GOOD VIDEO ON THE HERBAL DIRECTIVE
hi folks, forgive me if i have missed this being posted before on here but i have just found it. http://www.savenaturalhealth.eu/ ....
Tuesday, 12 April 2011
Wednesday, 23 March 2011
From the spectator magazine
Why is Europe taking up arms against herbal remedies?
To what problem is the statutory regulation of herbalists a solution? Are the tiny bits of bark and sap and leaf peddled by contemporary wisewomen deleterious to human health? Are we at risk of being sterilised by St John’s wort, paralysed by pau d’arco, maddened by meadowsweet? Hardly. Herbal remedies might be inert placebos or they might, as my wife maintains, be better for you than antibiotics. My wife is often right; and in any case, as the author of Proverbs tells us, ‘better a dinner of herbs where love is than a stalled ox and hatred therewith’ (rarely could the bit about the herbs have applied so aptly).
In a sense, though, it doesn’t matter whether complementary medicine lives up to its billing. This isn’t about science; it’s about freedom. Our starting assumption ought surely to be that herbal practitioners have no interest in killing their customers. Their wares tend to be milder than the pharmaceutical alternatives, and have often been prescribed for centuries. If they were toxic, I think we’d have noticed by now. Six million people in Britain have visited a herbalist at some point in the past two years, and two million regularly use alternative treatments as a first resort, yet herbal remedies account for just 0.4 per cent of reported adverse reactions.
When pushed on this point, defenders of the new rules — which come into force on 1 May — sometimes point half-heartedly to a death involving Chinese medicine; yet that case involved the adulteration of the advertised substance. It was, in other words, a violation of the existing trading standards laws.
No, the real reason that the government is obliging all herbal practitioners to sell only approved products is that it is carrying out instructions from Brussels. The ban was voted through the European Parliament seven years ago but, as so often, Eurocrats built in a delay, knowing that national ministers were far more likely to agree to an unpopular measure that would blow up in the laps of their successors.
To be fair, Conservative ministers are now doing their best to mitigate a proposal which, in opposition, they rejected. Under the government’s scheme, herbalists would be invited to register with a professional association which could then license their merchandise collectively, instead of obliging each individual practitioner to spend tens of thousands of pounds on product approval. Some herbalists’ organisations have now accepted this settlement — which, until very recently, they angrily opposed. But smaller practitioners fear that they will be put out of business. The herbalist who concocts calendula cream from her own marigolds will, they insist, be breaking the law.
Britain’s abjectness before Brussels is nothing new. Why, though, is the EU criminalising an activity peaceably pursued by at least 20 million of its citizens? Why is it making itself even more unpopular? Three reasons.
First, the desire to regulate is encoded deep in the Eurocrat’s DNA. To his mind, ‘unlicensed’ is synonymous with ‘illegal’. He faintly resents the idea that a trade might have grown up organically, without state approval. His instinct is to rationalise, to regularise, to standardise.
Second, the EU has fallen for that epochal idiocy, first adumbrated by the German Green movement, known as ‘the precautionary principle’, which holds that, because something might be dangerous, we shouldn’t permit it until it has been shown to be safe. This sounds reasonable enough until you think about what it means in practice. It puts producers in the impossible position of having to prove a negative.
At the beginning of the nineteenth century, for example, it was widely believed that the noise of a passing train would cause pregnant women to miscarry. Had we applied the precautionary principle, we would never have laid an inch of track: the rail operators of the day couldn’t prove that they wouldn’t cause miscarriages, any more than today’s health stores can prove that their wares are not toxic.
The third reason for the ban is, however, the most powerful. Whenever an apparently absurd law of this kind emanates from the EU, ask yourself cui bono — whose interest does it serve? In this case, there is no mystery: the directive was openly lobbied for by large pharmaceutical companies, which saw an opportunity to put their smaller rivals out of business. Not for the first time, big corporations have used the EU to push through rules which national assemblies would never have countenanced. MPs were left in no doubt about how their constituents viewed the proposal. But Brussels fonctionnaires are invulnerable to the ballot box: the EU was designed, in the aftermath of the second world war, precisely to shield them from public opinion.
