Susan Bjarnson
Leslie Biebau
Final Research Project
April 22, 2012
Annotated Bibliographies
1
Stein, Rob. "38% of Adults Use Alternative Medicine." Washington Post (Washington, DC). 11 Dec
2008: A.2. SIRS Issues Researcher. Web. 12 Apr 2012.
Steins article explores the realities and consequences of over one third of Americans using
alternative medicine. "More than one-third of adults and nearly 12 percent of children in the
United States use alternatives to traditional medicine, according to a large federal survey released
on [Dec. 11, 2008] that documents how entrenched acupuncture, herbal remedies and other onceexotic therapies have become." (Washington Post) The increasing use of alternative medicine, as
well as criticism of its effectiveness, is reviewed.
Richard L. Nahin of the National Institutes of Health's National Center for Complementary and
Alternative Medicine, which released this survey, says that alternative health practices are here
to stay. Critics report being disturbed by this, citing lack of evidence and wide spread quackery
in the alternative health field. Some critics disagree with research into any alternative health
claims, saying that this money should be spent on “real” research. Nahin suggests that studies
into the validity of alternative health practices can influence public opinion citing the studies of
St. Johns Wort as an example.
This article provided some good statistical analysis of the current use of alternative medicine in
the United States. The article didn’t provide any evidence, anecdotal or scientific, as to the
validity of any alternative medicine. It did however raise several major points of concern as to its
use in the general public.
2
Stobbe, Mike. "About 1 in 9 US Kids Use Alternative Medicine." Macon Telegraph (Macon, GA).
Dec. 11 2008: n.p. SIRS Issues Researcher. Web. 12 Apr 2012.
"Just like their parents, kids are taking herbal supplements from fish oil to ginseng, a sign of just
how mainstream alternative medicine has become. More than one in nine children and teens try
those remedies and other nontraditional options, the government said Wednesday [Dec. 10,
2008] in its first national study of young people's use of these mostly unproven treatments."
(Macon Telegraph) “Kids were five times more likely to use alternative therapies if a parent or
other relative did. The same study showed that more than a third of adults use alternative
treatments, roughly the same as in a 2002 survey.” (Macon Telegraph)
This article reports that women were more likely to use alternative medicine than men and that
increased education, increased the chances of alternative medicine as well. Fish oil for
hyperactivity and echinacea for colds were the most popular supplements in the study.
Dr. Wallace Sampson, an emeritus clinical professor of medicine at Stanford University, is
quoted as saying: "The reality is none of these things work, including some of the more popular
ones. They're placebos.” Other Doctors are less critical of alternative medicine saying that it’s
hard for traditional medicine to point fingers, seeing that many medical treatments have proven
to be of little or no use in their prescribed treatments.
This article was more balanced with evidence for and against alternative medicine. Most
evidence for and against alternative medicine was anecdotal. At the end of the article it brings
up the need for further study of alternative medicine.
3
Keiley, Lynn, and Stephanie Bloyd. "What You Should Know About Drugs vs. Herbs." Mother
Earth News No. 219. Dec 2006/Jan 2007: 101+. SIRS Issues Researcher. Web. 12 Apr 2012.
Mother Earth News reaches 1.85 Million readers. It is considered an authority on sustainable
living. Lynn and Stephanie have written many short articles all related to health and wellness.
Medicines, both herbal and pharmaceutical, are big business. These days, Americans spend $200
billion per year on prescription drugs and $20 billion on herbs and other dietary supplements.
When choosing the best remedy or preventive medicine, most of us simply want the safest, most
effective option available, whether it's food, herbs or a pharmaceutical drug. People often turn to
supplements because they're seen as more natural than drugs, can have fewer side effects and
generally cost less....Recent prescription drug recalls, such as the 2004 Vioxx withdrawal, also
have cast a dubious light on both the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the
pharmaceutical industry, prompting more people to turn to nutritional supplements." (Mother
Earth News) This article discusses how both pharmaceutical products and herbal supplements
are regulated.
The article sheds light on a more natural view of supplements and herbs. The article seems to be
one sided with no doctors quoted as saying there is no benefit to herbal product.
4
Allen, John M. "Herbal Medicines and Dietary Supplements: A Risky Health Gamble." Skeptical
Inquirer. Jan./Feb. 2001: 36-42. SIRS Issues Researcher. Web. 12 Apr 2012.
S KEPTICAL INQUIRER is the official journal of the Committee for Skeptical Inquiry. Six
times per year Skeptical Inquirer publishes critical scientific evaluations of all manner of
controversial and extraordinary claims, including but not limited to paranormal and fringe science matters, and informed discussion of all relevant issues. No information on John M.
Allen was found.
Herbal medicine and dietary supplements represent a booming multibillion-dollar business in the
U.S. and around the globe. The herbal medicine phenomenon is part of a much larger 'alternative
medicine' movement whose proponents seek to exploit both traditional methods of disease
prevention and treatment as well as a variety of New Age approaches. There is no question that
the active ingredients in some herbal preparations show much promise in the prevention and
treatment of a wide variety of illnesses; this is evidenced by a large body of scientific data that
has been amassed and published in reputable scientific and medical journals. However, the use of
herbal medicines and dietary supplements also poses significant health risks. This article
contends that "herbal medicines are, in some ways, like illicit street drugs" and reviews the
effects of several drugs, including St. John's wort, podophyllin and ephedra.
