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pharmaceutical industry. As reprehensible as many assumption that mainstream medicine truly is science industry practices are, I believe the behavior of much of | driven, evidence based and properly regulated, he medical profession is even more culpable." physicians have held all other nonmainstream health One might claim that we have one final bulwark care disciplines to standards of research that they often against an industry riddled with conflicts of interest and _ do not realise are far more rigorous than those to which he commercial drive for profit: federal government hey themselves hold. Physicians have all but ignored regulation. So, can we trust the FDA to safeguard he salient fact that many traditional health care clinical trials of new drugs and devices to make sure disciplines, notably Chinese medicine and Ayurvedic hey are conducted properly? It is an appalling but well- | medicine, have been validated over untold generations nown fact that many FDA officials also engage in _ of trial and error. Their continued use for billions of inancial relationships with pharmaceutical and/or people in many parts of the world today is a strong echnology companies. No wonder that more than four estimonial that they do work. Plus, these and other of five Americans surveyed believe that the FDA makes non-western medical disciplines have also been subject decisions influenced by politics rather than medical o rigorous scientific scrutiny as these cultures have science. In fact, in a study published in JAMA in — evolved their own scientific establishments and peer- October 2006, this very subject was reviewed medical journals. addressed.” The study reported that, of nearly 3,000 FDA panel members Competing scientific models for who were anonymously interviewed, Physicians have all defining disease and determining 28 per cent disclosed a financial . treatment relationship within the previous year but ignored the A famous old argument between either with the company that made a salient fact that two well-known 19th-century drug under discussion or with a we scientists, Louis Pasteur and Antoine competitor. The most common ties many traditional Béchamp, still goes on today. What is were consulting arrangements, the most important factor in research contracts or grants, and stock . health care determining whether or not we will holdings or other investments. disciplines, notably get sick or die when we are exposed to In response to harsh criticism from Congress and the press after myriad scandals—most involving its approvals of drugs like Vioxx and Lupron that have cost untold tens of thousands of lives—FDA Commissioner Dr Edward von Eschenbach convened a special internal committee of inquiry that included several outside experts to assess whether the FDA is actually able to accomplish its mission. Its final report, "FDA Science and Mission a microbe? Is it the external invading Chinese medicine microbe itself, or is it the body's and Ayurvedic internal defences—or lack oe thereof—that make the most medicine, have difference? been validated High-tech medicine, following Pasteur, has clearly taken the over untold former position. Its signature generations of trial and error. activity is that of killing off the microbe, knocking out the cancer and, in general, battling the invasion of any and all disease by means of drugs, technology and surgery. And in a sense, its at Risk", issued early in 2008, reigning attitude is that of a war stated: "The FDA cannot fulfill its against nature herself. This mission because its scientific base has eroded and its scientific | approach focuses on looking outside of ourselves to organizational structure is weak [emphasis added]." It went find solutions rather than looking inside. on to state that "its scientific workforce does not have Opposing this view, Béchamp, a scientific sufficient capacity and capability". Amazingly, it further | contemporary of Pasteur, argued that lifestyle, stress, stated: "The FDA science agenda lacks a coherent diet and the like make us vulnerable to disease and that structure and vision, as well as effective coordination we can protect ourselves by strengthening our natural and prioritization.". And among these shocking defences in those places where we have become conclusions was this one: "The FDA does not have the vulnerable. Béchamp completely rejected Pasteur's capacity to ensure the safety of food for the nation." ideas and put forward the thesis that our "biological Well, at least one government agency has the honesty __ terrain" is the cause of disease. It was Béchamp who to indict itself for its own incompetence! But again, proclaimed: "The primary cause of disease is in us, how many Americans or even members of Congress always in us." have heard about this self-indictment? Clearly, both perspectives are important and deserve It is notable that as a result of the erroneous attention. The former approach searches desperately Physicians have all but ignored the salient fact that many traditional health care _ disciplines, notably Chinese medicine and Ayurvedic medicine, have been validated over untold | generations of trial and error. NEXUS ° 31 DECEMBER 2009 - JANUARY 2010 www.nexusmagazine.com