Richters HerbLetter
Date: 2001/05/31
Contents
1. Over Forty Percent of Echinacea Products Fail Review
2. Tapioca Tea Trend Brewing in U.S.
3. Green and Herbal Tea Fueling Growth of Tea Sales in Canada
4. Viagra Users Search for Other Alternatives, New Survey Finds
5. Herbal Supplement Sales Down
6. Use of Herbal Supplements Increased 350% in Three Years
7. Ginseng Lowers Blood Sugar Levels in Patients with Diabetes
8. New Study Says Green Tea Helps Stomach Disorders
9. Herbal Medicines on Menopausal Symptoms Induced by Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone Agonist Therapy
10. Prehistoric Ginkgo Finding Supports Global Warming Theory
11. China Ready to Launch Crop-breeding Experiments in Space
12. Plant Hormones Form Basis of New Anti-Cancer Drugs
13. Harvard Creates New Institute to Study Alternative Medicine
14. Black Cohosh Safe and Effective for Menopausal Breast Cancer Patients
15. Danger Seen in Rising Herb Use
16. Amazonian Shamans Set Up a Code of Ethics to Fight Shams
17. WIPO Pledges to Protect Traditional Knowledge of Poor Countries
18. Jury Awards $2 Million in Malpractice Case Involving St. John's Wort
19. Echinacea Farmer Wins $50,000 in Lawsuit
20. Ghana Warns Unregistered Herbalists to Stay Away from Health Product Fair
21. China Cracks Down on Fake Doctors, Medicines
22. China Revamps Traditional Medicine to Meet Global Standards
23. Centuries-Old Firm Adapts Traditional Chinese Medicines
24. China Urged to Modernize Traditional Medicine
25. Chinese Scientists Find Magic Drug Against Senility
26. Gene Research Facilitates Development of Chinese Herbs
27. Some Chinese Manufacturers Are Misleading Consumers about FDA Approval
28. China's Yunnan Province Plans to Develop Plant-Based Products
29. Thousands Flock to Indian Boy Wonder for Herbal Remedies
30. Pakistan Removes Duty on Medicinal Herbs Imports
31. Ginseng Growers at Root of Problem: Oversupply Has Driven Prices Down
32. Ontario Ginseng Growers Show Support for Association
33. West Paterson, N.J., Business Supplies Medicinal Herbs from Ecuador
34. Mustards, and More Mustards
35. Basils are Excellent Herbs to Grow in Containers
36. Try Planting a Decorative Knot Garden
37. Herbs: Good for What Ails You
38. Herb Business News
1. Over Forty Percent of Echinacea Products Fail Review
WHITE PLAINS, N.Y., May 7, PRNewswire -- ConsumerLab.com, an
independent evaluator of dietary supplements and nutrition products,
today released results of its Product Review of echinacea
supplements. Echinacea is widely used as a short-term immune system
stimulant to reduce the severity and duration of colds and flu.
Annual sales of echinacea products in the U.S. were estimated at $193
million in 1999, according to The Hartman Group, a market research
company, although sales are believed to have dropped recently.
Twenty-five echinacea products were purchased for evaluation of their
echinacea content and potential microbial contamination. Neither the
FDA nor any other federal or state agency routinely tests echinacea
products, or other supplements, for quality prior to sale.
Eleven, or 44%, of the twenty-five echinacea products did not pass
ConsumerLab.com's review. Six products did not provide sufficient
label information to identify the amount, species, or plant parts
used (all of such information is required labeling by the FDA) and
were dropped from further testing; four products had insufficient
levels of specific marker compounds that would be expected from their
claimed echinacea ingredients (including two products with no
detectable levels); and one product exceeded the World Health
Organization limit for microbial contamination.
"Too many echinacea products don't say enough on their labels or
don't contain what their labels claim," commented Tod Cooperman,
M.D., ConsumerLab.com's President. "These are important consumer
issues and may be a factor in the declining sales of echinacea and
other herbal products," he added.
The complete list of products that passed the review as well as
ConsumerTips(TM) on buying and using echinacea are now available to
ConsumerLab.com's online subscribers at www.consumerlab.com . General
findings and examples of approved products are also available for
free from the Web site. Similar information is available from
ConsumerLab.com from its Product Reviews of Asian and American
ginseng, calcium, chondroitin, CoQ10, creatine, ginkgo biloba,
glucosamine, multivitamins/multiminerals, SAM-e, saw palmetto, St.
John's wort, and vitamins C and E. Other Product Reviews scheduled
for release this year include soy/red clover isoflavones, valerian,
MSM, omega-3-fatty acids and protein/energy bars. ConsumerLab.com's
Buyer's Guide to Supplements is to be published in print later this
year. To further assist consumers, ConsumerLab.com licenses its
flask-shaped CL Seal of Approved Quality (see The CL Seal) to
manufacturers for use on products that have passed its evaluations.
ConsumerLab.com is a leading provider of consumer information and
independent evaluations of products that affect health and nutrition.
The company is privately held and headquartered in White Plains, New
York. It has no ownership from or interest in companies that
manufacture, distribute, or sell consumer products.
2. Tapioca Tea Trend Brewing in U.S.
By Jon Herskovitz
NEW YORK, May 10, Reuters -- It is vibrant in color, brewed with
leaves perfected over the centuries and chock full of gummy balls
that slide up a thick straw when you drink it.
Get ready for what might be the newest drink trend: tapioca tea. The
frothy drink made from green or black tea is shaken like a martini
and contains chewy tapioca balls at the bottom.
It takes a lot of lung power to consume the drink, but tea bar
operators who recently set up stores in the United States are hoping
tapioca tea has staying power.
Tapioca tea, also known as "boba," bubble or pearl tea, took Taiwan
by storm over the past decade and has made inroads in other parts of
Asia. Now tea bars that sell it are sprouting up in places such as
California, New York and Chicago.
Operators hope to start a tapioca tea trend that will be an
alternative to popular gourmet coffee bars such as Starbucks.
For the uninitiated, tapioca tea presents a few challenges. First
there is the choice of a green tea or a black tea base. Then there is
the decision whether to have the tea sweetened and mixed with fruits
such as green apples, lychee, strawberries or passion fruit.
But the toughest part is how to drink it -- and eat it. The straw,
more than twice as thick as a typical straw, requires more suction to
get the drink into the mouth and especially to get the tapioca balls
up through the tube.
Then comes the strangest part, knowing when to drink and when to chew
the tapioca, typically made of glutinous yam.
"It's great. I'm telling all my friends to try it," said Vickie
Renataro, a customer at a New York tea bar.
Tapioca Tea Wars
The first skirmish in the tapioca tea wars in New York are being
fought in Chinatown. About six tea bars have opened there in the last
few months, including one of the area's venerable tea shops that
specializes in traditional Chinese hot tea.
Ten Ren Tea and Ginseng Co. is among the new entrants with its store,
called TenRen's Tea Time, after seeing good results with tea bars it
helped start in California. Ten Ren has stores around the world and
been a staple in Chinatown for more than 40 years selling premium
teas, with its top offerings going for about $144 a pound (.45 kg).
Ten Ren's president Mark Lii said its new tapioca tea offerings have
a traditional tea base. "This represents a new sense of tea, but no
matter what the product you need good tea to make a good drink," he
said.
Lii said young people have shied away from traditional tea, which is
meant to be savored and served in an atmosphere that allows for long
conversations. But he hopes the tea bar will help people develop a
taste for more traditional teas and has seen some spillover of
customers from his tea bar to his tea store nearby. "These two stores
are helping each other grow."
Along with the tapioca tea, Lii is selling seven varieties of premium
Chinese hot tea with takeout packaging as well as whipping up a new
menu of foods made with tea such as sticky rice, hot noodles and
cheese cake.
"Bubble Tea Has More Legs"
Tapioca tea sells for about $3 to $4 a cup, which can be more than
the grocery store price for a box of 100 tea bags.
But Joe Simrany, president of the Tea Council of the U.S.A., said,
"These tea bars certainly have potential because they are attracting
a much younger customer base."
The tea bars are great for the industry because they help shake off
the image some have of tea being a drink for older people by offering
a hip new drink that has scored with nontraditional tea drinkers, he
said.
"I think that bubble tea has more legs than some other recent tea
products because it is so unusual," Simrany said.
He is waiting to see if the tea bars can make the crossover from
their locales in communities with large Asian-American populations to
a greater cross-section of the United States.
According to figures provided by the Nation Coffee Association, about
25-30 percent of American adults drink tea on a daily basis, while
daily coffee consumers account for 53 to 55 percent of the adult
population.
Coffee association spokesman Gary Goldstein said they do not consider
tea to be in a competition with coffee, but the growth of specialty
coffee bars has helped spur a growth in American coffee consumption.
In 1991, there were fewer than 500 specialty coffee stores in the
United States. Within about 10 years, their numbers topped 8,500,
with coffee bars sprouting up almost everywhere.
Now it is time to see how high bubble tea can bounce.
3. Green and Herbal Tea Fueling Growth of Tea Sales in Canada
TORONTO, May 15, Canada NewsWire -- Canadian tea drinkers are having
a love affair with tea, with 22 per cent drinking more tea than they
did two years ago. This according to a new ACNielsen survey of 2000
Canadians conducted in March 2001 and released today by the Tea
Council of Canada. And while regular black tea continues to be the
most popular among Canadians, green and herbal teas sales are fueling
the growth within the tea category.
British Columbia leads the nation with the highest percentage of
green tea drinkers in the country -- 27 per cent compared to the
national average of 19 per cent, while the Atlantic provinces have
the lowest percentage -- just seven per cent. Herbal teas are most
popular with Albertans and British Columbians, and least likely to be
consumed by Maritimers, who are the leading black tea drinkers in the
country.
Almost one half of all Canadians (45 per cent) believe that tea
offers significant health benefits and awareness is most evident in
Ontario and the West and also among women rather than men.
"Over the past few years, scientific research on the health
benefits of tea has been very encouraging," says Louise Roberge,
president of the Tea Council of Canada. "This good news is a strong
motivator for many Canadians and it has led to an increase in tea
consumption."
Other Survey Highlights
- Younger Canadians, aged 18 to 34, are more likely to have increased
their tea consumption in the last two years.
- Alberta has the highest percentage of iced tea drinkers -- 50 per
cent, compared to a national average of 33 per cent.
- More than one-half (53 per cent) of Atlantic Canadian tea drinkers,
like to have a cuppa, when they wake up, compared to only 31 per cent
of the rest of the nation who choose to drink tea when they rise and
shine
- As for specialty black teas like Darjeeling, Assam and Earl Grey,
Western Canadians are consuming more of these types of teas than
other Canadians.
- British Columbians must like a peaceful night's sleep, since 15 per
cent drink decaffeinated teas -- a greater percentage than other
Canadians. At only four per cent, Quebeckers are the least likely to
drink decaffeinated teas.
Tea Drinkers Reveal Their Thoughts on Restaurant Tea
The survey also asked Canadians about their tea drinking experiences in
restaurants:
- Almost one quarter (24 per cent) of Canadians are willing to
experiment with a new type of tea when eating out.
- More than half (57 per cent) of Canadian tea drinkers had positive
comments about the quality of teabags used in foodservice
establishments, with Atlantic Canadians most satisfied. (71 per cent)
- While a majority of Canadians, (74 per cent) are not fond of
drinking tea at fast food restaurants, British Columbians and
Quebeckers are even more discerning -- 85 per cent vs. the national
average of 78 per cent say this is not the place for a proper cuppa.
- Tea service is more important to Canadians than the brand of tea
that is served. Seventy-two per cent believe that using boiling water
is important and 66 per cent like to have the tea bag served to them
in a package.
New Data Confirms Continued Growth in Sales
The latest ACNielsen data shows that total sales of hot and iced
tea in Canada are estimated at $267.3 million. Total tea bag sales
rose to an estimated $153 million in 2000, up 7 per cent from 1999.
Green tea is fueling growth, as sales hit $7.7 million up 88 per cent
from 1999. Sales of ready-to-drink iced tea in cans were
approximately $35.8 million, up 5 per cent and herbal tea sales were
just over $28 million, up 13 per cent from 1999.
The Tea Council of Canada is a not-for-profit association of
leading companies and producing countries including, Sri Lanka,
Kenya, India, Malawi dedicated to the promotion of quality tea to
Canadians. Visit the Web site at www.tea.ca and Take The Tea
Challenge.
4. Viagra Users Search for Other Alternatives, New Survey Finds
MARBLEHEAD, Mass., May 23, PRNewswire -- A new survey of 230 users of
an herbal alternative to Viagra finds that more than half of them
(53%) have used Viagra. A significant majority of these Viagra users
report that the herbal alternative improves their sexual performance
and pleasure, whether they are "Viagra Refugees" or "Double Your
Pleasure" users.
The survey was conducted and tabulated by an independent online
survey firm and sponsored by Interceuticals Inc., the Marblehead, MA,
based maker of BetterMAN, an herbal supplement that improves sexual
functioning and decreases night-time urinary frequency in men.
BetterMAN is a proprietary supplement formulated from a blend of 18
pure natural Chinese herbs and has been proven highly effective in
treating erectile dysfunction in an animal study published last year
in the Journal of Urology.
Of the 122 men who have used the Pfizer anti-impotency drug, 54%
continue to use it while also taking BetterMAN (the "Double Your
Pleasure" group). The most commonly cited reasons (by 40% of this
group) for combining a pharmaceutical drug and an herbal product are
that they are "experimenting" and to get "the best of the two
products."
Some 46% of the Viagra users have become "Viagra Refugees" -- they
have abandoned the pharmaceutical product in favor of the herbal
product for a variety of reasons. The three most commonly mentioned
reasons for discontinuing the usage are Viagra's side effects (cited
by 40% of the "refugees"), that it isn't as effective as expected
(cited by 38%), and the desire for an effective herbal alternative
(cited by 37%).
Sizable majorities of both groups of Viagra users report improvement
in their erections and spontaneity of sexual performance with
BetterMAN: some 77% for the "Double Your Pleasure" group, and some
61% for the "Viagra Refugees."
For many of the Viagra users, BetterMAN isn't their first use of an
herbal alternative; 45% have previously tried other herbal
supplements for sexual performance, versus only 28% of non-Viagra
users.
Of the 108 respondents who have thus far not taken Viagra, the most
cited reasons are that they prefer a natural approach (54%), they
fear side effects (27%) and they are concerned about Viagra's cost
(20%).
The non-Viagra users are seeing a similar range of improvement from
BetterMAN as the "Viagra Refugees" -- 61% report improvements in
erections and spontaneity of sexual performance.
When asked how well BetterMAN did in addressing the specific sexual
issues that drove them to use the herbal product, BetterMAN showed
even more impressive results for all users. For example, 84% who took
it to improve the spontaneity of their sexual performance found
improvement, while 76% who took it to improve erections reported
improvement.
According to Dr. Peipei Wishnow, an MIT-trained biochemist and
founder and president of Interceuticals, "The most surprising result
of this survey is that such a high percentage of BetterMAN users are
Viagra users. This suggests that men are looking into an herbal
supplement not only as an alternative, but also as a complementary
approach, to get the best out of the two product categories -- Viagra
for immediate satisfaction and BetterMAN for long-term improvement."