Article has some useful information on the study and process of deriving new drugs from plant
material. Some of his examples seemed a little farfetched. Some of this could be useful for my
report.
Book Chapter
Ellis. Susan K. Livingston: author of Dr. Mom Copyright 1996 Published by Christopher
Publications, Inc.
The author attended the School of Natural Healing and is a master herbalist. She lives in
Springville, Utah with her husband and eleven children. She has not only studied but has also
practiced the use of herbology.
Herbal medicine is not a new fad. It has existed for millions of years. More than 50% of
American’s farm products today consist of plants used before the time of Columbus. Botonists
have yet to discover any medicinal herb, on this continent. The book pushes for greater control
of lives and health through herbology.
This book is a fun read very anecdotal. There is a limited amount of scientific research shown.
But a lot of testimony as to the power of healing with herbs.
Source Analysis
In the article “38% of Adults Use Alternative Medicine”, author Rob Stein reports on a survey
by the Scientific Review of Alternative Medicine reporting on the use of alternative medicine in
the United States. Stein says, “Some critics went further, saying studies have found that some
dietary supplements might increase the risk of some serious health problems, including cancer.
Parents could be putting their children at risk if they deny them proven mainstream treatments,
they said.” The author is trying to use logos to convince the reader of the risk of alternative
medicine. He is also, in the same quote, using pathos, inciting the protective emotions of parents
toward their children. Stein’s article would have more logos if he provided proof for some of his
basic assumptions and provided less inflammatory quotes from his ‘experts’.
In Mike Stobbes article “One in Nine Kids Use Alternative Medicine” He argues that alternative
medicine has gone mainstream. Stobbe’s writing appears to be more genuine because he cites
sources giving different views on the same subject. This provides to the reader the feeling the
author is being fair to the subject and makes the reader more inclined to agree with the author’s
final assessment. Stobbe’s reports an awful lot about children which can immediately invoke
pathos. Contrasting points of view before giving your own is more logos.
Keiley, Lynn, and Stephanie Bloyd’s. "What You Should Know About Drugs vs. Herbs," does a
great job of backing up ideas with research studies. A good example of this is: “Another good
reason for doing research before using a new herb is that several recent product review studies
have shown that what you get in a supplement bottle may not always be what it says it is. A
recent survey of valerian, a popular herb used to promote sleep, conducted by independent
testing service ConsumerLab.com, found that many of the brands they tested were low potency
or contaminated. Of the eight products they tested, one was contaminated with lead, and two
others with cadmium, a heavy metal toxic to the kidneys.” This is a good example of logos. The
writers of this article are very consistent doing this, which leads to more credibility.
In "Herbal Medicines and Dietary Supplements: A Risky Health Gamble,” John M. Allen uses
pathos to install fear in the reader. For instance in his article, John says, “Herbal medicines are,
in some ways, like illicit street drugs. When a drug user buys crack cocaine or heroin on the
street corner, the dealer has no idea what is really in the glassine envelope or plastic vial and
neither does the trafficker who supplies the local dealer.” The comparison of herbs with illicit
street drugs is meant to install fear or alarm in the reader.
Ellis. Susan K. Livingston: author of Dr. Mom uses testimonial and anecdotal stories to get her
point across. She also uses scripture as additional validity of her claims. In using scripture,
Susan is applying ethos to her arguments, because to the faithful, scriptures are the word of God.
Who is more trustworthy than God?
Should herbs
Be
Standardized
Customer
will know
what they
are getting.
It is Hard to
enforce
Standardization
Of Herbs
It will be
easier to
test Validity
of herbs.
Standardizat
ion means
more
available to
public
Herbs are
food not
drugs.
Cannot
personalize
for
individual
needs
Blog
For the past decade or so, alternative medicine has become more main-stream. Herbal
supplements are found in pharmacy’s, chiropractic clinics seem to be on every street corner, and
around the water cooler at work, there is constant talk of acupuncture, shiatsu, and grandma’s
herbal home remedies. With this increase of popularity, there has surfaced as well an increased
desire to standardize the alternative medicine industry, and separate the “quacks” from the
“ducks,” so to speak. As herbs enjoy the most popularity of any other alternative medicine, and
as I am more knowledgeable about herbs than any other, I will explain my point of view as to
whether herbs should be standardized.
The standardization I am talking about is what is found in the medical industry right now. This
would mean that herbs would have to be vigorously and scientifically tested before being
allowed on the market. All claims as to herbal usefulness and effectiveness would have to be
proven. Certain criteria for the “active” ingredients in a plant would have to be met before it
could be sold as an herbal supplement. On the surface these claims sound like a good idea: one
that would stop con-artists and increase the level of respectability in this field. I however am
against the standardization of herbs despite the inherent advantages it could bring.
