FDA limits on supplements and complementary practices update

Friends, I have been receiving petitions and emails regarding the FDA shutting down our ability to purchase supplements OTC (over the counter). This email from my Reiki newsletter clearly sets the record straight. Though it is addressing Reiki practitioners, the information is just as valuable in understanding what the actual facts are. I hate to see the frivolous amount of time and energy people spend on forwarding inaccurate emails, so read on if this concerns you at all. Thanks for reading! Janis

April 27, 2007

Information on FDA ruling not factual

Dear Students of Reiki,

Recently there have been many emails circulating on the internet warning about a new ruling the FDA is about to create that would threaten the practice of Reiki and other complementary practices making it illegal to practice unless you’re a medically licensed health care provider. The emails have also said that our right to use vitamins and herbs will also be threatened by this new ruling so that they will only be available by a doctor’s prescription and even then at very low dosages. People have been asked to protest this ruling by sending emails to the FDA by April 30.

This information is not based on fact. The practice of Reiki isn’t being threatened by any proposed FDA ruling, nor is our right to access vitamins and herbs. The information passed around on the Internet has for some reason been distorted and misrepresented.

In December 2006, the FDA issued a guidance document that commented on an existing ruling. They are not proposing anything new. To summarize part of the existing ruling, it indicates that if a vitamin, herb or food manufacturer states that their product will cure an illness, that manufacturer must first get permission from the FDA before making such a statement. The same is true for any practice such as Reiki. If a Reiki practitioner claims that Reiki will cure an illness, then the practitioner must get permission from the FDA before making that claim.

The National Health Freedom Coalition has reviewed this issue and written a clarification document that I suggest you read for further information. Look specifically at points 5 and 6. http://www.nationalhealthfreedom.org/AlertFDAguidanceDoc.html

Here’s the link to the FDA document http://www.fda.gov/cber/gdlns/altmed.pdf

Sincerely,
William Lee Rand,
President, The International Center for Reiki Training