"The benefits users are obtaining from BetterMAN are not especially
surprising, though, given the highly positive outcome of the
independent animal study that was conducted on BetterMAN by a leading
urologist." In the study carried out at the University of California,
School of Medicine, San Francisco, and published in last November's
Journal of Urology, BetterMAN was found to reverse impotency in 100%
of rats treated.
Other findings from the survey:
* Users are very discreet about using the herbal supplement, as
nearly half (43%) aren't telling their partners that they are using
it.
* While the vast majority of BetterMAN users take it to improve
sexual performance, a significant minority (20%) also use it to
counter urination problems (decrease night-time bathroom trips and
improve urinary control).
* More than 90% who are using it for urinary issues report
improvement.
* The largest single segment of users (70%) is between the ages of 45
and 64, and two-thirds are married.
* The second-largest age group using BetterMAN (16%) are under 45.
* Respondents are also taking BetterMAN for improving their
prostates; more than one-third (34%) cited a desire to improve
prostate health, and three-fourths (76%) said they had seen
improvement in this area.
5. Herbal Supplement Sales Down
May 14, Healthy.net -- Consumers bought fewer herbal supplements -
such as St. John's wort and echinicea -- last year than they did a
few years ago, when sales experienced double-digit growth, a new
nutrition industry sales analysis says.
Sales of herbal supplements grew only 1.5 percent in 2000, reports
Nutrition Business Journal, a newsletter and market research firm
based in San Diego that monitors supplement and vitamin sales.
Sales Sagged, But Still Significant
Their growth has slowed significantly since 1997, when sales rose 17
percent and from 1998, when they increased 12 percent.
Herbal supplement sales still are big business, though. Americans
spent $4.13 billion on all herbal supplement sales in 2000, with $248
million on top-seller gingko biloba, a product that presumably
improves memory.
They shelled out $210 million on echinacea, for its alleged immune
boosting fighting ability; another $174 million on garlic, for its
supposed infection-fighting properties; and $170 on St. John's wort,
the so-called natural antidepressant.
Evidence about the value of these products has been mixed.
Annette Dickinson, vice president of scientific and regulatory
affairs of the Council for Responsible Nutrition, a supplement trade
group, agrees with the findings of the survey. She says the industry
is maturing and growth is slowing.
"No industry can expect double-digit sales to go on forever,"
Dickinson says. The vitamin industry, she says, only has a 3 percent
to 4 percent growth rate.
Too High Expectations
Nutrition Business Journal research director Patrick Rea attributes
falling sales to the lack of a blockbuster product bringing consumers
to the retail outlets as they did when St. John's wort hit the
shelves in 1997 and 1998.
Manufacturers, he says, also have not done a good job educating the
consumer about what to expect from these products. People believe the
products will work quickly and give up when they don't.
"People move on imperfect information," he says. "They hear news and
don't do enough research to understand how the products may work."
Companies need to educate consumers about how the different products
may have their effects, Rea says. "Consumers expected a magic
bullet," Dickinson agrees. "But the products don't all work the same
way."
Negative publicity about the products also has contributed to
decreased sales.
Negative Publicity
Reports of products not having the active ingredients advertised on
the label turned consumers off, says Dickinson. To regain confidence,
manufacturers are moving to get their products certified by third
parties, such as the U.S. Pharmocopeia, a nonprofit group that sets
drug standards, and NSF International, a nonprofit group that
develops health standards.
Finally, studies questioning the effectiveness of products also
contribute to changing attitudes towards the supplements. A study in
the April 17 issue of the Journal of the American Medical
Association, for example, showed St. John's wort does not seem to
help depressed patients.
6. Use of Herbal Supplements Increased 350% in Three Years
OAKLAND, Calif., May 21, PRNewswire -- The use of herbal supplements
and remedies like St. John's Wort and gingko biloba more than tripled
between 1996 and 1999, according to a study being presented this
weekend at the International Scientific Conference on Complementary
Alternative and Integrative Medicine Research in San Francisco.
Authors Nancy P. Gordon, ScD and Teresa Y. Lin, MPH examined data
from two large health surveys conducted in 1996 and 1999 with adult
members of Kaiser Permanente in Northern California. Included on
these surveys were questions about use of various forms of
complementary and alternative medicine
"In 1996, 3.6% of the adults we surveyed used herbal supplements or
herbal remedies," says Dr. Gordon, of Kaiser Permanente's Division of
Research in Oakland, CA. "In 1999, 13.3% used herbal medicines. We
saw the fastest-growing use of herbal supplements in women older than
65; in 1996, a little more than 1% used some form of ingested herbal
medication; three years later, nearly 10% did. That's an 800%
increase."
Dr. Gordon noted that these statistics may actually underestimate use
of herbal supplements or remedies. In the 1999 survey, they were
able to compare estimates based on the herbal item in the list of
complementary and alternative medicine modalities with estimates
which also included information about how people answered a question
about use of specific herbal supplements. They found that when
members were asked about use of specific herbals such as ginkgo
biloba, saw palmetto, echinacea, kava kava, glucosamine, and St.
John's Wort, the overall percentage of adults using herbals was more
than double -- 31.3%. The percentage of older women using herbals
nearly tripled to 28.5% using this additional information
Authors Gordon and Lin also saw a slight increase in the use of
chiropractic therapy in the same time frame, from 8.5% in 1996 to
9.8% in 1999. The use of massage therapy went up, as well, from 7.5%
in '96 to 10.7% in '99. However, when they restricted their analysis
to people who had experienced severe back, neck, or shoulder pain,
the rates of use of chiropractic and massage therapy increased from
18.4% to 21.5% and 14.6% to 19.4%, respectively.
"One of the most interesting things we saw," says author Nancy
Gordon, "was that a significant proportion of adults are showing
interest in individual prayer and spiritual practice, mostly to
promote a general sense of well-being. That may be an important next
area for our research -- the effect of incorporating ways to heal or
strengthen one's spirit in self-care and health improvement
programs."
Kaiser Permanente has research centers in California, Oregon, Hawaii,
Georgia, Colorado, Maryland, and Ohio. Results of research conducted
by Kaiser Permanente physicians and investigators have been published
in the Journal of the American Medical Association, the New England
Journal of Medicine, the Permanente Journal, the American Journal of
Public Health, Pediatrics, and other clinical journals.
Kaiser Permanente is America's leading integrated health care
program. Founded in 1945, it is a not-for-profit, multi-specialty,
group-practice prepayment program with headquarters in Oakland,
Calif. Kaiser Permanente serves the health care needs of 8.1 million
members in 11 states and the District of Columbia. Today, it
encompasses Kaiser Foundation Health Plan Inc., Kaiser Foundation
Hospitals and their subsidiaries, and the Permanente Medical Groups.
Nationwide, Kaiser Permanente includes about 90,000 technical,
administrative and clerical employees and about 11,000 physicians
representing all specialties.
7. Ginseng Lowers Blood Sugar Levels in Patients with Diabetes
May 8, Hopeheart.org -- Researchers have found that American ginseng
(Panax quinquefolius) can help lower blood sugar levels in people
both with and without type 2 diabetes. When taken about 40 minutes
before a meal, both diabetics' and non-diabetics' blood sugar levels
go down. When taken with a meal, blood sugar levels drop only for
people with diabetes. Ginseng may lower blood sugar by slowing
digestion, increasing sugar uptake in cells or by increasing insulin
levels -- researchers aren't sure of the exact mechanism. If you take
ginseng -- for whatever reason -- be careful to watch for any
hypoglycemic (low blood sugar) reactions.
8. New Study Says Green Tea Helps Stomach Disorders
WESTPORT, Conn., May 28, HealthScout -- Forget about Earl Grey and
say no to orange pekoe. If you want your morning beverage to fight
stomach disorders, a new study says the color of your cup of tea
should be green.
The study of residents of a Chinese island is the first to link green
tea to the rate of gastritis, a stomach inflammation that can lead to
cancer.
American and Chinese experts studied how much green tea was consumed
by 133 stomach cancer patients, 166 patients with colonic gastritis
and 433 people with no stomach disease.
They found that people who drank one to three cups of green tea daily
had a 30 percent lower rate of stomach cancer. Those who drank more
than three cups had a 61 percent lower rate.
The findings are reported in the May International Journal of Cancer.
9. Herbal Medicines on Menopausal Symptoms Induced by Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone Agonist Therapy
May 29, Medscape -- Gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonist (GnRHa) is
applied clinically for estrogen-dependent diseases, such as
endometriosis, adenomyosis, and leiomyoma, to induce lesion atrophy.
This therapy causes a rapid decrease in estradiol levels and
frequently induces menopausal symptoms. This study examines the
therapeutic effects of Japanese herbal medicines on GnRHa-induced
menopausal symptoms.
Twenty-two Japanese women were treated with GnRHa, and 17 of these
women complained of menopausal symptoms, 16 complaining of hot
flushes. Shoulder stiffness and headache were also common symptoms.
Japanese herbal medicines are a mixture of several herbs and mainly
consist of the roots of various plants, cinnamon bark, and peach
kernel (the exact composition of each herbal medicine and its Chinese
and product name are supplied in the article). Six Japanese herbal
medicines were used and administered orally to 13 patients 3 times
per day for 4 weeks. The herbal medicines are taken in amounts of 7.5
or 15 g/d.
Efficacy was shown in all 13 patients treated. All 11 patients with
hot flushes found at least some relief, and 4 of the 11 reported a
complete loss of symptoms. Three patients with severe shoulder
stiffness were completely cured. Two participants reported skin
eruptions as adverse effects, which disappeared completely with
cessation of the herbal product.
There were no significant changes in serum estradiol levels in the
women treated with Japanese herbal medicine for 4 weeks.
Clinical Commentary
Numerous articles reporting the benefits or drawbacks of alternative
therapies appear in the literature, with conflicting results. This
study examines a group of women in whom treatment of menopausal-type
symptoms is a problem and reports that the patients found some relief
with herbal treatments. The study design does not have a placebo arm,
and the relief with the herbal treatments may well only be a placebo
effect. Because most of the participants did not experience any
adverse effects and, in fact, experienced some relief, this is one
avenue of treatment that could be considered in women undergoing
GnRHa therapy.
The pharmacologic mechanisms of Japanese herbal medicines remain
unclear. It is speculated that these herbs contain certain
steroid-like substances, although no effect on serum estradiol levels
has been reported.
Japanese women undergoing GnRHa therapy in this study complain of
shoulder stiffness as do Japanese women experiencing the menopausal
transition. This complaint is not usually included in the menopausal
symptom lists used by white populations. However, a high percentage
of middle-aged women in these populations do complain of "aches and
stiff joints," although these symptoms are not specifically related
to the hormonal changes of the menopausal transition.[1]
Reference
1.Dennerstein L, Dudley EC, Hopper JL, Guthrie JR, Burger HG. A
prospective population-based study of menopausal symptoms. Obstet
Gynecol. 2000;96:351-358.
[Source, this report: Clinical and Experimental Obstetrics and
Gynecology 2001 (Volume 28, Number 1). Original report: Tanaka T,
Clin Exp Obstet Gynecol. 2001;28:20-23]
10. Prehistoric Ginkgo Finding Supports Global Warming Theory
By Lidia Wasowicz
May 16, United Press International -- Fossilized 300-million-year-old
Ginkgo leaves have yielded fresh support for a modern-day view that
global warming is tied to increased levels of carbon dioxide in the
atmosphere -- information relevant to on-going treaty negoiations to
curb CO2 emmissions and other activities that may contribute to
global-warming.
The prehistoric geological data are in keeping with the notion
that long-term temperatures go up and down with atmospheric CO2
levels, the scientists from the University of Oregon in Eugene,
report in the May 17 issue of the British journal Nature.
The proposition that the emission of greenhouse gases such as CO2
from burning fossil fuels is fueling worldwide warming lies at the
heart of the still-to-be-ratified Kyoto Protocol, aimed at curbing
gases emitted by smokestacks and tailpipes from San Francisco to
Sydney. While the ancient clues are too far removed in time to have
direct bearing on the international dialogue, they do add to the
growing body of evidence that points to carbon dioxide as at least
one culprit in global warming, scientists said in interviews.
"We now have a reliable and detailed paleobarometer of atmospheric
CO2 back into the geological past, one that can be improved by
further sampling and laboratory studies," lead study author Gregory
Retallack told United Press International. "The implications are that
we need to worry about CO2 -- it warms the climate just as many have
always warned."
In studying the remnants of trees alive at the time, Retallack and
colleagues found the carbon dioxide-global climate tie has existed
for at least the past 300 million years.
"The new data point to a long-term coupling between CO2 and
temperature," said Wolfram Kurschner, paleobotanist at the
University of Utrecht in The Netherlands, who analyzed the report in
an accompanying News and Views article.
The scientists came to their conclusion by counting stomata-the
pores that allow gases into and out of leaves-on the fossilized
leaves of Ginkgo and related species of plants.
"Plants are known to adjust the density of stomates to levels of
CO2 in the atmosphere. They don't need so many when CO2 is common,
but need more when it is rare," Retallack explained.
"We can see this from studies of leaves grown in greenhouses with
different CO2 and also by looking at the general decline in stomatal
density of leaves picked and preserved in herbaria as the CO2 levels
have increased with the burning of fossil fuels over the past
century." Ginkgo was particularly useful for the study because the
roots of this living fossil can be traced back hundreds of millions
of years, scientists said.
"The number of stomata on fossil Ginkgo leaf remains tells us how
CO2 levels changed through time. We can follow Ginkgo's past
adaptation as long as this species and its close relatives first
occur in the fossil record," Kurschner told UPI.
Analysis of polar ice cores and other clues can take the
connection back 400,000 years or so, scientists said.
"But going further back in deep geological time, it gets much
harder to uncover the history of these two important components of
Earth's climate system. Retallack's study suggests that the
long-term variation in atmospheric CO2 is larger than previous
reconstructions have indicated," Kurschner said.
The study not only confirms the standard greenhouse model that
couples CO2 and temperature but also shows the flaws in previous
models that questioned this connection, Retallack said.
"Before my study the link between CO2 and climate was coming under
attack for all time scales," he said. "The early Paleozoic climate
changes -- 400 million-500 million years ago-are still difficult to
understand, and my data do not help because they do not go back so
far. However, it seems pretty likely that a system that worked for
300 million years also worked further back."
In terms of modern applications, the study indicates "the
fundamental assumptions of the Kyoto accords are correct," he said.
"We can and have changed the climate with CO2 emissions from fossil
fuels." The Kyoto Protocol, worked out by 185 nations in Japan in
1997, was recently spurned by the United States and remains
unratified. If approved, it would commit three dozen industrialized
nations to reduce their combined greenhouse-gas releases by 2012 to
at least 5 percent below what their emissions were in 1990.
The United States, with 4 percent of the world's population, emits
about 25 percent of the greenhouse gases, generated from burning
coal, gasoline and oil in power plants, factories and vehicles.
According to the latest projections by the Intergovernmental Panel
on Climate Change, which comprises more than 2,000 climate scientists
from throughout the world, global temperatures will rise by as much
as 11 degrees by the end of this century, more than double the
panel's estimate in 1995. Such a scenario paints a devastating scene
of melting polar ice caps and massive flooding.
The researchers plan to explore further the role that life has
played in global climate. "Carbon dioxide is a product of
respiration, and oxygen, of photosynthesis," Retallack said. "If the
balance of these gases controls climate, then life may play a more
significant role in climate regulation than hitherto appreciated."
