaps certain supplements available should be addressed.

I'm also going to suggest that if you are affiliated with the folks at the external link, you have a financial interest in the outcome and shouldn't be posting under News & Activism. I say that because I blog on items that are REAL news and can't convince the Admin Mod to classify my real news items as News.

Nonsense. For all the heavy-duty advertisers, there are dozens if not hundreds of honest herb and vitamin makers. I'm talking about honest, good companies like Shiff, Twinlab, Avita, and Oy-Ex. Anything that promises "effortless" weight loss (especially) should be eyed with suspicion.

And, for the record, St. Johns Wort has been helpful to some. However, someone with a major case of depression should (a) have a physical done to see if there's a physical cause, and (b) seek psychological counseling. I don't think throwing something in pill-form at the problem without the rest will do a very good job.

Let's do try to remember, too, that many of the products sold (also with mass advertising) by pharmaceutical companies have proven to be worthless at best, and life-threatening at worst. Just because it's prescribed doesn't mean it's safe, or that it's effective.

I'd rather have no regulation, but no regulation, which is where the supplements industry has been for about 12 years, hasn't worked.

I disagree. Fools will always be easily separated from their money. But there are 1000's of reputable manufacturers and distributors who provide quality assayed supplements without any nanny statist regulations.

If CAFTA effectively puts supplements back under FDA, I would have to reluctantly say that's a good thing.

More governmental restrictions on the marketplace is not a good idea. The consumers are responsible for making their own educated choices.

I blog on items that are REAL news and can't convince the Admin Mod to classify my real news items as News.

The mods are very astute about such things.

Another example: St. John's Wort. Touted as an energy and memory enhancer as I recall.

St. John's wort is an herbal remedy for depression. But we can't have a natural remedy being used when there are much more expensive and dangerous big pharma alternatives now can we?

If it works for many people, what gives you or CAFTA the right to decide otherwise?

Your argument is the same as those who wish cancer sufferers to be denied marijuana to control nausea and pain, simply because it is a natural growing medicine, and cannot be controlled by the pharmacuetical industry.

Maybe you were thinking of Ginkgo Biloba, which is an herbal memory enhancer.

Perhaps you should try some and see if it works for your not-so-good memory.

First, I am a consumer of vitamins and supplements, I have no interest(s) in the industry outside of the consumer role.

I am also in support of a free market economy - let the buyer beware. I take time to research and understand the vitamins and supplements I take, I don't feel sorry for those who get scammed. If you don't know how to use gasoline correctly, you just may get burned. Should we outlaw gasoline? How about those who buy the higher grades of gas thinking it's better for their car, they pay more but in the vast majority of the cases it doesn't actually benefit them. Buyer beware.

If you think the government should be in the position of telling us what vitamin is good for us and what isn't, then you are saying that you believe the government will be acting in your best interest when it has proven time and time again that it doesn't work that way. If you have a powerful lobby, your drug/scam/"high priced item" can be government approved no problem.

Research has clearly shown that many heath conditions can be improved or even cured by taking food supplements. It's not all that surprising to me that the body can heal itself if given what it needs since many of those conditions are caused by poor nutrition over a period of time. A quick fix pill is a "liberal" solution that covers symptoms but seldom cures the problem. The cure often requires self discipline, a longer term approach, and personal ownership of your own health - that sounds like conservatism to me.

The FDA is a creature of the drug industry. They have allowed deadly drugs on the US market long after the rest of the world has determined overwhelming risk. And no doubt, they would restrict access to cheap remedies for maladies the drug companies have expensive cures for. They are a bunch of bureaucrats who often have other agenda's in mind then the protection of the people.

So let the FDA provide advice and guidance to the people, but let the people ultimately decide what they think is best for them - after all, in most instances of health, they most certainly do (eating, drinking, smoking, lifestyles, etc). Why should we let a bunch of self-interested bureaucrats and behind the scenes special-interests dictate what we the people do for our heath in terms of food supplements? Let the buyer beware!

Glucosamine, Chondroitin & MSM virtually eliminated all of my joint pain within a couple of months. I was taking so much aspirin, ibuprofen, naproxen, etc. that coupled with acid reflux, when the stuff came up it was burning the inside of my mouth and leaving painful sores. I haven't had to take a NSAID in probably over 6 months now except for the occasional headache and the mouth sores have never returned.

"If CAFTA effectively puts supplements back under FDA, I would have to reluctantly say that's a good thing."

I don't think the government should EVER be able to stop people from taking any supplements or drugs they want. If the government wants to require that the manufacturers put a label on an item stating all the concerns of the FDA, or stating flatly that "this is not fit for human consumption" or "this will kill humans", that's better than the government prohibiting people from using them. If we believe the government labels, we'll stop. If we don't believe the government, we'll use them anyway.

In responding to me please put aside scaled "recreational drugs", which are not really the subject of this thread. They are mainly offensive to me because of the welfare state. Otherwise, I believe that free men and women should have the right to kill themselves or otherwise choose to go to hell in whatever manner please them. But that's not what this post is about.