Guest guest Posted February 13, 2008 Report Share Posted February 13, 2008 Hi All, Does'nt it p**s you off the amount of people you see on TV dispensing advice about herbs who are not herbalists. I have already contacted the Stuff on Channel 5 several times about this and suggested they have a qualified medical herbalist on there ( I even submitted a proposal) which has been ignored to date. How many times do you send mail before you are regarded as a nuisance???? Again I found myself emailing them this morning when a doctor told menopausal women to buy the herbal " product " Black Cohosh if they want natural alternatives to HRT. Why oh Why do herbalists seem to have a real problem getting some decent media time to put the record straight. This programme has Homeopaths/nutritionlists/ colour therapists but no herbies. Let us again start bombarding TV programmes/Radio etc to get some of us out there. regards to you all Jacqui Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 13, 2008 Report Share Posted February 13, 2008 HI Jaqui It all goes back to the supposed public perception of Herbalists. I cant remember how many times people have called me a homoeopath - because I deal with herbs! Some Nutritionists seem to have some sort of basic training in suggesting set pre-prepared herbal formulas and thus public perception is again misled away from qualified Herbalists. Well done, Jaqui! Keep up the emails to the programmes; eventually something will get through..... Boys URHP Advice on TV Hi All, Does'nt it p**s you off the amount of people you see on TV dispensing advice about herbs who are not herbalists. I have already contacted the Stuff on Channel 5 several times about this and suggested they have a qualified medical herbalist on there ( I even submitted a proposal) which has been ignored to date. How many times do you send mail before you are regarded as a nuisance???? Again I found myself emailing them this morning when a doctor told menopausal women to buy the herbal " product " Black Cohosh if they want natural alternatives to HRT. Why oh Why do herbalists seem to have a real problem getting some decent media time to put the record straight. This programme has Homeopaths/nutritionlists/ colour therapists but no herbies. Let us again start bombarding TV programmes/Radio etc to get some of us out there. regards to you all Jacqui Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 13, 2008 Report Share Posted February 13, 2008 Hi Jaqui and jenny I think it is deeper than that. That email I sent to " you and yours " years ago got through to them, and we have always been mistaken for homeopaths. My feeling is that the problem is the current political climate, reinforced by the fact that we have chosen to promote ourselves by agreeing that herbs are dangerous. There is such a strong media angle to this " danger " that is most currently manifested by the concentration on the possibility of interactions. Did you hear Case Notes on Radio 4 recently? It started with an exploration of serious drug ADRs and segued seamlessly into examining the possiblity of herb drug interactions. They had an " expert herbalist " : a CPP member from the School of Homeopathy, and his advice was to consult a doctor or pharmacist! No mention of other herbalists AT ALL. When I emailed in pointing out that as a COP graduate, he must be aware of the depth and different focus of our training, and that drs and pharms though competent in their fields, were not so in ours, only to be told by Mark Porter MD that " most herbalists " would not understand the implications eg warfarin, INR and gingko or SJW and oral OCPs I wrote back explaining we do, actually, and pointing him to M & B herbal Safety, and got no reply...... The following weekend, the sunday supplements ran full page adverts for OTC supplements whose USP (unique selling point) was that they were the only ones proven not to interact. There have been so many instances of letters having been written and ignored, but we are not alone - the environmentalists and human rights campaqigners are similarly embattled, and I learn a lot about effective argument by listening to their spokespeople. What we need is for ALL of us to keep inundating them with as sharp and clear arguments as we can, which is what forums like these are so invaluable for imho and to rise to the challenge by creating a culture of effectiveness - 's point about Case Histories was very pertinent - They ask for evidence - we need to each of us collect it for them!. I've been banging on about this for as long as I can remember, but I think now the time is ripening - Collect Your Best Case Histories - Don't Be Defensive - Trumpet Your/ Our Successes!!! It just takes one really good article in a magazine (with a big circulation) on a particular common condition to make a difference, butter up your local press - they are always looking for such a good story, and if it