11. China Ready to Launch Crop-breeding Experiments in Space
CHINA, May 9, ChinaOnline -- A total of 661 pounds of crops will soon
take flight-a very long flight.
The Chinese government has approved a proposal to conduct
crop-breeding experiments in space. Soon, the world's first
crop-breeding satellite will be launched from China, carrying 300
kilograms (661 pounds) of crops.
Among the more than 1,000 types of crops onboard will be grains,
cotton, other oil-bearing crops, vegetables, herbs, flowers, fungi
and medicines. The satellite will stay in orbit for 15 days, said an
article in the May 3 Beijing Chenbao (Beijing Morning Post).
The Ministry of Agriculture, China Aerospace Science and Technology
Corp., and the Chinese Academy of Sciences jointly submitted the
proposal for the satellite, the article said.
12. Plant Hormones Form Basis of New Anti-Cancer Drugs
LONDON, May 24, Reuters -- A hormone used by plants to control their
growth is being harnessed by British researchers to develop new
targeted treatments for cancer, researchers said on Wednesday.
Plants need the hormone, called indole acetic acid (IAA), to bend
shoots toward sunlight to help cuttings grow roots. Scientists at the
Cancer Research Campaign (CRC), a leading scientific charity, are
using fragments of IAA to kill cancer cells.
The hormone, which is produced by most plants, is harmless to humans.
But, in early laboratory studies when scientists used bits of it and
coupled them with an enzyme, it produced toxic by-products that
destroyed cancerous tumors without harming healthy cells. "The
fragmented molecule is only released in the tumor," Professor Peter
Wardman told a news conference.
By targeting only the cancerous cells, synthetic drugs based on IAA,
called prodrugs, would be highly effective in killing the cancerous
cells and would not produce side effects such as hair loss and nausea
as do conventional chemotherapy drugs.
"We're really excited that a common or garden plant hormone could
fulfill one of the ultimate aims of cancer research, by providing a
drug that only attacks cancerous cells and leaves the rest of the
body untouched," Wardman, a scientist at the Gray Cancer Institutes
in southern England, explained.
In laboratory studies of cell cultures Wardman and his colleagues
used an enzyme called peroxidase, which is derived from the
horseradish plant, to trigger the release of the toxic by-products of
IAA to destroy tumors.
Early results show that the treatment, which has been patented by the
CRC, killed 99% of the cancerous cells and with different types of
cancer. Scientists said tests will now have to be done on animals and
humans.
"Nearly all of the cells are killed with a single treatment," said
Wardman.
The scientists used the horseradish enzyme because it is cheap and
well studied. It breaks up IAA into smaller chemicals which react
with other molecules in the body to produce the toxins.
To direct the toxins only to the cancerous cells the scientists are
using antibodies to tumor cells linked to the enzymes. Wardman said
genetic techniques could also be used to direct the therapy to the
cancerous cells.
The scientists are also working on developing prodrugs that can be
activated by light, which Wardman said could be used during surgery
to kill any remaining cancer cells after the tumor has been removed.
"It's long been the ambition of cancer researchers to develop drugs
that directly target the tumor, and thanks to these amazing plant
hormones and a bit of nifty chemistry, we're now a step closer to
that ideal," said Professor Gordon McVie, the director general of the
CRC.
13. Harvard Creates New Institute to Study Alternative Medicine
By Lisa Lipman
BOSTON, May 14, AP -- Harvard Medical School, acknowledging that
patients are increasingly experimenting with holistic and other
alternative treatments, is creating an institute for nontraditional
medicine.
Harvard researchers will examine the effectiveness of such
treatments as acupuncture, herbal therapies and massage, and look at
how they work or interact with traditional medicine.
"You can't practice medicine these days without knowing what
patients are doing, and a tremendous amount of them are doing it,"
said Dr. Dan Federman, who helped start Harvard's new program.
Harvard calls its program integrative medicine, for the
combination of alternative and mainstream treatments. Americans made
an estimated 600 million office visits to practitioners of
integrative medicine and spent $30 billion on treatments, according
to a recent Harvard study.
The school decided to start an integrative medicine program to
learn more about how pharmaceutical drugs and herbal medicines
interact with each other, and whether or not herbal medicines live up
to their reputations.
The program, established with a $10 million gift from San
Francisco philanthropist Bernard Osher and $2 million from the
school, will work in conjunction with a similar one at the University
of California at San Francisco.
The University of Arizona was one of the first schools to start an
integrative medicine program. Founded in 1994, it now includes a
month-long rotation for medical students that exposes them to
nontraditional practices.
The University of Pennsylvania also has a program devoted to
alternative medicines. Some other schools are incorporating
naturopathic medicine, Chinese medicine and chiropractic techniques
into curricula.
Dr. Monica Aggarwal of the New England Medical Center wasn't
taught about nontraditional medicine in medical school. She said she
regularly sees patients who are taking some sort of herbal concoction
to ease their ailments.
"I think a lot of it is hodgepodge medicine," she said. "They are
taking all these medications, and they have no idea what they are and
if they are causing these problems. And we don't know what's in
whatever they've taken."
That kind of miscommunication has prevented Nikki Davis from
choosing a new doctor. She used to talk to her doctor about herbs and
other holistic treatments, but when he died, she says she couldn't
find another doctor as open-minded.
"I miss him so much, because he was really wise," said Davis, a
38-year-old counselor in Newton who advises her own clients about
holistic treatments. "But it's really hard to find someone like that.
... I prefer a doctor who speaks both languages. That's always the
best."
14. Black Cohosh Safe and Effective for Menopausal Breast Cancer Patients
PITTSBURGH, May 14, PRNewswire -- A study released today by Columbia
University provides important information on the safety and efficacy
of the herbal supplement black cohosh in treating menopausal symptoms
in breast cancer patients, for whom hormone replacement therapy is
contraindicated. This study found that taking black cohosh for two
months had no effect on the level of hormones that may increase risk
of recurrent cancer.
"Safety information about alternative methods to relieve
menopausal symptoms is important," said Judith S. Jacobson, DrPH,
MBA, assistant professor of clinical public health at Columbia
University's Joseph L. Mailman School of Public Health and lead
author of the study. "We chose a particular preparation of black
cohosh for the study because it has been extensively studied. The
study demonstrates the value of standard clinical trials assessing
this and other herbal agents."
In the study, both those taking black cohosh (RemiFemin(R)
Menopause) and those in the placebo group achieved a 27% decrease in
hot flashes. The black cohosh group reported significantly greater
improvement than the placebo group in sweating, a common and often
debilitating symptom of menopause. According to Mary Hardy, MD, an
authority on women's health with Cedars-Sinai Integrative Medical
Group in Los Angeles, "The hot flashes in women being treated for
breast cancer may require a management strategy analogous to salvage
therapy, where any relief is highly valuable."
Previous placebo-controlled and open clinical monitoring trials
with RemiFemin in healthy women, as well as worldwide use over 40
years, have shown a 70% reduction in hot flashes and other symptoms
in the majority of women after 12 weeks. Based on the divergence
between previous findings on effectiveness in healthy women and the
results of this study, additional research is necessary. The
following study conditions may help explain the differences:
-- Patients: The study included 85 breast cancer survivors (with 42
assigned to treatment with black cohosh). Fully a third were not in
the normal age range for natural menopause symptoms.
-- Influence of Tamoxifen: The majority of patients in the study were
taking tamoxifen, the drug most widely prescribed for breast cancer
patients. A frequent side effect of tamoxifen is menopausal
symptoms, including hot flashes and excessive sweating. Many experts
theorize that drug-induced and natural hot flashes differ in nature
and severity.
-- Duration: The study duration was only two months. Since labeling
indicates RemiFemin works to fully relieve symptoms in up to 12
weeks, a full result might not be expected in this eight-week study.
In addition, placebo effects -- which often factor into
pharmaceutical and herbal trials -- typically, wear off with time. A
longer study may have picked up a difference between active and
placebo groups.
-- Dosing: The dose studied may not be sufficient for breast cancer
patients taking tamoxifen. Studies are currently underway evaluating
different doses, including a study at Columbia University's Rosenthal
Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine.
"This study confirms that RemiFemin is a safe alternative for
women who cannot or choose not to take estrogen. Black cohosh caused
no changes in female reproductive hormone levels," said Susan Love,
MD, adjunct professor of surgery at University of California, Los
Angeles and author of Dr. Susan Love's Breast Book. "Further
research will help clarify its efficacy in breast cancer patients and
survivors."
An unprecedented number of American women are or will be entering
menopause. There is growing interest in alternative therapies among
women, including breast cancer survivors, to treat the disruptive
symptoms associated with menopause naturally.
"Choices to relieve the distressing physical and emotional
symptoms of menopause are critical," added Dr. Hardy. "These study
findings should be evaluated in the context of the totality of
evidence on black cohosh and inform future research to help all women
make informed choices."
RemiFemin Menopause(R), a uniquely formulated black cohosh
supplement, is distributed in the U.S. by GlaxoSmithKline to reduce
menopausal symptoms -- including hot flashes, night sweats, mood
swings, irritability and related occasional sleeplessness. The
product was developed and is marketed internationally by Schaper and
Bruemmer GmbH & Co. KG, of Germany. GlaxoSmithKline -- one of the
world's leading research-based pharmaceutical and healthcare
companies -- is committed to improving the quality of human life by
enabling people to do more, feel better and live longer.
[Source: Sensei Health]
15. Danger Seen in Rising Herb Use
WESTPORT, Conn., May 25, HealthScoutNews -- More people are using
herbal supplements and remedies, a new study says. And that has one
researcher worried folks aren't treating the little pills with enough
respect. "People don't think of taking supplements as treating
health problems. They consider them like vitamins, not as preventive
or treatments," says study leader Nancy P. Gordon, an investigator
with Kaiser Permanente's division of research in Oakland, Calif.
They also don't tell their doctors what they're taking, and doctors
don't ask the right questions about supplement use to ensure proper
medical care, she says
Gordon and her team examined data from health surveys in 1996 and
1999, each involving about 16,000 adult members of Kaiser Permanente
in northern California. Participants were asked to answer eight pages
of questions, including what homeopathic medicines, megavitamins and
herbal medicines they took.
The percentage of people reporting using herbal supplements or
remedies jumped from 3.6 percent in 1996 to 13.3 percent in 1999.
The 1999 survey also included questions about specific herbal
supplements, including gingko biloba, saw palmetto, echinacea, kava,
glucosamine and St. John's wort.
Gordon says those supplements may have contributed to the big surge
in use reported in 1999 because many people surveyed in 1996 may not
have known what constitutes an herbal supplement. She says asking
about specific supplements may account for why, for example, the
percentage of women over age 65 who reported using supplements rose
from 10 percent to nearly 30 percent in the three-year period.
"The take-home message is when clinicians do a medication history,
they should give examples, not just ask 'are you using any herbal
remedies?'" Gordon says. And, they should alert patients to possible
interactions between supplements and prescription or over-the-counter
medications, she says.
"A big problem with supplements is the doses can be different"
because the Food and Drug Administration doesn't make any dosage
recommendations. And, "in stores, people don't have anyone to ask
who's knowledgeable" about their medical histories, Gordon says.
"For example, gingko can cause bleeding, and for those taking blood
thinners, there can be potentially bad consequences. People really
need to alert their doctors" about the supplements they take, she
says.
"Anytime any person, whether a lay person or professional, is going
to self-medicate with herbs, vitamins or supplements, they definitely
need to inform their main health-care practitioner of what they're
taking," says Mindy Green, director of education for the Herb
Research Foundation of Boulder, Colo.
People also need "to learn how to read the labels, to be clear on
what they're taking and the reasons why," and make sure they share
that information with their doctors, Green says.
The study was presented at the recent Complementary and Alternative
Medicine conference in San Francisco.
16. Amazonian Shamans Set Up a Code of Ethics to Fight Shams
By Alan Boyle
May 18, MSNBC -- For the first time, Amazonian medicine men have
drawn up a code of ethics and established a union to police
themselves, complete with membership cards. The union of Colombian
shamans is trying to weed out people who are exploiting traditional
ways for big profits and cheap thrills.
The shamans who prefer to be called "indigenous doctors" stand at
the gates of what could be a biomedical bonanza, as pharmaceutical
companies engage in bioprospecting to seek out new cures for maladies
ranging from diarrhea to cancer.
At the same time, the Amazon has become a destination for outsiders
looking for a taste of the mystical yage (pronounced YA-hay), a
hallucinogenic brew used in the shamans' healing ceremonies. Travel
agencies tout yage tours over the Internet, and some entrepreneurs
sell bulk quantities of the ayahuasca plant, the "vision vine" from
which yage is made.
The tug of war over the Amazon's biological riches has sparked legal
battles as well as million-dollar deals with outsiders. But the 50
shamans who established the Union of Yage Healers have taken a
different approach, trying to get their own house in order first.
"This big black box that so many people have profited from and so
many people have written about as whites ... they don't want that
anymore," Liliana Madrigal, chief operating officer for the
Virginia-based Amazon Conservation Team, told MSNBC.com.
The team's president, ethnobotanist Mark Plotkin, emphasized that he
and other outsiders simply helped guide the shamans as they went
through the long process of creating a code of ethics.
"You can say it's about 15,000 years in the making, you can say that
it's taken a year and a half," he said.
Shamans from throughout Colombia gathered to begin the process of
creating a code of ethics in June 1999 in Yurayaco, near a rock that
they consider a powerful place of power.
Learning the Code
In a way, the Union of Yage Healers would function like an American
Medical Association for scores of shamans from seven tribes across an
area the size of New England. The union's code of ethics, which was
formally presented to the Colombian government last month, lays out
acceptable and unacceptable practices for shamans -- as well as the
beginnings of a system for designating who is a healer, who is an
apprentice and "who fails to meet the requirements of this
recognition."
But the code also makes it clear that the shamans don't want to
become white-coated clones of Western physicians.
"We do not seek to use the language of modern medicine," the code
declares. "We are still far from embracing the concepts underlying
words such as 'medicine,' 'health,' 'disease' and 'patient,' which do
not always have direct equivalents in our own languages."
Live Map: Gathering of Shamans
Madrigal said three elders -- ages 104, 90 and 87 -- head the union,
with five younger shamans serving as an operating committee. An elder
had to visit each of the prospective members of the union, she said.
"They both had to drink yage to figure out who was a real shaman and
who was not. ... They smell 'em, they just know. They have a special
sense for Identifying these people," she explained.
Madrigal said the union would issue identification cards to its
members, but probably not take any action against practitioners who
were deemed unfit for membership.
The code declares that shamans should not demand a fee from people in
their communities for their healing services, but may charge for the
cost of procuring their medicinal plants. "For non-indigenous people,
we will establish rates befitting the problem," the code states.
It also bans the consumption of alcoholic beverages during healing
ceremonies, as well as the sale of yage or medicinal plants to
outsiders.
Madrigal said the code is aimed not only at unscrupulous outsiders,
but also at fallen-away apprentices who are trying to make a profit
through their familiarity with yage culture. The shamans fear that
such people could irrevocably pervert the traditional ways -- and
even bring about a governmental crackdown on the use of yage.
"The union represents much more than a code of ethics," she said. "It
represents a union to save themselves."