What, though, has any of this has to do with the single market? Most herbalists, after all, operate only within a radius of a few miles. Once again, we are reminded that the EU does not confine itself to cross-border issues. Brussels tells us how to open bank accounts, how to strap our children into car seats, how to sell our houses, how to hold ladders against walls.
Last month, David Cameron discovered that his flagship policy — funding Big Society schemes with £100 million recovered from disused bank accounts — could not be pursued without special permission from the European Commission. Two weeks later, women learned that they could no longer benefit from cheaper car insurance.
Most British voters vaguely dislike the EU, but don’t regard it as an especially pressing nuisance. We tend to think of it as a racket that happens across the Channel: expensive, undemocratic and doubtless corrupt, but hardly immediate.
Those who take herbal remedies will soon know better: they are being treated as fishermen and slaughtermen, art dealers and fund managers, cheesemakers and female drivers have been treated before them. See how Brussels curls its tendrils into every cranny of national life, blocking the light, strangling the native growth.
In a sense, though, it doesn’t matter whether complementary medicine lives up to its billing. This isn’t about science; it’s about freedom. Our starting assumption ought surely to be that herbal practitioners have no interest in killing their customers. Their wares tend to be milder than the pharmaceutical alternatives, and have often been prescribed for centuries. If they were toxic, I think we’d have noticed by now. Six million people in Britain have visited a herbalist at some point in the past two years, and two million regularly use alternative treatments as a first resort, yet herbal remedies account for just 0.4 per cent of reported adverse reactions.
When pushed on this point, defenders of the new rules — which come into force on 1 May — sometimes point half-heartedly to a death involving Chinese medicine; yet that case involved the adulteration of the advertised substance. It was, in other words, a violation of the existing trading standards laws.
No, the real reason that the government is obliging all herbal practitioners to sell only approved products is that it is carrying out instructions from Brussels. The ban was voted through the European Parliament seven years ago but, as so often, Eurocrats built in a delay, knowing that national ministers were far more likely to agree to an unpopular measure that would blow up in the laps of their successors.
To be fair, Conservative ministers are now doing their best to mitigate a proposal which, in opposition, they rejected. Under the government’s scheme, herbalists would be invited to register with a professional association which could then license their merchandise collectively, instead of obliging each individual practitioner to spend tens of thousands of pounds on product approval. Some herbalists’ organisations have now accepted this settlement — which, until very recently, they angrily opposed. But smaller practitioners fear that they will be put out of business. The herbalist who concocts calendula cream from her own marigolds will, they insist, be breaking the law.
Britain’s abjectness before Brussels is nothing new. Why, though, is the EU criminalising an activity peaceably pursued by at least 20 million of its citizens? Why is it making itself even more unpopular? Three reasons.
First, the desire to regulate is encoded deep in the Eurocrat’s DNA. To his mind, ‘unlicensed’ is synonymous with ‘illegal’. He faintly resents the idea that a trade might have grown up organically, without state approval. His instinct is to rationalise, to regularise, to standardise.
Second, the EU has fallen for that epochal idiocy, first adumbrated by the German Green movement, known as ‘the precautionary principle’, which holds that, because something might be dangerous, we shouldn’t permit it until it has been shown to be safe. This sounds reasonable enough until you think about what it means in practice. It puts producers in the impossible position of having to prove a negative.
At the beginning of the nineteenth century, for example, it was widely believed that the noise of a passing train would cause pregnant women to miscarry. Had we applied the precautionary principle, we would never have laid an inch of track: the rail operators of the day couldn’t prove that they wouldn’t cause miscarriages, any more than today’s health stores can prove that their wares are not toxic.
The third reason for the ban is, however, the most powerful. Whenever an apparently absurd law of this kind emanates from the EU, ask yourself cui bono — whose interest does it serve? In this case, there is no mystery: the directive was openly lobbied for by large pharmaceutical companies, which saw an opportunity to put their smaller rivals out of business. Not for the first time, big corporations have used the EU to push through rules which national assemblies would never have countenanced. MPs were left in no doubt about how their constituents viewed the proposal. But Brussels fonctionnaires are invulnerable to the ballot box: the EU was designed, in the aftermath of the second world war, precisely to shield them from public opinion.
