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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 2 of 2. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by iforgotmypassword on February 27, 2012, at 8:13:17
[Sorry for the odd title, the character limit gets me every time.]
Is there a regulatory body or quality assurance/consumer protection body that tests products according to some credible system that assures some standards are there for consumers trying to regain their health and lives? I'm assuming the government doesn't give a sh*t, they were about to flush the whole industry for the sake of big pharma (codex alimen-- whatever). Are there third party quality/consumer-focused organisation symbols or seals I should look for on products?One herb I feel definitely has a palpable therapeutic psychoactive effect drug is kava kava. I can get it only occasionally, Canada never re-approved it for sale after it was found that products containing only the root (iirc like the traditional preparation, before companies tried to cut corners) were not associated with liver failure.
The first product I bought of it had an unmistakable effect, at one point it was absolutely too strong. The second was less strong, I tried a cheaper brand I hadn't heard of, but I could just take more. This "Now Foods" product in capsules I have taken such bizarrely high doses with no effect I really don't suspect they contain anything, or companies really don't do any research into the actual shelf life of their products and the numbers/dates on the bottle may as well be arbitrary. This may sound like tolerance, but these products were purchased at dates fairly far apart as I can only get it during trips to the States, or when I'm in Toronto, where it is available at one place if you ask.
This isn't my first "WTF?" with Now Foods, their Ashwagandha (sp?) also had no effect. I am a chronic non-responder, but for kava kava to cause not even side effects for me is a little alarming to say the least. Where do I go from here when buying products?
I also found out N-acetylcysteine has a very short shelf life -- as in days -- slight contact with air destroys it in little time; I have never seen a product that advertises a special type of capsule or tablet, or any product advising proper storage practices, whereas medical rx products are very strict and specify this (literally "use within 3 days after opening")!
Are there any companies out there I can trust are truly serious? I'd love to say AOR, I presume I deeply respect their focus on carnitine, and their once even having an interesting unique "Vegetarian Support" formula; but their products worry me like most others do. The absence of niceties like unique pill design/function and labelling, and just simply capsules, makes me wonder if these companies really have the capacity to sell what they say they are selling when compounds like N-acetylcysteine exist and are being sold the way they are.
[Sorry for any missing words or confused sentence structure/language use, I don't really have a complete physiological operating head.]
Posted by torrid2 on February 27, 2012, at 20:52:45
In reply to Some brands I *?!* if they contain anything. Help., posted by iforgotmypassword on February 27, 2012, at 8:13:17
I didn't know that about NAC. I've been using non denatured whey protein instead of NAC resently.
Consumer reports is the only one I know of that tests for purity.
This is the end of the thread.
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