Vision of the Future
Plotkin said his team has encouraged the shamans to set down a record
of their practices -- but in their indigenous languages rather than
Spanish or English, to make it harder for outsiders to steal their
intellectual property. The shamans are also working with
Western-style physicians to teach classes at medical schools and set
up joint clinics in Colombian villages, he said.
Madrigal said "the whole idea is to begin to incorporate shamanic
medicine into academic circles instead of this bizarre, new-age,
hippie stuff."
"They hate that," she said. "They have zero tolerance for that."
Plotkin and Madrigal say shamans in Ecuador and Brazil have heard
about the efforts in Colombia and might adapt the idea to their own
cultures.
Charles Grob, a professor of clinical psychiatry at the UCLA School
of Medicine, has studied Brazil's yage culture and says the Union of
Yage Healers sounds like a good idea.
"If this is a group that has a long tradition of using yage, I would
say it's positive that they're speaking up and expressing what they
feel to be appropriate standards for its use," he told MSNBC.com.
"That would minimize the risks and put the attention back on the
native practitioners, where it should be."
Dennis McKenna, who specializes in the study of psychedelic drugs as
director of ethnopharmacology for the Heffter Research Institute,
also voiced his support for the idea of indigenous groups controlling
their own shamanic heritage.
Their knowledge is basically being ripped off by the First World, the
pharmaceutical companies," he said.
But he said associations such as the Union of Yage Healers could
raise new dilemmas for indigenous cultures.
"Every time you try to introduce those institutional types of
structures, it's a form of control, and control tends to exclude
groups that may be legitimate but aren't part of the inner circle,"
he said. "All of these things are fraught with difficulties. What
qualifies you for membership? How do you be inclusive while
maintaining your standards?"
17. WIPO Pledges to Protect Traditional Knowledge of Poor Countries
BRUSSELS, May 16, Inter Press Service -- The world's Least Developed
Countries (LDCs) will no longer have to sit back as their traditional
knowledge, folklore and genetic resources are exploited by powerful
global conglomerates, says the deputy head of the Geneva-based World
Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), Roberto Castelo.
Castelo pledged yesterday on behalf of the WIPO, a member of the
U.N. system, to assist the LDCs in protecting their natural wealth.
"This is part of our contribution to eradication of poverty,"
Castelo told the Third U.N. Conference on LDCs (LDCIII) being held in
Brussels May 14-20.
The conference, which is being hosted by the European Union, has
attracted representatives of more than 120 governments.
Addressing the opening session on May 14, U.N. Secretary-General
Kofi Annan said, "We are here to consider what kind of support" would
be most useful to the people of the world's 49 LDCs "and to make sure
that they get it."
WIPO's pledge assumes significance against the backdrop that
traditional knowledge has provided the basis for much of modern
medicine and centuries of herbalist knowledge accumulated in the
early writings of travellers, clerics and historians.
"The traditional knowledge of indigenous and local communities has
significant economic value in areas such as biotechnology --
including medicine and agriculture -- entertainment and education,"
Castelo said in an interview with IPS.
It also provides a basis for the protection and conservation of
biological diversity and the sharing of its benefits, he said.
The basis of WIPO's aid to LDCs was laid out in the Lisbon
Declaration, adopted last February, following regional seminars and a
high-level inter-regional round table conference for the LDCs to
deliberate on the theme of Innovation, Knowledge Society.
Explaining the rationale behind the move, Castelo said, the
development of human resources had become a vital strategic component
in the effort to modernize and use the intellectual property (IP)
system effectively for economic, social and cultural development in
the LDCs.
"Given the enormous structural problems they face in
institution-building in the field of intellectual property, the LDCs
require a special program with the vision and resources to bring
about a quantum leap in the state of their intellectual property
systems," he added.
WIPO is assisting LDCs through its Worldwide Academy, which has
worked out specially tailored programs in acquiring the specialized
knowledge and skills with which to take advantage of the intellectual
property system.
The Academy plays a central role in providing teaching, training,
as well as advisory and research services in intellectual property.
It creates a forum for policy and decision-makers in the LDCs to
debate the importance and implications of IP in the economic and
social development of their countries.
WIPO also has launched a global information network, known as
WIPONet, which would benefit all member states of the organization,
including the LDCs. Through the network, WIPO will provide the LDCs
with office automation software including electronic data exchange
services.
Explaining another aspect of the WIPO program, Castelo said that
small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the LDCs were often the
driving force behind invention and innovation activities.
Their innovative and creative capacity was not always fully
exploited, however, because many SMEs in the LDCs are not
sufficiently informed, or are hesitant to seek protection for their
inventions, brands and designs, and fail to take full advantage of
the IP system.
"If left unprotected, a good invention or creation may be lost to
larger competitors, which are better equipped to market the product
or service at a more affordable price, leaving the original inventor
or creator without any financial reward," argued Castelo.
Adequate protection of a company's IP is therefore a factor in
deterring potential infringements and in transforming ideas into
business assets with a real market value.
WIPO's activities for the benefit of SME's in the LDCs will be
guided by the need to look at the practical concerns and challenges
faced by the SMEs.
Trademarks, industrial designs and geographical indications will
be portrayed as tools with which to enhance an enterprise's marketing
strategy, including the need to market access, market segmentation
and product differentiation.
18. Jury Awards $2 Million in Malpractice Case Involving St. John's Wort
By David S. Rubsamen
SECAUCUS, N.J., April 15, Physicians Financial News -- Physicians
should know what their patients are taking with regard to
over-the-counter drugs, especially herbal medicines. This case is a
warning in general about drug interactions when the patient is taking
over-the-counter medications without the physician's knowledge, and
specifically, it requires a careful look at St. John's wort.
The case at hand (resolved with a $2 million jury verdict several
months ago) raised a substantial question of whether an interaction
between Demerol and St. John's wort produced a cardiorespiratory
arrest which proved fatal. This was the defense theory, but the jury
did not buy it. They accepted the plaintiff's argument that the real
cause of the patient's death was excessive doses of Marcaine and
lidocaine.
Nevertheless, the defense position was articulated by highly
qualified physicians who were unambiguous in condemning the St.
John's wort/Demerol combination.
The patient was a 25-year-old hairdresser, who was married and had a
small child. She was 5'6" tall and weighed 125 pounds. She visited
the defendant board-certified plastic surgeon, requesting breast
augmentation and abdominal liposuction. This was carried out on Feb.
26, 1998 at the defendant surgicenter.
The doctor was unaware the patient had been taking St. John's wort.
A nurse anesthetist supervised the patient's monitoring and sedation
during surgery. The surgeon administered 200 mg of Marcaine for the
breast procedure and lidocaine for the liposuction.
The operation went smoothly, and the sedated patient was taken to the
post-anesthesia recovery room (PAR), where she was supervised by an
experienced recovery-room nurse. Was she monitored with pulse
oximetry?
The nurse said that an oximeter was attached, but there was no
mention in her record of oxygen saturations. It was the plaintiff's
contention that no pulse oximetry was used. An EKG monitor was at the
bedside, but this was not employed.
About 35 minutes after she arrived in the PAR, the patient complained
of pain. The nurse-anesthetist was called and she administered 10 mg
of Demerol intravenously. She then left the room. The recovery room
nurse gave the patient another 10 mg of Demerol IV several minutes
later.
It is uncertain exactly when the cardiorespiratory arrest occurred,
but it was recognized after an uncertain delay, shortly following the
second dose of Demerol and about 45 minutes after the patient had
arrived in the PAR. The nurse-anesthetist was summoned and
resuscitation efforts were begun. Paramedics were called as well.
There was considerable difficulty with re-starting the heart, but a
normal sinus rhythm eventually was obtained with defibrillation.
The patient was then hospitalized. She did not recover consciousness
and was incapable of breathing on her own. She was alive on support
for 12 days and then she died.
The nurse-anesthetist had an individual malpractice insurance policy.
Her risk of liability depended on her alleged inadequacy in her
resuscitation protocol, plus her failure to initiate adequate
monitoring. Her insurance carrier paid $200,000.
Thus, the only defendants at trial were the plastic surgeon and the
surgicenter. The latter's liability was vicarious, depending on the
employment relationship between the recovery room nurse and the
surgicenter.
At trial, it was the plaintiff's position that a 200 mg dose of
Marcaine was excessive for a slender woman of only 125 pounds. The
plaintiff's expert contended that the addition of lidocaine
contributed to the toxicity. What about monitoring in the PAR?
This was a particularly strong point for the plaintiff. The
plaintiff's expert witness was emphatic that the sedated patient,
following local anesthetic, must be monitored with pulse oximetry.
The recovery room nurse's failure to record any oxygen saturations
supported the assumption that pulse oximetry was not used. She also
did not record the patient's respiratory rate or her pulse rate. The
defense conceded that although an EKG machine was next to the
patient, it was not attached. Thus it appears that the patient was
being neglected during the crucial 45 minutes after she arrived in
the PAR, and there may have been a significant delay in recognizing
the cardiorespiratory arrest.
The defense had only a single argument: The patient's St. John's
wort, which her doctor did not know about, caused an idiosyncratic
reaction with the Demerol she received and thus precipitated an
untreatable cardiorespiratory arrest, even though it was recognized
in a timely manner. There are cases in the medical literature
describing fatal interactions between Demerol and MAO inhibitors, but
is St. John's wort actually an MAO inhibitor?
This was a hotly contested issue at trial. Highly qualified experts
testified for each side on the question. The literature is
conflicting. Anesthesiologists with whom I discussed this case said
that they would treat St. John's wort as a possible MAO inhibitor and
withhold Demerol in this circumstance.
In fact, no one could identify with absolute certainty the cause of
the cardiorespiratory arrest. But the plaintiff had an excellent
argument: Regardless of the cause of the cardiopulmonary arrest,
prompt recognition with competent resuscitation efforts would have
saved the patient's life and restored her to health without
significant cognitive or motor deficits.
Long Road to Verdict
The case took three months to try, an unusually long time. Then the
jury was out 12 days before awarding a $2 million verdict in favor of
the decedent's husband and their four-year-old daughter. Liability
was divided evenly between the plastic surgeon and the surgicenter.
In addition to the warning this case presents about knowing a
patient's over-the-counter medications, there are two other important
messages. The first concerns monitoring.
A plaintiff's attorney will not have any difficulty in finding
competent expert testimony that pulse oximetry is the standard of
care for the sort of patient described in this case. Particularly
where the patient is a good anesthesia risk, a cardiorespiratory
arrest during surgery or in the PAR usually fixes the liability of
the anesthesiologist, hospital and/or surgeon. The argument that "if
only there had been prompt recognition of the disaster, the outcome
would have been better" is enormously appealing to a jury.
Second, it should be recognized that there may be problems associated
with the use of Marcaine. It must be administered cautiously, with
special attention to dosage.
[Volume 19, Number 5, Physicians Financial News. Dr. David Rubsamen,
M.D., LL.B., is editor of Professional Liability Newsletter and the
author of two books on malpractice. He serves as an editorial adviser
to Physicians Financial News.]
19. Echinacea Farmer Wins $50,000 in Lawsuit
By Dave Olson
MOORHEAD, Minn., May 19, The Forum -- A Clay County District Court
jury has told county commissioner Casey Brantner to pay $50,000 for
interfering with a neighbor's property.
According to information contained in court documents, Brantner filed
a civil action last year against Lee and Arlene Garner, who live near
Hawley, Minn., seeking to secure ownership of a 6.5-acre area of
land.
Brantner, who had purchased property adjacent to the 6.5-acre parcel
about two years ago, based his claim to the disputed land on the
argument that the person he bought his property from had acquired
rights to the property through "adverse possession," which allows
someone to claim property if they openly use and maintain it without
challenge for 15 years.
According to court documents, Brantner enrolled the property in the
Conservation Reserve Program.
The Garners counter sued, claiming Brantner interfered with their
right to use the land to plant echinacea, a valuable plant popular
for its reputed health benefits.
In a pretrial memorandum, the Garners' attorney, Paul Sortland,
stated that Brantner misused his authority as a county commissioner
when he threatened the Garners with arrest if they proceeded to plant
echinacea on the land in question.
The memorandum said Brantner ignored information from the Garners
that the land had been surveyed and shown to belong to them.
The memorandum said Brantner seeded the property and prevented the
Garners from cultivating echinacea for two years.
Sortland's memorandum estimated the two-year delay cost the Garners
$120,000 in lost revenue from seeds, $160,000 in lost revenue from
root production and $24,000 in lost revenue from leaf and stem
production.
In a pretrial ruling, Judge Galan Vaa limited actual damages to the
reasonable rental value of the property – approximately $819 – ruling
the damage estimates presented by Sortland were too speculative to
present to a jury.
After a three-day trial, the jury returned with a verdict late
Thursday in favor of the Garners, awarding them $50,000 in punitive
damages and finding that Brantner acted with deliberate disregard for
their rights.
Brantner declined to comment extensively on the verdict Friday,
stating, "To me, it's just a case of Robin Hood. It's going to be
appealed, of course."
Sortland said that during trial Brantner's case rested on the
assertion that he acted in good faith and had relied on advice of
legal counsel to do what he did.
Sortland said he attempted to show the jury that Brantner did not
disclose all of the facts to his attorney.
"The jury has definitely spoken," Sortland said. "I think it's a
clear message, particularly to Mr. Brantner, but also to anybody
else like him who might try to use their positions of influence to
bully other people, that you can't do that. That's what we asked the
jury to do, to send a message, and I think it's a significant message
that they sent."
Lee Garner said Friday that he purchased the 6.5 acres in 1996 and
extensively researched how to cultivate echinacea, which requires
special equipment to plant.
Garner said he hopes to eventually have a successful harvest and he
has planted another crop this spring. But he said he worries about
what may happen to it.
"I don't believe this guy has quit," Garner said, referring to
Brantner.
20. Ghana Warns Unregistered Herbalists to Stay Away from Health Product Fair
By Fred Abrokwa
ACCRA, May 5, Accra Mail -- Nana Ofei Agyentutu ll, Deputy Director
of Herbal Medicine at the Ministry of Health has cautioned herbal
medical practitioners whose products are not certified by the Food
and Drugs Board (FDB) to keep away from the upcoming International
Medical and Pharmaceutical Fair (Medicare) that will be held in
September this year.
He was responding to questions on the prospects of exhibiting herbal
medicine during the Fair. The joint fair that will include Ghana
Sports Exhibition (Sportex) was launched in Accra.
Nana Agyentutu explained that only herbalists whose products have
gone through testing and approved by the FDB would be allowed to
participate in the exhibition. This means that uncertified herbal
products will miss the unique opportunity.
These revelation has come in the wake of public concern about the
proliferation of quack herbalists and fake drugs on the market, with
some allegedly curing all kinds of illness without any scientific
proof.
Acknowledging the potency of some of the herbal medicines being
produced in the country, he assured practitioners that the Ministry
of Health was committed to developing and promoting herbal medicine
to achieve its set goals.
Mr. T.C Corquaye, Executive Director of FDB, also admitted that some
herbal medicines were effective in the cure of certain ailments and
advised practitioners to submit samples of their products for a
scientific proof of their claims before they could be authorised to
sell them to the public.
Touching on the procedure for registering pharmaceutical companies in
other countries, he noted that Ghana and Nigeria held a meeting to
deliberate on how to review the system to open the market for other
competitors.
