Why I don't buy many herbal supplements these days

Wow! Four percent isn't that good. There are some I do use, including glucosamine. It has proven itself effective for my joints. Most have shown no value at all.

Over the years I have used lots of them, but it is obvious we are being cheated by some of these people.

Kind of like pharmaceutical companies, huh?

The value of herbal supplements comes from the placebo effect. Don't knock the placebo effect, it can be very useful to raise the quality of life.

I don't think the fact these supplements are mislabeled is a big deal... in fact, inaccurate labels may be the very thing that make them effective.

Cool! You should show up here around 3:00 a.m., and knock yourself out.

Herbs properly used are not placebos.

For now I still believe in Costco.

glucosamine
chondroitin
fish oil
Vitamin d and b-12
COQ10

Plus, if you want to start a discussion on this, start your own ******* thread.

Interesting. Of those six, I take three. Tried the COQ, but no apparent benefit.

I have used those, too. COQ10 I didn't use long enough to judge because I often can't buy everything I want to.

I felt like new man after 10 days. Starting statins killed me for some reason, COQ10 seemed to be the cure. Kirkland brand, as always.

I used to mock those who take anything more than a multivitamin but time has changed my mind. I think that the only reason I function anywhere near as good as I do is because I take stuff over the counter and with little doctor enthusiasm. A drunk walk with my 120 lb Newf at night in Monterey late one foggy night messed up by knee so bad I could not hardly use it for 6 weeks. 6 months later I was not great at all, had a doc start talking about knee replacement. But then I remembered some miracle powder made out of seashells that costs 100DM/month in 1992 for three months that years before had fixed a hip problem in a young Newf, to the point that she lived deep into old age without a single further hip problem (and Newfs have a lot of hip problems) , Investigation lead to to glucosamine/chondroitin. Two weeks later I felt noticeably better, Three months later I was as good as new. That was over 15 years ago, and while my knees are destroyed I am still on them a lot, often for long periods of time while working. You can be damn sure I dont miss days of taking my Kirkland knee supplements!

The only herbal supplements I ever use I buy in so-called 'health food' stores. I don't know if that makes them any more effective, but I wouldn't trust anything like that OTC at WalMart.

I only buy brands that were recommended to me by the nutritionist Wally and I go to.
He doesn't do it so we buy from him. Most of the stuff I buy online. There's only 2 I get from him for other reasons.

Jarrow is a good brand, for instance.

If I'm going to spend money on something, I'm going to get the best quality I can get, and use the experience of someone with a doctorate in the field, who has proven himself to us many times over.

St John Wort has been proven to in fact be even LESS effective as an antidepressant then placebo. In many independent academic studies not affiliated with pharmaceutical companies.

This article refers to a famous study that least says St John's wort is as effective as the placebo group.
https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/reading-between-the-headlines/201308/st-johns-wort-and-depression


These aren't medically backwards countries. The U.S. on the other hand has problems with keeping its regulatory agencies well funded and capable of properly doing its job.

No need to swear, Edgar. You are allowed to be civil here.

The placebo effect is completely relevant in any discussion about the effectiveness of herbal supplements.

And your response is a little hypocritical. You inserted your pet issue into my thread on science vs. the American public. I responded reasonably. I explained to you why I didn't think it was relevant and and answered the questions.

I certainly didn't start swearing at you. And there is no reason for you to act this way.

I started this thread to discuss the dishonest supplement companies. If you want to call people fools for using them go elsewhere.

Not here to discuss placebo.

I cook with a lot of herbs and have for a long time, but I've got to get figure out how to keep them going in pots in the house - if possible - as I get less herby minded dealing with dried this and that. Um, a grow light in the "laundry room"?
But, officer..