is good enough the nationals might t5ake it up, and that helps both us and them As for drs and pharmacists it's not helpful for us to rubbish them wholesale and then expect them to respect us, we're all only human, but we need to be aware that a few members of those professions seem to be using us as a smoke screen to cover their failings (and are being encouraged to do that by big pharma maintain their profits) and are rubbishing us to keep the public from seeking on alternative to drugs and surgery where it may be possible. Just look at the Bad Science website if you doubt this. They've succeeded in reducing homeopathic funding, and homeopathy has always had an easier ride because it is seen as at least harmless. Phew, sorry for length of post, Sally O > HI Jaqui > It all goes back to the supposed public perception of Herbalists. I > cant remember how many times people have called me a homoeopath - > because I deal with herbs! > Some Nutritionists seem to have some sort of basic training in > suggesting set pre-prepared herbal formulas and thus public > perception is again misled away from qualified Herbalists. > Well done, Jaqui! Keep up the emails to the programmes; eventually > something will get through..... > Boys > URHP > Advice on TV > > > Hi All, > Does'nt it p**s you off the amount of people you see on TV > dispensing > advice about herbs who are not herbalists. > > I have already contacted the Stuff on Channel 5 several times > about this and suggested they have a qualified medical herbalist on > there ( I even submitted a proposal) which has been ignored to date. > > How many times do you send mail before you are regarded as a > nuisance???? > > Again I found myself emailing them this morning when a doctor told > menopausal women to buy the herbal " product " Black Cohosh if they > want > natural alternatives to HRT. > > Why oh Why do herbalists seem to have a real problem getting some > decent media time to put the record straight. This programme has > Homeopaths/nutritionlists/ colour therapists but no herbies. > > Let us again start bombarding TV programmes/Radio etc to get some of > us out there. > > regards to you all > Jacqui > > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 13, 2008 Report Share Posted February 13, 2008 Sorry that should have been " Homeopathic Hospital " > > They had an " expert herbalist " : a CPP member from the School of > Homeopathy, Hey, I wonder if the reduction in funding to the HH would explain their sudden " herbal expert " diversification............. Hmmmm. S Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 13, 2008 Report Share Posted February 13, 2008 Hi Sally, Good points you mentioned. Makes you feel a bit conspiracy theory against herbalists doesn't it! That Bad Science bloke and his jackals are bad news. I wonder how registration will progress. Surely that might be perceived by the government as endorsing that herbal medicine does work, when on the other hand Ben Goldacre and his type don't want us around period!! I am conducting a survey on the various chat forums I'm on about the public's perception of associating herbs with a herbalist and not OTC's and so far people definatly think we need a higher profile. How are we going to achieve this with all this anti-press if you will??? regards Jacqu srcy > > > HI Jaqui > > It all goes back to the supposed public perception of Herbalists. I > > cant remember how many times people have called me a homoeopath - > > because I deal with herbs! > > Some Nutritionists seem to have some sort of basic training in > > suggesting set pre-prepared herbal formulas and thus public > > perception is again misled away from qualified Herbalists. > > Well done, Jaqui! Keep up the emails to the programmes; eventually > > something will get through..... > > Boys > > URHP > > Advice on TV > > > > > > Hi All, > > Does'nt it p**s you off the amount of people you see on TV > > dispensing > > advice about herbs who are not herbalists. > > > > I have already contacted the Stuff on Channel 5 several times > > about this and suggested they have a qualified medical herbalist on > > there ( I even submitted a proposal) which has been ignored to date. > > > > How many times do you send mail before you are regarded as a > > nuisance???? > > > > Again I found myself emailing them this morning when a doctor told > > menopausal women to buy the herbal " product " Black Cohosh if they > > want > > natural alternatives to HRT. > > > > Why oh Why do herbalists seem to have a real problem getting some > > decent media time to put the record straight. This programme has > > Homeopaths/nutritionlists/ colour therapists but no herbies. > > > > Let us again start bombarding TV programmes/Radio etc to get some of > > us out there. > > > > regards to you all > > Jacqui > > > > > > > > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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