Mr. Corquaye said that the current method has not helped Africa since
in the face of its vast potential for medicine it account for only 5%
of the volume of trade in pharmaceuticals throughout the world which
was not good for the continent.
Mr. Haris Osafo-Acquah, Deputy Managing Director of Phyto-Riker
Pharmaceuticals Limited, whose company operates in 16 countries on
the continent, said apart from the procedures required pharmaceutical
companies must also conform to current good manufacturing practices.
He explained that the pharmaceutical regulatory authorities send
inspectors to their factory to ascertain the manufacturing site and
the process by which their company manufacture their products.
21. China Cracks Down on Fake Doctors, Medicines
By Geoffrey Murray
BEIJING, May 18, Kyodo -- China's medical profession and
pharmaceutical industry have failed to get a clean bill of health
from the government.
In fact, health authorities say a strong dose of administrative
medicine is needed to clean up a mess typified by illegal medical
practices and counterfeit goods.
A nationwide health-inspection campaign against counterfeiting
started in early March but "more needs to be done, because the
practice of making, selling and using fake goods is still rampant,"
Health Minister Zhang Wenkang said.
He made the remarks during a conference on the campaign.
Since March, officials seized nearly 2,500 tons of fake or inferior
food, cosmetics and disposable medical devices worth more than 40
million yuan ($4.8 million). And about 1,400 illegal producers and
nearly 40,000 illegal medical clinics have been closed.
As China becomes more affluent more attention is being paid to health
and general well-being.
In Chairman Mao Zedong's day, even a hint of lipstick or rouge would
bring condemnation for loose morals; now, cosmetics is one of the
fastest growing industries, with television flooded with programs and
advertisements on the art of good grooming.
In addition, there is a boom in medicines claiming amazing powers in
weight reduction, healthier living and life extension.
Despite a decision to commercialize health care by, for example,
opening up military and other previously restricted hospitals to the
general public, demand still far outstrips supply and those wishing
to see a doctor know they face many, many hours of waiting.
Private clinics are multiplying rapidly, but many of them without
properly qualified staff or the right license to operate. To many
members of the public, however, the desperation to see a doctor
overrides any concern about quality of treatment.
Cut-price medicines available on the market also prove attractive to
those on a budget, even though the chances are high the products are
either fake or have been discarded by the legitimate medical sector
as beyond their use-by date.
The government has sought to counter this with a scare campaign
through the print and broadcast media. Stories regularly appear of,
for example, young women who have been scarred for life after using
fake cosmetics containing unsuitable ingredients.
Zhang urged all health authorities to work with other supervision
departments to rid China of fake food, medicine, medical devices,
illegal medical practices and illegal collection of blood.
Illegal clinics and medical practitioners without official licenses
were strictly forbidden to continue their business, and those
involved would face heavy jail sentences, the minister warned.
At the same time, disposable medical devices, including syringes and
blood devices, will be carefully inspected, he promised.
The latest official survey indicated only 85% of disposable medical
devices produced by licensed manufacturers meet standards.
Zhang also pledged the ministry would continue its efforts to fight
against overstated advertisements for health foods, which have
angered the public in recent years.
According to an official survey, about 40% of surveyed health foods
in Beijing have exaggerated their efficacy in advertisements.
In another crackdown, the Health Ministry issued a notice banning
medical diagnosis and treatment via the Internet.
Web sites licensed to carry medical information can only offer
consultations to would-be patients, according to the notice,
"Management Methods for Internet Medical Information Service."
The notice also said only licensed medical institutions could offer
consultation via the Net.
The ministry also requires medical information Web sites to get
approval from health departments when applying for business licenses.
Most Web sites, in fact, have not developed to the point where they
can offer diagnoses or treatment, but the government is worried that
the explosive growth of Internet use will encourage unscrupulous
businesses to try to profit from the interest in all things medical.
One service that stays within the law is 999.com.cn, a two-year-old
Web site sponsored by the Guangzhou-based 999 Pharmaceutical Group. A
spokeswoman said it did not provide online medical diagnoses but
offered medical information and consultation, only with the help of
hospitals. Ultimately, the aim was to ensure would-be patients were
steered toward the right doctor, she said.
The government also sees the need to more closely monitor the
development of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), now enjoying a
strong revival as many Chinese become more aware of the possible side
effects of Western-style medicine.
TCM draws on thousands of years of experience in the medicinal
qualities of a huge range of natural herbs, vegetables and grains, as
well as certain animal products.
But abuse has occurred because many of the effects of TCM are still
not well understood and there is still an element of "magic"
involved in many cures still popular in rural areas. The government,
however, is keen to place TCM on a more scientific and licensed
basis, partly to make TCM more acceptable overseas and boost exports.
Hui Yongzheng, vice minister of the Ministry of Science and
Technology, said China's pharmaceutical enterprises should make the
best use of the country's abundant TCM resources by turning to high
technologies and modern management.
He also noted few TCM compounds have been recognized by the health
care insurance systems in developed countries, partly because of
skepticism about medical claims made, but also on quality concerns.
22. China Revamps Traditional Medicine to Meet Global Standards
CHINA, May 28, Peopledaily.com -- China is putting an emphasis on
global standards in the production of herbal medicine and
strengthening technological innovations.
The nation's largest conglomerate of traditional Chinese medicine
businesses, the China Medicinal Materials Group was set up on Sunday,
indicating a shakeup in the industrial landscape.
The group, formed by a number of leading Chinese manufacturers,
distributors and innovators of traditional Chinese medicine, shows
the country's ambition to have an industrial giant competing on the
world stage, Monday's China Daily reported.
Ren Dequan, deputy director of the State Drug Administration, said
that China will iron out stiffer regulations this year to bring the
industry up to global standards.
The fact that its products aren't up to these standards is one of the
key problems for Chinese drug firms to enter the global market.
China recently revised its law on drug administration, the latest but
boldest effort ever to tighten the grip on medicine production and
supervision.
The updated law strengthens supervision and keeps a closer eye on the
whole process of manufacturing drugs as well as monitoring their
quality, underscoring China's bid to ensure production goes by global
rules.
At the same time, Chinese government is strengthening its financial
support of technological innovation in the traditional Chinese
medicine sector. This has become one of the key issues on the agenda
for China's high-tech innovation plan over the next five years,
according to the newspaper.
Cash will be poured into planting the raw materials needed for
traditional Chinese medicine, upgrading facilities to produce them,
officials said.
23. Centuries-Old Firm Adapts Traditional Chinese Medicines
SHANGHAI, May 21, AsiaPort -- Combining ancient secret recipes with
high-tech and modern business management, the 330-year-old
Tongrentang, China's leading producer of traditional Chinese
medicine, aims to become a global natural drug giant in the 21st
century.
The company, an erstwhile royal drug firm, plans to increase its
total sales value to 10 billion yuan (US$1.2 billion) within 10 years
and become a multinational pharmaceutical producer, Xinhua news
agency quoted Mei Qun, general manager of the China Beijing
Tongrentang Group, as saying on Monday.
He made the announcement at a forum on traditional Chinese
medicine, which is part of the ongoing Beijing International
High-Tech Industries Week.
"We are doing new research on the ancient recipes and developing
new products to cater to the world market," said Li Zhimeng, chief
engineer of Tongrentang.
The large pills, bitter decoctions of herbal medicines and other
traditional Chinese medicines, are being replaced by new products
such as capsules, tablets and oral liquids, said Li.
The firm plans to develop more patent medicines and injections for
the treatment of cancer, hepatitis and diabetes in the future,
according to Li.
He attributes Tongrentang's long-lasting prosperity to its
emphasis on quality. However, lack of standard inspection methods for
drugs is a major factor restricting traditional Chinese medicine from
entering international markets, Xinhua reported.
Researchers at Tongrentang introduced chromatographic analysis
technology to map out components of best quality medicines.
Production of medicines must be in accordance with these maps.
"Each medicine has a map which is as unique as a human
fingerprint. So far, this technology is the best way of standardizing
the quality of traditional Chinese medicine," said Li.
Molecular biotechnology will be used to discover effective
components in mineral-based medicines, and to remove heavy metal
components from traditional medicines, he said.
In order to protect endangered animals and plants, Tongrentang is
looking for substitutes for musk, rhinoceros horn, tiger bone and
liquorice, which have been used in traditional Chinese medicines. On
the other hand, the firm will invest heavily in setting up herb plant
centers.
"We will establish 100 chain stores all over China within three
years to compete with international pharmaceutical companies," said
Mei Qun.
Ranking first among the 50 largest traditional Chinese medicine
producers, Tongrentang currently roduces more than 800 varieties of
medicines, and its total sales value last year exceeded 2.5 billion
yuan.
The firm's export value last year increased nearly one quarter
compared with the previous year.
On the basis of the enlarging market in Southeast Asia, the
company will strengthen development in he markets of Europe and the
United States.
24. China Urged to Modernize Traditional Medicine
BEIJING, May 16, AsiaPort -- Some 600 experts from China, France,
Germany, Canada and other countries and regions on May 12 gathered in
Beijing to attend an international seminar on traditional Chinese
medicine and natural material medicine.
The sponsor, the organizing committee of the ongoing Beijing
High-Tech International Week, wished the experts would focus on the
theme of how to hasten the modernization of traditional Chinese
medicine.
Yao Xinsheng, an academician with the Chinese Academy of
Engineering, said at the seminar that the new century is likely to
become a "century for the use of traditional Chinese medicine." "The
new century will be characterized as an aged society, and traditional
Chinese medicine is especially suitable for the aged," Yao said.
Experts attending the seminar advised China to adopt more advanced
western medicine methods and equipment, to enhance the protection of
natural medicine herbs and to encourage the booming of the
traditional medicine industry.
They also agreed that China's entrance to WTO will provide an
opportunity for China to modernize its traditional medicine sector.
China now produces some 4,000 traditional medicine products, but
these medicine products hold only 3 percent of the world medicine
market.
25. Chinese Scientists Find Magic Drug Against Senility
HANGZHOU, May 13, Xinhua -- Humans may no longer fear losing the
battle against senility since a group of Chinese scientists announced
recently that they have created a highly effective drug to retard the
aging process.
Li Changling, a Beijing University professor, who led the team of
scientists, said he and his colleagues have detected the existence,
in their repeated experiments, of a powerful anti-oxidation substance
in grape-stones, which cannot be produced by the human body.
Oxidation is a chemical reaction in which an atom loses its electron,
and this change, if it happens in the human body, results in aging of
human cells and tissue.
The world medical community found in the 1990s that a kind of
oxygenic molecule, scientifically called free radicals left by
metabolic performance, causes oxidation and is also directly involved
in the development of 70 diseases such as Parkinson's disease,
cancer, and strokes.
Oligomeric Proantho Cynidins, or OPC, the natural substance extracted
out of grape-stones, can sweep out redundant free radicals in the
human body and so reduce the rate of oxidation. The anti-oxidation
function of OPC is 50 times as effective as vitamin E, or 20 times
that of vitamin C, the professor said.
The scientists made the drug developed from OPC more powerful by
adding the rare Chinese medicines of lucid ganoderma sporopollen and
gynostemma. This formula medicine is 30 percent more powerful at
anti-oxidation than the raw substance alone.
With no toxins or side effects, the patented medicine can go into
blood and be digested by the human body within 20 minutes after
application, according to the professor.
26. Gene Research Facilitates Development of Chinese Herbs
BEIJING, May 13, Xinhua -- The development of traditional Chinese
herbs is about to enter a new age featuring studies of the gene
components of herbal medicines, according to a forum here Sunday.
Guo De'an, a Chinese herb expert at prestigious Beijing University,
said that research into transgenic medicinal plants and organs, herb
DNA molecule marking, and herb gene chips have emerged as some of the
hottest research areas in recent years.
Scientists from the Chinese Academy of Medicine have used fungus to
induce the growth of Chinese herbs and significantly increased the
content of herbal tanshinone, marking important progress toward
optimizing the varieties of Chinese herbs.
Sources said that the Hunan Institute of Chinese Medicine has put
ginseng DNA in soybean and obtained new materials with higher
medicinal contents.
Currently, incubation centers for medicinal organs transformed from
some 10 herbs have been established, and key enzyme genes of
arteannuin have been cloned.
Guo told the forum, which is part of the ongoing Beijing
International Hi-Tech Industries Week, that genetic researches on
Chinese herbs will help to facilitate as well as monitor the
biological composition of the chemical contents of herbs.
The application of bio-technology in herbal research is becoming
increasingly popular. Incubation of tissues and cells of medicinal
plants has matured with practice over the past 20 to 30 years in
China, said Guo.
He said that future research into herbal medicines should focus on
cultivating cells of dying medicinal herbs and using biological
methods to transform the chemical contents of key herbs.
27. Some Chinese Manufacturers Are Misleading Consumers about FDA Approval
BEIJING, May 12, Xinhua -- A Chinese expert criticized some local
manufacturers of traditional herbal medicine of misleading consumers
by saying that that their products are approved by the Food and Drug
Administration (FDA) of the United States.
Whether being approved by the FDA or not is not a criterion for
traditional Chinese medicine, according to Zhou Haijun, the honorary
chairman of the China Pharmacy Society.
Addressing a forum on the ongoing Fourth Beijing International
High-Tech Week, the Chinese expert said although the FDA is
experienced in checking the quality of medicine, its expertise is for
chemical and modern drugs, rather than for herbal ones like Chinese
traditional medicine, he claimed.
28. China's Yunnan Province Plans to Develop Plant-Based Products
KUNMING, May 10, AsiaPulse -- Southwest China's Yunnan Province plans
to concentrate on the development of modern drugs, health products,
and garden products.
Located in the western Yunnan-Guizhou plateau and on the southern tip
of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, Yunnan has the largest number of plant
species in China.
According to the plan, the province will cultivate such natural
medicinal plants as notoginseng, gastrodia tuber, fleabane and
Chinese angelica root, as well as quality rice, vegetable, tea, and
flowers.
29. Thousands Flock to Indian Boy Wonder for Herbal Remedies
GUWAHATI, India, May 23, Reuters -- Thousands of people have flocked
to visit a 12-year-old boy in northeastern India who says the Hindu
god Vishnu has taught him to cure any disease with herbal medicines.
Police said they had brought extra forces into Baghara in the state
of Assam to control the crowds and local villagers had demanded
protection for Tinku Deka, a junior school student.
"Tinku first wanted to give out the medicine everyday to the people
coming in to meet him but seeing the crowd, he started distributing
it on Sundays only," Rina Deka, Tinku's mother, told Reuters.
Eyewitnesses said at least five elderly patients on their way to meet
the boy wonder had died before they could reach him.
Tea stalls which have opened around Tinku's house are packed with
visitors, and the latest gossip there is that Prime Minister Atal
Behari Vajpayee, who suffers from a knee ailment, will soon be one of
the boy's patients.
The 74-year-old prime minister is expected to undergo an operation to
replace his right knee in Bombay on June 7.
30. Pakistan Removes Duty on Medicinal Herbs Imports
ISLAMABAD, May 17, AsiaPulse -- The Central Board of Revenue (CBR)
has allowed duty-free temporary importation of medicinal herbs for
subsequent exportation.
The following conditions will govern this exemption:
An application shall be made to the collector of customs giving
full particulars of the goods and the purpose for which they are
being imported.
