Unfortunately, the FDA is not able to do much regarding the claims made by people selling vitamins, supplements and alternative treatments. The public assumes words like "Natural" and/or "Organic" assure safety...never mind that the amanitas mushroom is both of those and quite tasty as well.

The government is simply incapable of testing every product that shows up on late-night TV and proving that something doesn't work is one heck of a job. Especially so when the manufacturer can slightly alter the formula and be back in business the next day.

Why, instead, don't you tell readers how many vitamin deficiencies you've see in your practice or just how many OTC pills, to your knowledge, actually facilitated any significant weight loss? I don't doubt that your word would influence many readers...perhaps more so than some obscure federal agency.

Although I am concerned about supplements and the fact that there is no real regulation, neither is there any real requirement that side effects be listed on the packaging. Even more serious is the fact that many supplements don't actually contain what is written on the label.

All of this is problematic, as supplements are intended to help folks get healthier.

The real issue I believe concerns herbs. I am a Master Herbalist and have found that clients often take herbs as if they were supplements. They are completely unaware that herbs are in fact the basis for many of todays drugs.

It is alarming, for example, that someone on Evista could begin to self medicate with Horse Chestnut and be unaware that they were potentiating their Rx. The client only became aware of the problem when the spouse alerted me to the fact the she was only sleeping 2 hours nightly and talking like she was taking ephedra.

There have been many such incidents. I would favor further education for MD's and Alt MD's to ask clients if they are taking herbs or planning to do so to check with their MD or Alt MD first.