Posted by bubblegumchewer on December 20, 2002, at 13:01:32
Ok, there is a woman who irritates me beyond belief on another board (a pregnant women's board) but I will skip all the details. My basic gripe with her this time is that she has recommended to anyone suffering from insomnia what her midwife recommended to her. It is a product with these ingredients:
Magnesium (as magnesium citrate)
150mg
Calcium (as calcium lactate)
75mg
Passion Flower (Passiflora incarnata) 270mg
Passion Flower 4:1 Extract (Passiflora incarnata) 30mg
Valerian Root (Valeriana officinalis) 135mg
Valerian Root 4:1 Extract (Valeriana officinalis) 15mg
Hops Flower, Strobile (Humulus lupulus) 270mg
Hops Strobile 4:1 Extract (Humulus lupulus) 30mg
Kava Kava Root (Piper methysticum) 90mgI am not going to go back and respond to her because I made vow several weeks ago to only read that board and not respond. This is because I didn't think it was a good mental health habit for me to get into fights with those who irritate me online. I'm proud of staying away. I've never been a real fighter but I've made enough slightly snide comments to offend the monumentally sensitive people there and I just don't want to venture into that territory.
Now, my question is (and I think I partially know the answer): Just because something is "all-natural" does not give it the green light for anyone to use, especially pregnant women, right? I mean, aren't some of these ingredients more than merely food supplements but rather pharmaceutically active and therefore they should be investigated before being recommended as safe even for pregnant women just because they are "all-natural?"
As you can see, I am not fooled by the "a.n." claim and that is my irritation of the day. Ok, I'll get over this crotchety episode but I just wanted someone to confirm that these ingredients (kava, valerian to name a few) might be something to question before just popping them on the advice of a midwife. I am irritated by health professionals and laypeople alike who endorse any product that is "a.n." without knowing much about it.
poster:bubblegumchewer
thread:132630
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20021217/msgs/132630.html