Herbs are classified by the FDA as being food, not medication. I agree with this idea. Herbs are
plants you find in your back yard or in a field or meadow and are free for the picking. There is
no exotic or complicated process to bring out their medicinal properties. A simple tea or poultice
is all you need to bring out medicinal properties. Indeed, many herbs are found in the produce
isle of your local supermarket. Garlic, Parsley, onions, cloves, carrot tops, apricots, all have
value for the herbal apothecary. The logistics of standardizing these items along with the
millions of other flora species in this world defies the imagination.
By their nature, herbs are taken whole and not broken apart into individual compounds.
Scientists can guess as to which ingredients in plants are active or useful to bring about a specific
result, but since all compounds in a plant interact with each other, and the human body, it is
almost impossible to single out a single compound, and say, this is the only thing that makes the
herb effective. Case in point, Valium is used to control anxiety, muscle spasms, and to control
agitation. Valium is composed of one of the chemical compounds found in valerian root.
Valerian root is used mainly as a sleep-aide in herbal lore. It is obvious that the valium chemical
is not the only one that is acting on the human body when taking valerian root. In other words,
the whole is greater than the sum of its parts. This makes it almost impossible to regulate herbs
since we don’t know for sure what the active components are. I find the idea of only selling
herbs with a certain percentage of an active chemical compound, parallel to only allowing
broccoli with certain percentage of vitamin C out on the supermarket shelves. Is broccoli with a
lower dose of vitamin C not nutritionally sound food? Of course it is.
One of the enticements for taking herbs is their relative inexpensiveness when compared to
modern medicine. As stated earlier, most herbs are free for the taking. Even if you buy them in
a store they are pennies to the dollar when compared to most drugs. Standardization would
greatly increase cost of herbal remedies and decrease their availability to the public. This
decrease of availability would be due to the years of research it would take for testing and FDA
approval. Most herbal companies don’t have the money or resources for these kinds of tests.
Most of the concern about herbs lies in their inherent “danger” to the uninformed masses. This
quote from Mother Earth News puts it in perspective for me. “The Lancet found that there were
only a few hundred calls in one year to U.S. poison control centers involving probable adverse
events of dietary supplements. In contrast, another study published in the Journal of the
American Medical Association, found that there were more than 200,000 adverse reactions to
pharmaceutical drugs reported by hospitals in one year, and half of the reactions were fatal.”
Drugs are heavily regulated and yet they still manage to kill about a hundred thousand people a
year. Herbs have few regulations and apparently much safer. If someone had the inclination to
put it to a test, I would gladly ingest one pound of lobelia (a supposedly toxic herb) to their
ingesting one pound of the drug of their choice. I think we know who would live longer. 
Rhetorical Rationale
Writing doesn’t come easy to me. I struggle and strain to put half formed ideas in my head down
on paper where they belong. My mantra for writing is: “my thoughts and ideas flow through my
fingertips in a clear concise manner without compulsory means.” Unfortunately, this is easier to
say than do. Nevertheless, I persevere doggedly until the gravy in my brain becomes the printed
word, fit to delight the senses and quicken the mind.
I have studied herbology for several years and so I thought this would be a good topic for a blog.
I went on the SLCC library page and found my articles on the Sirs information page. I was
searching for articles about how wonderful and marvelous herbs can be. There were not very
many of them out there. What I did find were a lot of cautionary articles on how unregulated the
herb industry is. This peaked my curiosity because I have never really thought about the
regulation of herbs before. I was undecided about whether I was for or against the
standardization of herbs for a while. I could see pros and cons with both sides of the issue. The
graphic organizer helped me decide which way I was leaning. It forced me to actually write
down my thoughts on paper. What convinced me which way to go were not the ideas that I
wrote down, but the way I felt when I wrote them. Once I clarified my feelings, I was able to
write down arguments as to why I felt that way. In my case, feelings really do come before
logic.
I treated the blog as informally as I could. I tried to present my arguments in a clear, concise,
manner, without complicating it with too many studies or statistics. I am more comfortable
writing like this. Unfortunately, I won’t be able to get away with this with future academic
papers. Writing this blog wasn’t as hard as some of the other papers I’ve written because of my
experience in herbology. My three arguments came to me relatively easily as well as the points
made to back them up.
Works Cited
Stein, Rob. "38% of Adults Use Alternative Medicine." Washington Post (Washington, DC). 11 Dec
2008: A.2. SIRS Issues Researcher. Web. 12 Apr 2012.
Stobbe, Mike. "About 1 in 9 US Kids Use Alternative Medicine." Macon Telegraph (Macon, GA).
Dec. 11 2008: n.p. SIRS Issues Researcher. Web. 12 Apr 2012.
Keiley, Lynn, and Stephanie Bloyd. "What You Should Know About Drugs vs. Herbs." Mother
Earth News No. 219. Dec 2006/Jan 2007: 101+. SIRS Issues Researcher. Web. 12 Apr 2012.
Allen, John M. "Herbal Medicines and Dietary Supplements: A Risky Health Gamble." Skeptical
Inquirer. Jan./Feb. 2001: 36-42. SIRS Issues Researcher. Web. 12 Apr 2012.
Ellis. Susan K. Livingston: author of Dr. Mom Copyright 1996 Published by Christopher
Publications, Inc.