What, though, has any of this has to do with the single market? Most herbalists, after all, operate only within a radius of a few miles. Once again, we are reminded that the EU does not confine itself to cross-border issues. Brussels tells us how to open bank accounts, how to strap our children into car seats, how to sell our houses, how to hold ladders against walls.
Last month, David Cameron discovered that his flagship policy — funding Big Society schemes with £100 million recovered from disused bank accounts — could not be pursued without special permission from the European Commission. Two weeks later, women learned that they could no longer benefit from cheaper car insurance.
Most British voters vaguely dislike the EU, but don’t regard it as an especially pressing nuisance. We tend to think of it as a racket that happens across the Channel: expensive, undemocratic and doubtless corrupt, but hardly immediate.
Those who take herbal remedies will soon know better: they are being treated as fishermen and slaughtermen, art dealers and fund managers, cheesemakers and female drivers have been treated before them. See how Brussels curls its tendrils into every cranny of national life, blocking the light, strangling the native growth.
The Spectator, 22 Old Queen Street, London, SW1H 9HP. All Articles and Content Copyright ©2011 by The Spectator (1828) Ltd. All Rights Reserved
Friday, 18 March 2011
Essential Fatty Acids for Pre-Menstrual Syndrome
Essential Fatty Acids for Pre-Menstrual Syndrome
1st February, 2011
Pre-Menstrual Syndrome is the physical, physiological and behavioural symptoms that can occur in the two weeks leading up to a women’s monthly period. Typical symptoms include fluid retention, breast tenderness, mood swings and irritability. Pre-Menstrual syndrome affects nearly all women of child bearing age; however women between their late 20’s and early 40’s are most likely to experience symptoms.
New research has again highlighted the positive effect of essential fatty acids and a reduction in the symptoms of pre-menstrual tension. This will come as good news to the 35% of women who have symptoms which are severe enough to interfere with there daily routine.
A double blind randomised controlled trial was conducted with 120 female volunteers suffering from pre-menstrual syndrome. The women were divided into three groups assigned to receive either one gram or 2 grams of essential fatty acids including gamma linolenic acid, oleic acid and linoleic acid other polyunsaturated fatty acids and vitamin E or placebo and their symptoms were recorded over a 6 month period. The group who received one gram of essential fatty acids had a significant reduction in symptoms and those who received two grams of essential fatty acids had an even greater reduction in symptoms.
There is no cure for pre-menstrual syndrome, so treatments like this may be of great benefit to a large proportion of the female population.
1st February, 2011
Pre-Menstrual Syndrome is the physical, physiological and behavioural symptoms that can occur in the two weeks leading up to a women’s monthly period. Typical symptoms include fluid retention, breast tenderness, mood swings and irritability. Pre-Menstrual syndrome affects nearly all women of child bearing age; however women between their late 20’s and early 40’s are most likely to experience symptoms.
New research has again highlighted the positive effect of essential fatty acids and a reduction in the symptoms of pre-menstrual tension. This will come as good news to the 35% of women who have symptoms which are severe enough to interfere with there daily routine.
A double blind randomised controlled trial was conducted with 120 female volunteers suffering from pre-menstrual syndrome. The women were divided into three groups assigned to receive either one gram or 2 grams of essential fatty acids including gamma linolenic acid, oleic acid and linoleic acid other polyunsaturated fatty acids and vitamin E or placebo and their symptoms were recorded over a 6 month period. The group who received one gram of essential fatty acids had a significant reduction in symptoms and those who received two grams of essential fatty acids had an even greater reduction in symptoms.
There is no cure for pre-menstrual syndrome, so treatments like this may be of great benefit to a large proportion of the female population.
Friday, 4 March 2011
Manuka Honey On Offer @ Beanfreaks
Customer Question
Which we like and the answer even better.
Which we like and the answer even better.