An indemnity bond or in certain cases a bank guarantee equivalent
to the amount of customs duty, otherwise leviable, is furnished to
the collector of customs concerned, in such form as is prescribed by
the collector of customs binding the party to re export the goods
temporarily imported within a period not exceeding six months.
The collector of customs concerned on a written application made
to him in this behalf, may, in deserving cases, grant at his
discretion, subject to such conditions as he may deem fit to impose
extension up to a further period of one year.
If the goods are not exported within the stipulated period, the
collector of customs shall enforce the bank guarantee if furnished,
or initiate recovery proceedings under section 202 of the customs act
1969.
The collector of customs may refuse entry of any goods without
payment of customs duty if, prima facie, it appears to him that such
goods would remain in Pakistan for more than six months.
31. Ginseng Growers at Root of Problem: Oversupply Has Driven Prices Down
By Wendy Stueck
VANCOUVER, May 21, Globe and Mail -- Mickey Hare has grown ginseng
for more than 30 years, and his knowledge of the finicky crop has
helped him land custom work from other operators who don't have as
much experience.
It has also led to a clear-eyed analysis of the current market.
"The problem is we grow too much," says Mr. Hare, who first planted
ginseng on his southern Ontario farm in 1969. "Probably twice as much
as we should."
Like other Canadian ginseng growers, Mr. Hare is experiencing the
painful downside of growing a plant known for its healing properties.
A crop that he sold for $85 a pound in the mid-eighties now fetches
about $15. Sometimes, it's difficult to sell at all -- he still has
some of last year's harvest in storage.
A slump in ginseng prices is hitting small growers in Ontario and
British Columbia, the two provinces where Canada's ginseng production
is concentrated. It is also hammering large growers that went public
when the crop's future seemed assured.
Shares of Langley-based Chai-Na-Ta Corp., listed on the Toronto Stock
Exchange since 1989, were trading in the $14 range in 1996. On
Friday, the stock closed at 51 cents.
Vancouver-based Imperial Ginseng Products Ltd., public since 1994,
was trading in the $12 range five years ago and closed Friday at 30
cents on the Canadian Venture Exchange.
Both companies are predicting improved ginseng prices in coming
months, as some growers leave the business and others cut back on how
much seed they put in the ground.
But like the crop itself, the hoped-for turnaround has been slow in
coming and remains unpredictable.
Canadian producers grow North American ginseng, a plant that grows
wild in some parts of eastern Canada and the United States and that
has been exported from Canada since the 1700s.
The plant is harvested for its root, which is said to have beneficial
properties ranging from its ability to reduce blood pressure to
boosting the immune system. Agriculture Canada says about 68 per cent
of all Canadian ginseng is exported, with most sold in bulk dry root
form to Hong Kong buyers.
In Canada, commercial cultivation of the plant, which is grown in
shade and is typically harvested in its fourth year, took off in the
1980s, driven by factors that included soaring prices for ginseng
root among Asian buyers and the collapsing market for other crops,
particularly tobacco.
In 1982, fewer than 25 metric tonnes of ginseng were grown in Canada.
By 1999, that had soared to about 2,200 metric tonnes, making Canada
the third-largest ginseng producer in the world, after China and
Korea.
Lured by the promise of high prices, growers rushed to put more seed
in the ground. Acres under cultivation, a few hundred in the early
eighties, jumped to a total that Agriculture Canada says is now
likely close to 8,600.
"When prices were at $40 or $50 or even $70 a pound, you didn't need
a calculator to see there was an alternative there," says Ken Spriet,
president of the Ginseng Growers Association of Canada, which
represents Ontario growers. "It looked like a no-brainer, but it was
only a no-brainer if you were looking at the volume at that time."
The lengthy growing cycle of ginseng meant that much of the new crop
was coming on to the market just as an Asian economic crisis hit in
1998.
Prices have been soft since, pushing many growers out of the market.
Allan Smith, president of the Associated Ginseng Growers of B.C.,
says his group has 60 members now, compared with about 120 in the
mid-nineties.
Canadian growers produce North American ginseng, which is related to
the Korean strain of the plant. Both contain compounds called
ginsenosides, and the two are believed to be complementary, with the
North American root said to have a cooling "yin" effect that relieves
stress and strengthens internal organs, and the Asian variety to
possess a heating "yang" effect.
Mr. Spriet says members of his association are counting on improved
prices as some growers get out of the market.
32. Ontario Ginseng Growers Show Support for Association
WINNIPEG, Man., May 18, Resource News International -- A recent
expression of opinion vote shows that a majority of Ontario ginseng
growers support being represented by a province-wide association.
A total of 86.8% of ginseng growers representing 64.1% of the
acreage of those casting valid ballots voted in favour of the Ontario
Ginseng Growers' Association. The vote means that growers also
support the association having the authority to collect a mandatory
annual licence fee of $50 per acre. The funding would be used to
further the association's objectives of enhancing marketing efforts
for ginseng growers, promoting markets for Ontario ginseng, and
funding ginseng research.
A total of 78.4% of the 264 growers who received ballots
participated in the mail-in vote, which was conducted by the Ontario
Farm Products Marketing Commission.
The vote, held between March 26 and April 6, 2001, asked the
following question:
"Are you in favor of the Ontario Ginseng Growers' Association being
designated as the representative association for all growers of
ginseng in Ontario, and collecting an annual licence fee of $50 per
acre on every acre of ginseng in production from such growers to
finance the association's activities to stimulate, increase and
improve the marketing of ginseng in Ontario?"
33. West Paterson, N.J., Business Supplies Medicinal Herbs from Ecuador
By Monsy Alvarado
WEST PATERSON, N.J., May 18, The Record -- As a girl growing up in
Ecuador, Marlene Siegel would find the medicine for her ear
infections, coughs, and stomachaches in the green vegetation on the
fringes of the city where she lived.
"My grandmother would get the rue plant for the ear infections and
the garlic for the strong coughs," recalled Siegel, who grew up in
the capital city of Quito but would spend her vacations in the
jungles of the South American country. "The next day, we would be
cured."
Although educational and economic opportunities led Siegel thousand
of miles from her homeland to New Jersey, she never forgot the herbal
teachings of her parents and grandparents.
"My children never had to take penicillin," said Siegel, 50,
recalling the "energy" juices made out of beets, oranges, and parsley
she would give her three children. "All of it was natural. It's not
necessary to take medicine all the time."
She found common ground with many Latinas in the United States, who
would complain about the high cost of medicine in this country and
longed for the natural plants and herbs from their home countries.
So about 18 years ago, she borrowed $25,000 from her husband and
began a small business, bringing a few plants familiar to her South
American friends and acquaintances.
Today, her modest import business has evolved into Ecuadorian
Rainforest LLC, an operation based on McBride Avenue which generated
$5 million in 2000, providing organic herbs, organic herbal powders,
and organic powdered extracts to national health food retailers.
"I decided to open the market for these herbs and plants when there
was no market for them," said Siegel, of Berkeley Heights. "In the
last 10 years, it's incredible what people's reactions are. Every
morning, we come in here and we find a bunch of faxes asking about
our products."
The use of herbs to treat different ailments is nothing new. Early
settlers in the United States used herbs to treat illnesses, and
American physicians relied primarily on herbal remedies through the
1930s.
Siegel is tapping a growing interest in herbal and other alternative
medicines. According to the University of Medicine and Dentistry of
New Jersey, more than $20 billion was spent by the public in 1998 for
alternative medicines.
"It's increased remarkably," said Dr. Riva E. Touger-Decker,
associate professor and acting director of the Center for the Study
of Alternative and Complimentary Medicine at UMDNJ. "People are more
interested in being involved in their own care, and they think they
can get help with a chronic disease. They feel that alternative
medicine looks at a whole person, not just an ailment."
Siegel imports substances such as alfalfa, basil, parsley, rosemary,
sage, mango, cilantro, papaya, and passion fruit, but also offers
more exotic items: cat's claw, sea cucumber, and chitosan, extracted
from shellfish, which she said is used to lose weight.
More than 300 herbs, dried fruits, and vegetables can be found in
Siegel's warehouse at one time. Most of the items arrive in powdered
form, and some of her 18 employees in West Paterson pack and ship
them to customers nationwide. She said she receives more than 128
tons of material a week.
Key to Siegel's operation is her relationship with the indigenous
people of the Ecuadorian rainforests, the shuars.
Siegel said her personal relationship with the shuars, developed
initially as a child, has evolved into a mutually beneficial
professional relationship.
In addition to learning about the herbs from the shuars, she
contracts with many of them to harvest products.
The demand for alternative medicines also has led other entrepreneurs
to the rainforests of Ecuador, raising concerns about exploitation.
"Foreigners and big companies are trying to go in there and collect
these materials," said a spokesman for the consulate general of
Ecuador in Jersey City. "There have been legal battles, and the
indigenous people of the area and the government are working to
regulate them."
The spokesman added that indigenous people continue to be willing to
enter into legitimate business agreements.
Siegel, who now employs more than 4,000 people in some capacity in
Ecuador, speaks warmly of her relationship with the "keepers of the
secrets of the forest."
She said she is dedicated to providing economic opportunities to the
shuars and, as a next step, plans to provide daycare for many of the
women who farm the land.
"Many of those women work very hard," she said. "They leave their
children at home while they are working."
Having moved to West Paterson from a smaller Newark warehouse a year
ago, Siegel has high hopes of continuing to expand the business.
Last year, she launched her own line of dietary herbal supplements.
Rainforest Remedies consists of eight different products, including a
vegetable medley supplement and mineral water from Vilcabamba, a
sleepy town in the Andes of southern Ecuador, whose people have a
reputation for living long lives.
"This water has the secret of life," she said.
The secrets, it seems, are out: Siegel recently signed a $3 million
contract to sell her products in Italy, and is looking to sell in
Japan.
34. Mustards, and More Mustards
By Marcella S. Kreiter
May 4, United Press International -- There's more to mustard than
what you'll find in most stores. Just ask Barry Levenson, that's
chief mustard officer -- of the Mount Horeb Mustard Museum in the
southern Wisconsin community of Mount Horeb.
Levenson, a former assistant attorney general for the state of
Wisconsin, has a collection of 3,613 jars of mustard from all over
the world -- and he's about to open an 8,000-square-foot facility
Memorial Day weekend to display his collection as well as the
accoutrements for the mighty yellow condiment.
Levenson, 52, a Wooster, Mass., native, always liked mustard but his
real love affair began in October 1986.
"The Red Sox lost the '86 World Series," Levenson recalled. "I grew
up in New England. I didn't know what to do with myself. So I went to
an all-night supermarket. Walking the aisles, I decided I needed a
hobby. And then it came to me: I'm going to collect mustards.
"At the time I had a real job, assistant attorney general. My job was
to keep bad guys in prison. I did that for five more years -- mild
mannered by day, mustard fiend by night. It all came together a
couple of years later.
"I once argued a case before the U.S. Supreme Court with a jar of
mustard in my pocket. I found it on the way to court. I think I'm the
only lawyer to successfully argue a case before the Supreme Court
with a jar of mustard in his pocket. It was Dickinson's stone ground
mustard in a 1.4-ounce jar. I still have it."
Levenson said he thinks the most exotic blend he has is from Nepal.
It's a powder from the Yak Spice Services Co. donated to the
collection by Chief Justice Shirley Abrahamson of the Wisconsin
Supreme Court who had traveled to Katmandu. In fact, he said, that's
how he came by much of his collection: friends and even strangers
would pick up jars on their travels and drop them off.
Why Collect Mustard?
"I used to collect baseball cards when I was a little kid," Levenson
recalled. "I never had all of them but I knew it was possible. When
you've got every baseball card in a given year, what else is there to
do? There are so many varieties of mustard. People experiment with it
all over the world. It's in literature and medicine. It's a way of
glorifying the ordinary."
The museum sells 400 to 500 kinds of mustard from its gift shop and
catalog, as well as fancy mustard pots and other accessories. It also
offers cooking classes under the moniker Poupon U, which offers
degrees such as M.D. (mustard doctor) and D.D.S (Doctor of
Diddley-Squat).
Levenson doesn't manufacture his own blends although he said he has
developed some for other companies.
"Mustard is a simple product although varieties can be quite
complex," Levenson said. "Mustard comes from a mustard seed. There
are only a few varieties grown to make the condiment. What gets put
into a jar -- minimally processed -- is basically pretty simple."
Levenson said he's taken the business about as far as it can go in
its current form and has decided to sell 300 to 400 shares at $1,000
apiece to raise capital for expansion. His plan for playing dividends
is as novel as his collection: Investors will get an annual 12
percent payment -- in mustard.
35. Basils are Excellent Herbs to Grow in Containers
By Kathy Van Mullekom
NEWPOT NEWS, Va., May 10, Daily Press -- Can you imagine a garden
without basil? Impossible!
Its familiar fragrance, easy care and many uses make it indispensable
in herb, ornamental and container gardens -- and, of course -- in the
kitchen.
A member of the mint family -- Labiatae -- as so many herbs are,
basils have the familiar four-sided stems and whorled flowers of that
family. They are not, however, in the least invasive, as mints can
be, according to the National Garden Bureau.
The genus name of sweet basil, Ocimum, is from a Greek verb that
means "to be fragrant."
In frost-free climates, sweet basil may act as a perennial, but in
most areas of the country, it is an annual, dying at the first touch
of frost.
There are more than 30 different species of basil, but the most
common grown is O. basilicum and its subspecies. The four basic types
of garden basils are the familiar sweet green basil, dwarf green
basil, purple-leaved basil and scented leaf basil.
Basils are excellent herbs to grow in containers because they add
such attractive colors and textures to the plantings. They look good
in pots or window boxes in full sun. A container of basil by the back
door or on a deck provides easy access for harvesting.
The container should have drainage holes in the bottom or sides. Fill
it with a soilless mix, which is more lightweight than garden soil
and also is free of diseases and weed seeds.
With mixed plantings, place most basils near the center of containers
or at the ends of window boxes. Use dwarf basils to edge a container
planting or on their own in smaller, 8-inch pots and place the pots
around a larger planter, marching up steps or along a walk. Basils
combine nicely with other herbs and annuals.
Keep the plants evenly moist through the growing season.
Basils complement many kinds of dishes. Many gardeners are unable to
eat their juicy, homegrown tomatoes without fresh basil and a dash of
premium olive oil. Freshly harvested basil leaves added to mesclun or
lettuce salads liven up the flavors. Pesto is another favorite use
for basil.
Create the classic pesto sauce, a combination of basil, garlic, olive
oil, pine nuts and freshly grated Parmesan cheese.
Whip up basil butter. Cream together one stick of unsalted butter and
1 to 3 tablespoons of dried, crushed basil or 2 to 6 tablespoons of
fresh, minced basil. Place in a covered container or roll into a
cylinder shape and refrigerate for at least an hour before using.
Make basil vinegar to use in salad dressings. Heat vinegar (any type)
in an enamel pan; pour it into a bottle and add several sprigs of
basil. Let set for 2 weeks before using.
If you have basil left at the end of the growing season, dry the
leaves. To dry basil, cut the entire plant and hang on a string in a
well-ventilated room. When dry, just pluck the leaves from the stems
and store in airtight jars out of direct light.
