I didn’t say they were dangerous. Unscientific? Until there’s science applied to it, they are, sort of by definition.
I take a phytotherapic daily to deal with a chronic illness. It’s scientifically vetted, there’s a protocol with established dosage and its potency is controlled by the lab that processes it.
I’m Brazilian, there is a ton of government sponsored research in folk remedies there, and I think it’s great. What’s not great is how many people (there, at least) are quick to advertise some herbal tea as having miraculous properties without any base to it.
Here’s an example. There’s no evidence for any of these claims. Growing up, all I’ve heard people attribute to it was “digestive” properties, which is another way of saying mildly laxative.
This pattern is repeated ad nauseum to countless other herbs, even the ones that have been studied. A multimillion dollar industry sprung profiteering from anti-scientific sentiment, preying on the vulnerable. Government intervened, requiring supporting science for manufacturer claims on labels and potency control. But websites such as what I linked are still funded somehow and there’s no control on the sale. Quack gurus abound, essentially practicing illegal medicine, making diagnoses on victims reported symptoms and prescribing teas and supplements.
So yeah, I don’t mind people brewing some tea once or twice to deal with some mild discomfort like stomach pain. It’s when vultures circle the seriously ill suggesting their cure evades them because they’re not doing enough and they need their panacea to get better that I start paying attention.
I didn’t say they were dangerous. Unscientific? Until there’s science applied to it, they are, sort of by definition.
I take a phytotherapic daily to deal with a chronic illness. It’s scientifically vetted, there’s a protocol with established dosage and its potency is controlled by the lab that processes it.
I’m Brazilian, there is a ton of government sponsored research in folk remedies there, and I think it’s great. What’s not great is how many people (there, at least) are quick to advertise some herbal tea as having miraculous properties without any base to it.
Here’s an example. There’s no evidence for any of these claims. Growing up, all I’ve heard people attribute to it was “digestive” properties, which is another way of saying mildly laxative.
This pattern is repeated ad nauseum to countless other herbs, even the ones that have been studied. A multimillion dollar industry sprung profiteering from anti-scientific sentiment, preying on the vulnerable. Government intervened, requiring supporting science for manufacturer claims on labels and potency control. But websites such as what I linked are still funded somehow and there’s no control on the sale. Quack gurus abound, essentially practicing illegal medicine, making diagnoses on victims reported symptoms and prescribing teas and supplements.
So yeah, I don’t mind people brewing some tea once or twice to deal with some mild discomfort like stomach pain. It’s when vultures circle the seriously ill suggesting their cure evades them because they’re not doing enough and they need their panacea to get better that I start paying attention.