Had this email forwarded on from Nelson NZ from one of your customers:
Hello, I have purchased 8 jars of the above honey from Beanfreaks of Cardiff U.K. My husband is saying that it is not so sweet as other honey we have tried with the same factor etc. and wonder why this is so and is it of any detriment to the qualities of the honey. Would appreciate your comments please.Thanking you . Mrs f. Barrow
Hello Mrs Barrow
I am writing in response to your email to our NZ suppliers regarding your query as to the 'sweetness' of our manuka honey you recently puchased from Beanfreaks.
I am a little suprised as generally the comments we received compared to other genuine NZ souced manuka is that our honey is sweeter - this we put down to the fact it is sourced in the South Island which for reasons we dont understand, tends to produce a sweeter taste.
I am not sure what brands of manuka you have been using before you tried ours so can only make some tentative guesses and suggestions.
All of our honey is produced by our own bees by my family in New Zealand and is very pure and genuine in terms of what ends up in the jar. ie no other honeys or sweetners/additives go anywhere near the finished article. Recently in the UK there has been a prolifiration of manuka repackaged here in Britain and sold predominantly in the supermakets with a very dubious pedigree, how much manuka is actually in the jars being sold is often somewhat questionable - this no doubt has a big influence on its taste etc.
I write all of this in essence just to reassure you that the honey you have purchased is in every way the genuine article and its taste and all other properties are exactly as the bees, the manuka plant and mother nature has intended it.
With Best Regards
Clinton Lammas
Nectar Ease UK Ltd
Reply
Thank you so much for your e mail and full explanation, we are fully satisfied with your comments and will buy your honey in future. One always has doubts about things with what goes on in supermarkets etc. Thanks again.
I will be back on the job with updating the blog now as lots has been going on I need to tell you about
cheers
kevin
I will be back on the job with updating the blog now as lots has been going on I need to tell you about
cheers
kevin
Saturday, 30 October 2010
Don't stop taking St John's wort - it really does help depression.
"This herb is as effective in treating mild to moderate depression as any of the pharmaceutical medications such as SSRIs (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors), most famously Prozac. Let me make it clear: I am not talking about using the herb in major depressions where the patient is suicidal or a danger to others, nor am I talking about day-to-day blues.
‘Mild to moderate’ depression can be debilitating and life-changing in a negative way. Good treatment is essential.
I will carry on recommending this herb because it’s much kinder to patients. It’s very well tolerated, with most patients seeing fast results, with few side-effects and fewer withdrawal symptoms.
There are many studies that have found St John's wort to be effective and well-tolerated
Many patients on antidepressants struggle with nausea, insomnia, weight gain and sexual dysfunction. When it’s time to stop, they face headaches and cravings. Read more:
Friday, 29 October 2010
Dr Hauschka Consultant visiting Beanfreaks Cardiff
For over four decades Dr.Hauschka customers have enjoyed comfortable, radiant skin and as a result Dr.Hauschka is acknowledged as the original and best natural skin care brand. The consistent quality of Dr.Hauschka is achieved through a deep and authentic commitment to nature and mankind.
Are you unsure about the condition of your skin? On Friday November 26th 2010, Beanfreaks will be hosting FREE CONSULTATIONS and SKIN CARE DEMONSTRATIONS, with a Consultant from Dr Hauschka. Just pop along to Beanfreaks Cardiff Store at 3, St Mary Street Cardiff. CF10 1AT, where you will be able to have your own personal consultation.
There ia also a FREE GIFT WITH EVERY PURCHASE.
View the DR Hauschka Range at Beanfreaks.com
Are you unsure about the condition of your skin? On Friday November 26th 2010, Beanfreaks will be hosting FREE CONSULTATIONS and SKIN CARE DEMONSTRATIONS, with a Consultant from Dr Hauschka. Just pop along to Beanfreaks Cardiff Store at 3, St Mary Street Cardiff. CF10 1AT, where you will be able to have your own personal consultation.
There ia also a FREE GIFT WITH EVERY PURCHASE.
View the DR Hauschka Range at Beanfreaks.com
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