36. Try Planting a Decorative Knot Garden
By Lee Reich
May 7, AP -- Walls that surrounded medieval monastic gardens imposed
their geometry upon the planted beds within. The beds usually were
rectangular, and they were divided into more rectangles or other
geometric shapes. Soon, people began to notice that all these lines
and curves within the beds were quite ornamental, and thus originated
the "knot garden."
A knot garden has neat, compact plants that draw lines on the ground.
Areas defined by these lines are filled with plants with casual
growth habits, or with materials such as sand, gravel or woodchips.
Though knot gardens are rarely seen today except in historic gardens,
why not use one to decorate a part of a vegetable garden or a brick
patio, or form a bed in a lawn with a sundial or a birdbath? Knot
gardens are good homes for herb plants and well-suited to small
areas.
If you want to try your hand at a knot garden, first draw your design
on paper. Make the design symmetric and the pattern of either
interwoven or separate shapes. Begin with rough sketches, then plot
the garden out to scale, allowing for a foot or so of plant width for
the lines. The next step is to indicate on the design the colors,
shades and textures of plants and inert materials that you want for
each part of the garden. Finally, on the basis of your notes, decide
what plants are suitable.
Compact evergreen plants, at least for the lines, carry the design
through the year. Some possibilities include boxwood, germander,
sage, lavender, and heather. The scope of plants is widened if you
don't mind watching deciduous plants lose their leaves in the winter.
Then you can use chives, basil, even parsley or lettuce. (Use leaf
lettuce so you can harvest just the outer leaves, leaving plants --
and the design -- intact.)
Spaces enclosed by the lines could be filled with annual bedding
plants such as petunias or marigolds. For a more subdued effect, one
created by shades of green and occasional, quiet flowers, plant
pachysandra, vinca, thyme, or viola. Liven the scene in spring by
planting within this greenery a few small, early season bulbs such as
snowdrop or crocus.
A knot garden is not a low-maintenance garden. Then again, a knot
garden need not be large. Maintain the beauty of a knot garden by
religiously keeping out weeds and shearing plants, as needed, to
maintain crisp lines.
37. Herbs: Good for What Ails You
May 21, Healthy.net -- Getting to the root of your medical ailments
may be as simple as getting to the root, or leaves, of the herbs in
your garden.
Whether you are plagued by restless sleep, an annoying paper cut or a
migraine, herbs can offer an alternative to a trip to the doctor or
drug store.
Naturopathic medicine, the use of western herbs for medical purposes,
has been practiced and studied in Europe since the Middle Ages,
according to Robin Depasquale, a professor of naturopathic medicine
at Bastyr University and a naturopathic physician.
Depasquale said growing herbs gives people more options concerning
their health.
"I think it gives them other options, economically and medically.
Things in their backyard can help them," she said.
The use of naturopathic medicine in the United States is growing
rapidly, she said.
"It's something people are really recognizing. No. 1, it seems to be
very useful, it works ... No. 2, we call it the medicine of the
people, people can grow these herbs in their garden. I can teach
someone to grow a plant that can help them medically. People are so
happy to feel more empowered."
The following herbs can be purchased at local nurseries, either in
plant or seed form. Once they are in your garden, herbs can be
prepared several ways, but the easiest is to make a tea, said
Depasquale. When making a tea from herbs, the upper part of the plant
can be steeped or the root of the plant can be boiled.
Depasquale and Debra Ching Wu, certified in herbology and acupuncture
for Chinese medicine, recommended a few herbs that can be grown in
the United States and safely used to treat medical ailments. 1: Mint
is helpful to the gastro-intestinal system and is good for anyone
with digestive problems. Mint helps dispel gas and tastes good as
well. Use the leaves of the mint plant to make a tea.
2: Chamomile is a gentle, soothing herb that calms both the stomach
and the nerves. The daisy-like flowers are used to make a tea.
Research shows chamomile is gentle enough even for pregnant mothers.
3: Lavender is a popular plant used for its pleasant scent as well as
its medical aid. Lavender is mainly a relaxant. It can be used in
potpourri or in a bath. The flowers are edible and can be used in
baking or in a tea. You can make a small pillow from the flower
petals to treat insomnia.
4: Sage, of the mint family,. is useful in cooking. Also, the leaves
of the sage plant are effective in treating hot flashes when mixed
into a tea with peppermint. A tea from sage leaves is beneficial to
both the heart and liver and acts as an antioxidant.
5: Garlic is a natural anti-viral agent. Planting garlic around other
plants can aid in avoiding pests. Garlic can be used in soups and
other foods to stimulate the immune system. The bulb of the garlic
plant is used. Garlic can be effective in fending off a cold.
6: Echinacea is a popular immune stimulant that can be used to fight
off infections. The root of the plant can be used to make a tea, or
the whole plant can be dried to make a powder. Echinachea is more
effective in preventing illness than in treating it.
7: Rosemary is calming to the nervous system, dispels gas, and is
helpful with memory. The stems and leaves of the plant are used in a
tea.
8: Oregano is a culinary herb that is also very medicinally active.
It is often used as a gargle for sore throats. The leaves can be used
to treat fungal growths on the skin.
9: Lemon balm, also in the mint family, is easy to grow. Often called
the "happy plant," the leaves are used to lift the spirit.
10: Calendula is a healing plant used on cuts, scrapes, bruises,
burns and rashes. Its flowers can be applied topically, made into a
tea, or infused with oil to make a topical treatment.
11: The dandelion plant's leaves are used to stimulate the digestive
system, as a diuretic. The entire plant is beneficial to the liver.
12: Plantain, known as "nature's Band-Aid," heals tissue. Chewing up
plantain and placing it on a wound will aid in healing it. Placing a
wad of it on the gum line will relieve a toothache.
13: Feverfew, in the daisy family, is for migraine headaches. The
leaves can be chewed or prepared in a tea.
14: The blueberry, an often forgotten herb, strengthens capillary
walls. It is effective in treating varicose veins, hemorrhoids and
weakness in the cardiovascular system. Eating half a cup of
blueberries per day is effective treatment for these ailments. The
leaves of the plant are good for the urinary tract.
15: Yarrow is used to stop bleeding, using the leaves either
topically or by making a tea. The whole plant is used in a tea to
treat fevers by bringing on a sweat.
38. Herb Business News
Advanced Plant Pharmaceuticals: Signs Marketing and Distribution
Agreement
NEW YORK, May 16, Market News Publishing -- Advanced Plant
Pharmaceuticals, Inc. a company that utilizes whole plants to develop
all natural dietary supplements, is pleased to announce that they
have signed a trial exclusive marketing and distribution agreement
with Valuecare Pharmacy, Inc. (VPI).
VPI, owned and operated by Robert Saidov a Pharmacist with strong
beliefs in alternative medicine, has agreed to market and distribute
APPI products to the Russian market in the United States. Under the
terms of the agreement APPI has granted VPI the exclusive right to
market and distribute APPI's full-line of "Whole Plant" herbal
supplements through Russian media such as television, radio,
magazines and trade magazines, on a 4 month trial basis.
====
Alta Natural: Announces New Executive
RICHMOND, B.C., May 7, Canada NewsWire -- Subsequent to the company's
Annual General Meeting held April 23, 2001 the Board of Directors for
the ensuing year are as follows: Mr. Kim Wei, President & CEO, Mr.
Ten Chu Wei, Secretary Treasurer, Mr. Adolph Huckschlag, Director and
Ms. Pauline Wong, Director.
Mr. Kim Wei is the founder of the Canadian development company,
Med-Tec Excellence in Healthcare Inc. For the past fourteen years, he
has created clinical delivery models, for primary care medical and
dental services, rehabilitation/physiotherapy clinics, ancillary
service providers and diagnostic services, in partnership with the
public and private sector. Mr. Wei is well known within the Canadian
health care industry as an aggressive creative executive, who has
initiated new ventures in Primary Care, Complementary Medicine and
business partnership structures. He is recognized as a leader and is
at the forefront in the Canadian development of Managed Care and the
Integrated Health Model.
====
Cetalon: $1.5 Million Investment From Nature's Sunshine Products
LOS ANGELES, May 16, PRNewswire -- Cetalon Corporation today
announced that it has received a $1.5 million investment from
Innovative Botanical Solutions, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of
Nature's Sunshine Products, Inc. (Nasdaq: NATR) at a price per share
of approximately $3.27. According to the terms of the agreement, IBS
will purchase approximately 10 percent of Cetalon's outstanding
common stock, or approximately 460,000 shares. IBS was also granted
an option to acquire an additional $1.5 million in Cetalon shares for
$3.27 during the next 180 days. In addition, Innovative Botanical
Solutions, Inc. (IBS) will manufacture a proprietary, uniquely
formulated line of Cetalon-branded herbs and vitamins.
As part of the arrangement, Cetalon received a warrant from Nature's
Sunshine to purchase up to 5 percent of its common stock at $11.13
per share. Cetalon will be eligible to purchase 20 percent of the
warrants each year that Cetalon meets its minimum annual product
purchase requirements.
"We are delighted to receive this strong endorsement of our business
model from a leader in the industry," said Anthony Bryan, chairman of
Cetalon. "Nature's Sunshine will become a significant shareholder and
an important supplier as we aggressively build our presence in the
U.S. Nature's Sunshine has earned a well-deserved reputation for
producing high quality, natural herbal and vitamin products. We are
confident that Sears Health and Nutrition Centers will benefit
significantly from a private line of supplements that feature the
Cetalon brand name."
"We believe that Cetalon will become an increasingly important
customer for us as it expands its store within a store concept in
Canada and moves into the U.S.," said Daniel P. Howells, president
and CEO of Nature's Sunshine. "We are excited about this relationship
and our role in Cetalon's growth plans. We look forward to working
with both Cetalon and Sears."
Cetalon is a "store within a store" retail and direct marketing
company specializing in the sale of natural vitamins, minerals, and
supplements as well as health information technologies and home
health care products. Cetalon owns 44 Sears Health Food and Fitness
Shops located in Sears Canada department stores and has announced
plans to build 10 stores in Sears U.S. department stores this summer.
Nature's Sunshine Products manufactures and markets through direct
sales encapsulated and tableted herbal products, high quality natural
vitamins and other complementary products. In addition to the U.S.,
the Company has operations in South Korea, Brazil, Mexico, Venezuela,
Japan, Canada, Colombia, the United Kingdom and Ireland, the Russian
Federation, Argentina, Peru, Chile, Central America, Ecuador and
Israel. The Company also has exclusive distribution agreements with
selected companies in Australia, New Zealand, Malaysia and Norway.
====
Chai-Na-Ta: Reports 2001 First Quarter Results
LANGLEY, B.C., May 7, Business Wire -- Chai-Na-Ta Corp. today
reported net earnings of $166,000 ($0.01 per share) in the first
quarter ended March 31, 2001, compared to a loss of $2,287,000 ($0.46
per share) in the 2000 first quarter.
Revenue decreased to $2,516,000 in the 2001 first quarter from
$8,540,000 in the same period last year.
In the 2001 first quarter, interest and financing charges fell to
$66,000 from $780,000 in the quarter ended February 29, 2000.
Working capital was a surplus of $10.7 million at the end of the 2001
first quarter, substantially higher than the $26.2 million deficiency
at the end of the prior year period.
"The decrease in our revenues over the prior year was primarily due
to our decision in 2001 to change our sales strategy by spreading our
sales more evenly over the year. Currently, the ginseng market is
showing some stability, with prices averaging around $16 per pound,"
said William Zen, Chai-Na-Ta's Chairman and Chief Executive Officer.
"Since we only began selling the 2000 harvest in February, inventory
levels are high, but we anticipate that they will decline over the
coming months.
"Our earnings performance in the first quarter is a further
indication of our success in restructuring Chai-Na-Ta and
establishing a solid financial foundation for growth, as we move
forward. We are continuing to streamline our operations and improve
efficiencies in order to enhance our leadership in our core business
of ginseng farming," Mr. Zen continued.
"Our gain on debt forgiveness in 2000 will distort our bottom line
financial comparisons for the next few years. However, we continue to
expect performance around the breakeven level in fiscal 2001 and a
profitable year in 2002," he said.
Chai-Na-Ta Corp., based in Langley, British Columbia, is the world's
largest supplier of North American ginseng. The Company farms,
processes and distributes North American ginseng as bulk root, and
supplies processed extract powder for the manufacture of value-added
ginseng-based products.
====
Forbes MediTech: U.S. Guidelines Recommend Plant Sterols for Cholesterol
Control
VANCOUVER, May 18, Saskatchewan Nutriceutical Network -- Earlier this
week, the National Cholesterol Education Program (NCEP) Expert Panel
in the U.S. issued updated clinical guidelines for cholesterol
testing and management. One of their specific recommendations for
therapeutic lifestyle changes was to encourage increased consumption
of plant sterol/stanols as part of a healthy diet.
This Adult Treatment Panel (ATP) of NCEP is regarded as the highest
level of opinion leadership on the management of high blood
cholesterol. Their recommendations inform and instruct every
physician to make their patients aware of phytosterol-enriched foods
they may purchase and consume as part of their lifestyle changes to
control high cholesterol.
Forbes Medi-Tech believes these guidelines are extremely positive for
the Company. There are several food products and dietary supplements
about to be launched nationally or test marketed in the U.S.
containing Forbes' cholesterol-lowering sterol-based food ingredient
Phytrol(TM). To support the anticipated increase in consumer demand
for cholesterol-lowering food ingredients, the Company is
constructing,under a joint venture, a sterol manufacturing facility
in Texas which will be the largest wood-sterol producing facility in
the world when it is completed later this year. This facility is
designed to produce up to 1,000 metric tonnes per annum of sterols
and can be expanded as needed.
In its report, the Adult Treatment Panel of the NCEP: "Encourages
use of plant stanols/sterols [phytosterols] and viscous solid fiber
as therapeutic dietary options to enhance lowering of LDL
cholesterol" (Page 2)
ATP III recommends a multi-faceted approach to reduce risk of CHD
[coronary heart disease]. This approach is designated therapeutic
lifestyle changes" which includes just four items:
1. Reduced intakes of saturated fats and cholesterol
2. Weight reduction
3. Physical activity
4. Therapeutic options for enhancing LDL lowering such as plant
stanol/sterols (2 g/d) and increased viscous (soluable) fiber
(10-25g/d) (Page 9)
"Individuals at very high risk should be treated with drugs and diet
together and those at lower risk may try to reduce cholesterol with
diet and exercise first" (Scott Grundy, MD, PhD an NCEP member and
Director and Chairman of nutrition at the University of Texas
Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas)
====
GNC: Lowers Ad Costs for Franchisees; Expanded National Ad Campaign
PITTSBURGH, May 22, Business Wire -- General Nutrition Companies,
Inc., the largest specialty retailer of nutritional supplements,
today announced that it recently eliminated its regional advertising
cooperative contribution requirement for franchisees and is expanding
its National Advertising Campaigns to focus on GNC brands. The move
allows franchisees to realize significant cost savings -- instead of
paying up to 6 percent of revenues they now pay no more than 3
percent -- while enjoying the benefits of a major, nationwide
advertising initiative.
Developed by New York advertising firm Deutsch, GNC's new national
advertising campaign will allow for increased exposure on national
television during network early morning news and on targeted national
cable networks, while the print campaign includes an expanded list of
national magazine titles. In addition to the national print and
broadcast campaign, a fully integrated promotion will also be
executed for 3 months to support a national summer sweepstakes,
leveraging GNC's NASCAR sponsorship.
