Abstract
In May 1994, while working in marketing for BASF Pharmaceuticals in Germany, I was prescribed a product called Sinupret® for chronic sinusitis by my family physician. The product was behind the counter in the local pharmacy and was reimbursed by my health insurance. After some months, my sinusitis was gone and I was intrigued about the product, its regulation and most particularly the research behind it. In reading the Sinupret® packet I discovered to my surprise that it was a herbal medicine. Convinced, with my pharma background, that there would be little evidence for such a product I asked our medical information department to conduct a literature review of all clinical trials for herbal medicines in all languages. A week later I received 4 thick lever arch files of abstracts of tens of thousands of clinical trials on hundreds of products. This delivery changed my life!
Highlights
In May 1994, while working in marketing for BASF Pharmaceuticals in Germany, I was prescribed a product called Sinupret® for chronic sinusitis by my family physician
When you consider the complex multi-active constituents, the variability of nature and the difficult manufacturing process it is obvious that the evidence for natural health products is product specific
In most countries there are limited ways to differentiate Natural Health Products based on their specific evidence
Summary
In May 1994, while working in marketing for BASF Pharmaceuticals in Germany, I was prescribed a product called Sinupret® for chronic sinusitis by my family physician. In reading the Sinupret® packet I discovered to my surprise that it was a herbal medicine. With my pharma background, that there would be little evidence for such a product I asked our medical information department to conduct a literature review of all clinical trials for herbal medicines in all languages. A week later I received 4 thick lever arch files of abstracts of tens of thousands of clinical trials on hundreds of products.
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