Archive - Volume II Number 1

Doc's Commentary

IF TWO IS GOOD - THREE IS BETTER.

   That may apply to a hug but not to anything with the potential to harm.  Recently the popular press has reported on a tragedy, which has happened all too frequently.  Because a professional baseball player misused a herbal product and died; the medical examiner has taken that occasion to launch a crusade of negative indictments against the use of supplementation.  Steven Bechler of the Baltimore Orioles died after a heatstroke episode, which in itself is often fatal, during a workout in the hot Florida sun.  The medical examiner blamed a weight loss supplement found in Bechler's stomach as the cause of the tragic incident.  The active ingredient in the popular supplement was a popular herb "Ephedra".  But, we shouldn't indict the whole herbal supplement industry and particularly a perfectly good herbal remedy without first looking at what happened and putting the blame where it belongs.

"The fault dear Brutus lies not in the stars but in ourselves".  This is again a case of not reading the cautions on the label.  When will we wake up to the knowledge that the recommended dosage on any drug/herb/vitamin/supplement means just what it says.  Bechler took three pills rather than the recommended two.  But even if he had taken only two pills it might not have avoided the unfortunate incident because Bechler was aware of two other medical conditions he had that were contraindications for using ephedra.  They were; possible high blood pressure and liver disease.  He had already been warned of potential problems in these two areas as late as two days before his death.  In defense of the herb, there were eighteen conditions listed on the label a cautions which potential users should discuss with their doctors before taking the herb.  Also included in the ingredients of most weight loss supplements was Caffeine.  The combination of ephedra and caffeine for someone with high blood pressure is very risky.

The philosophy if X is good then 2X is twice as good is not only a fallacy but in many cases could be fatal.  The basic principle to follow label directions applies in all walks of life. Consider the case in cleaning compounds where the label says two ounces per gallon of water, and yet many people just pour from the jug or use the concentrated product to clean.  You can bet that all manufacturers will produce a product that will perform at its best with the lowest dilution or dosage rate.  They have a vested interest to produce the most economical product to perform at its optimum best.  The days of the producers putting silver dollars at the bottom of the drum has long since vanished.

Could ephedra be getting a bad rap? Since 1994 only about 100 deaths have been reported from ephedra based supplements, most of which were weight loss formulations, which generate $161 million in annual sales.  In comparison, aspirin and similar drugs account for more than 16,000 deaths each year.  I admit the sales of painkillers are much larger than weight loss drugs but so is the incident of misuse.  But are not any of these deaths a waste?  The responsibility for these deaths lies within ourselves.

So lets not throw the baby out with the bath water!  There are some important principles to keep in mind when using any drug, supplement, or chemical.  If you follow these simple rules religiously you will receive the greatest benefit for your dollar and will live to be a healthy centurion.

These simple rules are as follows:

1. Discuss with you healthcare provider anything you are planning to put into your body.  Be honest with him/her and tell them everything  you are using. Many simple-over-the counter drugs can be very deadly in the wrong combinations.
2. NEVER MIX chemicals or drugs unless you are confident you know the reactions.
3. Be sure to read the label or instructions on anything you are putting into your body including the ingredients and the caution messages.  Then follow to the letter all dosage recommendations. If you don't understand the cautions on the label - ASK.  Most labels even supply an 800 number.
4. Don't start a supplement program because of media hype.  Consult with your healthcare provider first.  The supplement might not be right for you.  Your healthcare provider can only be of help if you are honest with them.

THE COMMERCIAL:  If you want to use a weight loss supplement to help increase your metabolism rate, ours may work for you.  Just send and email with your honest medical history and I'll try to find the one that will work for you.  I'll also give you the ingredients and their particular cautions if any.  There is nothing wrong with the idea of supplementation when use intelligently.

Home Page | About Us | Hypnotherapy | Lifestyle Assessment | Seminars
Doc's Commentary | Archives | Research & Information | The Physician Within
Terms of Use | Links | Subscribe to Newletter | E-mail | Cosmos Store | Testimonials | Contact Us

Herbology* | Homeopathy*
*These links are coming soon.

Copyright © 2005 Cosmos Institute of Holistic Science & Clinic.
Updated 11/01/2007 by Griffin Web Design.