Alternative Medicine New

alternative medicine new question by Anna Karenina: Why is there no regulation/requirement of evidence/safety for Alternative Medicines?
What I mean by this question is:

In proper science (hehe ) when we have a new idea for a treatment plan or a drug – we (generally) have to go through research proposals, ethics approvals, then months/years of animal testing, followed by months/years of clinical trials.

All of this is regulated and must be approved by the relevant bodies to ensure safety and efficacy. You must provide evidence!!! evidence!!!!!

Why do alternative medicines and therapies get away with not doing the same thing? Why are they not held to the same standards of safety as ‘traditional’ medicine is? ‘Natural Herbal’ remedies contain chemicals just as a synthetic drug does. This is basic biochem. Alternative therapies have an effect on the body just as a traditional therapy would.

In your answer could you please say what country you are from as I’m sure laws vary between.

Thank you for any replies!!!!
To the first person who answered what do you mean found in nature? Chemicals found in nature can be just as dangerous and deadly as those made synthetically. What do you think synthetic compounds are based on? Ever heard of foxglove?

and also…if these drugs show such precision…then there shouldnt be any problem demonstrating that wonderful precision in a randomised control trial

alternative medicine new best answer:

Answer by pure_genius
I am in the United States. I believe the advertising of drugs and natural therapies should be tightly controlled. Beyond that, I don’t think they should be treated in the same manner. A major reason large molecule pharmaceuticals go through so much testing is because they lack precision. Most synthetic drugs aren’t based on anything found in nature. They pose potentially fatal risks that natural remedies do not.

As many recent events indicate, the approval process might ensure efficacy, but it certainly doesn’t ensure safety. The approval process has been weighted towards efficacy for a long time. This is a major reason why so many unsafe drugs reach the market.