In 2001, national gross media dollars spent on GNC brands will
increase to $40 million, delivering 5.5 billion impressions to GNC's
main target audience, adults 25 years old and older. The increase
comes from the shift in regional advertising dollars from the local
markets to a more expansive national campaign. The move increases
GNC's national brand exposure while reducing franchisee expenses. The
overall advertising budget remains the same.
Russell L. Cooper, GNC Franchising Senior Vice President and General
Manager, said, "GNC has always listened to the concerns of its
franchisees and we are responding by expanding our national
advertising campaign. Not only are we supporting franchisees with
advertising at the national level, we also eliminated the regional
advertising requirements, allowing individual franchise store
operators the choice to invest their savings into their own local
marketing efforts or apply it directly to the profits of their
stores."
Scott Taylor, multi-store franchise operator in Knoxville, TN and GNC
Franchising National Advisory Council Representative, says, "having
direct control over local market advertising while continuing to
receive support from a national campaign is a great way for me to
reduce my financial advertising commitment and at the same time
increase my exposure. The campaign has also added value awareness of
the GNC brand."
It is the mission of GNC Franchising (www.gncfranchising.com) to be a
worldwide leader in franchising by developing the world's highest
quality support services and awarding license agreements to qualified
candidates who share our growth and customer service objectives. GNC
Franchising was recently named by Entrepreneur magazine as the number
one franchise in the vitamin and nutritional supplement sector for
the 12th consecutive year and ranked among the top 10 best franchises
in the world in the magazine's annual rankings.
General Nutrition Companies, Inc. (GNC), based in Pittsburgh, PA, is
the largest nationwide specialty retailer of vitamin, mineral and
herbal supplements, sports nutrition as well as many personal care
and related products. GNC operates more than 4,500 retail outlets
throughout the United States and 26 foreign markets including Puerto
Rico, Canada and Mexico. GNC is a wholly owned subsidiary of Royal
Numico N.V., a worldwide market leader in specialized nutrition that
includes infant and clinical nutrition and nutritional supplements.
Headquartered in Zoetermeer, The Netherlands, Royal Numico's family
of companies includes Rexall Sundown, Inc., a major supplier to the
mass market based in Boca Raton, Fla., sports nutrition leaders
Met-Rx and Worldwide Nutrition and the multi-level marketing
operation of Enrich International.
====
Hain Celestial: Reports Lower Third Quarter Sales and Profits
UNIONDALE, N.Y., May 14, PRNewswire -- Reflecting the impact of
general economic conditions on its major natural customers and a
strategic consolidation of inventories and packaging, The Hain
Celestial Group, the leading natural and organic food company, today
announced a net profit of $4.2 million, or $0.12 per share on a
diluted basis, for its third quarter ended March 31, 2001. Net
revenues for the third quarter totaled $104 million, versus $108.6
million in the prior year period on a comparative basis. EBITDA in
the third quarter was $9.8 million, compared to $18.4 million in the
same quarter of 2000.
Irwin D. Simon, Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer
of The Hain Celestial Group said, "Revenues for the third quarter
were impacted by the general economic conditions in late 2000 that
caused inventory adjustments for our major natural foods customers
and distributors of one to two weeks, cycling through and lowering
our sales by approximately $15-20 million in January and February.
However, following positive adjustments in distributor and customer
purchasing patterns in January and February, we have seen strong
sales in March, April and into May as these corrections cycle through
to us. In this quarter, we are also faced with a comparison to the
year-ago quarter which includes a load of approximately
400,000-600,000 cases of tea. Excluding the customer inventory
reduction and tea deloading, we believe revenue would have increased
by 17% in the quarter."
"During this third quarter, we have taken steps to better
position Hain Celestial's leading brands for long-term growth and to
strengthen our brand presence in the mass market. We secured a $240
million line of credit, which we may use as we continue to identify
opportunities to grow our business. In addition, we continue to
consolidate warehousing into our Ontario facility, closing another
warehouse and upgrading our information systems. In the process, we
used the unique opportunity to strategically consolidate our
inventories and packaging levels, reducing non-performing SKUs, to
better enhance our focus on core brands and popular products."
The Company also reported that its third quarter earnings were
adversely impacted by increased freight and power costs.
Mr. Simon concluded, "We continue to see strong momentum in many
of our brands. Specifically, Terra and Garden of Eatin' both
demonstrated solid double-digit growth. Though Westsoy, Earth's Best
and Health Valley sales were flat, and Celestial Seasonings' revenues
were down compared to the third quarter of 2000, the prior year's
quarter included an unusually high tea inventory pipeline and higher
comps for Westsoy and Earth's Best, which have since resumed normal
levels. In the upcoming fourth quarter, we have a number of exciting
new product launches in these brands, including Westsoy Soy Shakes
and Smoothies, Earth's Best Kidz line for toddlers, and Celestial
Seasonings new, revitalized herb teas, the first in over 3 years. In
light of the initiatives we have underway to realize the full
potential of our brands, we anticipate that 2002 results will include
20% EPS growth and double-digit revenue growth."
Hain Celestial's balance sheet continued to improve in the third
quarter, with working capital totaling approximately $120 million,
cash on hand of $59 million, a current ratio of 3.5:1; debt to equity
at 2.7%; and total equity of $390 million.
For the three months ended March 31, 2001, gross profit decreased
by approximately $11.8 million to $42.8 million (41.2% of net sales)
as compared to $54.6 million (48.8% of net sales) in the
corresponding 2000 period, primarily due to the lower sales, as
discussed above, as a result of the reduction in customers' inventory
levels, and the costs associated with the strategic warehouse
consolidation, including the inventory and packaging write-offs
related to non-performing SKU's. Selling, general and administrative
expenses decreased by $3.0 million (33.4% of net sales) to $34.7
million for the three months ended March 31, 2001 as compared to
$37.7 million (33.7% of net sales) in the March 31, 2000 quarter. The
dollar and percentage decrease reflected a combination of $2.5
million of synergies realized in the March 2001 period resulting from
the Celestial merger, and approximately $0.5 million in other lower
selling, general and administrative expense components. To date, a
substantial portion of synergies from the Celestial merger have been
identified and it is expected that the integration process will be
substantially completed by calendar 2002. It is expected that in the
next couple of fiscal quarters, the Company plans to invest in
consumer spending and enhance brand equity while closely monitoring
its trade spending.
About The Hain Celestial Group
The Hain Celestial Group, headquartered in Uniondale, NY, is a
natural, specialty and snack food company. The Company is a leader in
13 of the top 15 natural food categories, with such well-known
natural food brands as Celestial Seasonings(R) teas, Hain Pure
Foods(R), Westbrae(R), Westsoy(R), Arrowhead Mills(R), Health
Valley(R), Breadshop's(R), Casbah(R), Garden of Eatin(R), Terra
Chips(R), DeBoles(R), Earth's Best(R), and Nile Spice. The Company's
principal specialty product lines include Hollywood(R) cooking oils,
Estee(R) sugar-free products, Weight Watchers(R) dry and refrigerated
products, Kineret(R) kosher foods, Boston Better Snacks(R), and Alba
Foods(R).
====
Hauser: Granted U.S. Patent for Purifying Active Compounds in Green Tea
Leaves
BOULDER, Colo., May 31, PRNewswire -- Hauser, Inc., announced today
that the United States Patent Office issued a new patent (U.S. Patent
No. 6,210,679) to Botanicals International Extracts, a Hauser
subsidiary. The patent covers a process that purifies active
compounds in green tea leaves.
The process, developed by Hauser's research and development team,
purifies and isolates catechins, the active compounds found in green
tea. Catechins, the most prominent one being epigallocatechin gallate
(EGCg), have been cited in numerous clinical studies to provide
benefits to conditions including cancer prevention and ulcer
treatment. EGCg has also been shown in several animal studies to have
cardioprotective and thermogenic effects, possibly making it a
suitable replacement to Ephedra, a commonly used and controversial
herb in diet formulations. Hauser's green tea extract has been used
in long- term chemo-prevention studies at the National Cancer
Institute (NCI).
Dean Stull, Ph.D., Senior Executive Vice President of Technology and
Hauser founder, commented, "Our technology provides for significant
product advantages over other standardized extracts. We are able to
remove caffeine and other tannins from green tea, which contribute to
the body's high excretion rate. This should also enhance the tea's
bioavailability and activity within the body and reduce the negative
side effects commonly associated with higher caffeine intakes.
Hauser's process for caffeine removal is accomplished using only
ethanol and water as solvents, unlike traditional processes which use
harsh solvents."
The Company is currently scaling-up operations and will have
commercial quantities available by the end of the Summer 2001.
Hauser, a customer connected(SM) company, headquartered in Boulder,
Colorado, is a leading supplier of herbal extracts and nutritional
supplements. The Company also provides interdisciplinary laboratory
testing services, chemical engineering services, and contract
research and development. The Company's business units are:
Botanicals International Extracts, Hauser Laboratories, Shuster
Laboratories, and ZetaPharm.
====
Imperial Ginseng: Long Term Debt Converted to Equity
VANCOUVER, May 17, Market News Publishing -- James S. Chang, MA,
MBA, CPA, Director and President of Imperial Ginseng Products Ltd.
is pleased to announce that pursuant to the terms of its previously
issued Bonds, holders of $1,024,000 convertible bonds have exercised
their right and converted their Bonds plus accrued interest of
approximately $196,000 to Preferred Shares of Imperial. The Preferred
Shares are units consisting of Class "A" Preferred Shares of the
Company and Royalty Participation Units. The Class "A" Preferred
Shares are non-voting, convertible shares issued with an average
dividend rate of approximately 12.5% at a price of $1 per share. The
Class "A" Preferred Shares are convertible to common shares of the
Company at a price of $0.26 per common share with such conversion
price increasing by $0.25 per common share on January 31 of each year
starting January 31, 2002. Common shares of the Company issued as a
result of any conversion of the Preferred Shares would be subject to
a one-year hold period expiring May 16, 2002.
The 1,220,000 Royalty Participation Units issued as part of the
units on a one for one basis with the Class "A" Preferred Shares,
carry a royalty entitlement consisting of the proceeds from one-half
acre of ginseng from each of the 2004, 2005, 2006 and 2007 harvests
per 1 million Royalty Participation Units.
The Preferred Shares, subject to certain restrictions and
penalties are, after December 31, 2001, retractable at the option of
the holder and are redeemable by the Company. Dividends on the Class
"A" Preferred Shares are cumulative and, like the royalty due on the
Royalty Participation Units, can be paid, at the option of the
Company, in cash or common shares of the Company priced at their then
current price.
====
McCormick: Introduces 22 New Herbs, Spices and Blends
HUNT VALLEY, Md., May 6, PRNewswire -- America's love affair with
bigger and bolder flavors is stronger than ever. Growing interest in
ethnic tastes as people eat out and travel more has resulted in a
more adventuresome palette. To answer America's flavor craving,
McCormick & Company, Inc. is introducing McCormick(R) Gourmet
Collection(TM) -- a line of gourmet herbs, spices and blends that
features a new name, new packaging and 22 new premium products -- to
help consumers prepare worldly dishes at home. The line is being
introduced at the Food Marketing Institute (FMI) Show.
McCormick Gourmet Collection provides an exotic flavor adventure in
every bottle. McCormick's spice experts travel the globe to find the
finest, most exotic and robust herbs and spices available in keeping
with today's food trends. From the thyme plants of France to the
cinnamon trees of Saigon, McCormick works with growers to harvest the
highest quality herbs and spices in the world straight from the
source.
"More and more consumers are tasting ethnic dishes with great flavors
at restaurants," says Laurie Harrsen, director of consumer affairs at
McCormick & Company, Inc. "With the new McCormick Gourmet
Collection, consumers are able to add ethnic flavors to every day
meals so they can create their own flavor adventure at home."
In addition to the current selection of 85 items in the gourmet line
of products, McCormick is introducing 22 new herbs, spices and
blends, including eight 100% organic products. Look for unique items
such as wasabi, garam masala, crushed rosemary, lemon grass and
chipotle chile pepper to add authentic flavor to meals.
The new McCormick Gourmet Collection will be available at grocery
stores nationwide in fall 2001. The average suggested retail price
is $3.98.
McCormick & Company, Inc. was founded in 1889 in Baltimore, Maryland
and today is the largest spice company in the world. In the United
States, it markets products under the McCormick, Produce Partners,
Golden Dipt, and Old Bay brand names.
====
Natrol: Launches Daytime and Nighttime Menopause Formulas
CHATSWORTH, Calif., May 14, Business Wire -- Natrol Inc., a
manufacturer and marketer of branded dietary supplements, today
announced the launch of Natrol Complete Balance(TM) AM/PM Menopause
Formula into the $130 million women's health segment, a category with
27% growth in 2000.
The comprehensive formula is designed to address daytime and
nighttime symptoms of menopause.
The AM Formula helps combat daytime symptoms of menopause, such as
hot flashes and lack of energy with natural ingredients Soy
Isoflavones, Ginseng and Ginkgo biloba, while the PM Formula fights
nighttime symptoms like insomnia, irritability and night sweats with
Melatonin, Valerian and Soy Isoflavones.
"Approximately 52 million women are currently candidates for
menopause relief products, with another 20% of post-boomer women
predicted to reach menopause age in the next decade. These women need
a comprehensive herbal formula because the problems they face are
complex and require more horsepower than the single ingredient
products currently available can deliver. We feel that our formula
provides our consumer a higher value and a superior product," stated
Elliott Balbert, president and chief executive officer of Natrol.
Natrol's Complete Balance(TM) AM/PM Menopause Formula is a 30-day
supply of both night and day formulas and retails for $9.99. The
product will be carried in leading retail outlets across the nation.
====
Nelsons: Introduces Alternative First Aid Kit
May 9, PR Newswire Europe -- Accidents happen. Whether it's bumps,
bruises or a burn, more accidents take place in the home every year
than in any other place. Having a first aid kit at hand is therefore
an essential for every home, especially those with children, who are
especially prone to mishaps.
Nelsons specialist in natural remedies since 1860 offer a range of
alternative first aid treatments, which provide effective relief for
a wide variety of minor first aid skin conditions.
Burns and Scalds
Over 50,000 children every year are treated in hospital for major
burns or scalds, and many more are treated at home for minor burns.
It is easy to see how such accidents can happen, a spilt cup of
coffee, a bath that has had the hot tap running too long, or an over
boiling saucepan. The first step in treating a minor burn should be
to place the burnt area under cold running water until the pain
subsides, then NELSONS BURNS CREAM (GBP3.95), a topical herbal remedy
with Calendula and Urtica urens, can help relieve pain and promote
healing. Just apply a little on the affected area and cover with a
light material, which will not stick to the skin, if necessary.
Scratches and Grazes
It is almost impossible to take preventative measures when it comes
to scratches and grazes as they are part of family life. A fall in
the garden, or an extra rough game of five a side can leave wounds
which although minor, are uncomfortable and need attention to avoid
infection. NELSONS HYPERCAL CREAM (GBP3.95) or SPRAY (GBP4.30), with
the healing herb Calendula and pain relieving Hypericum, offer speedy
healing and relief to minor cuts and grazes. Apply hypercal cream or
spray to a clean and dry wound. NELSONS TEA TREE CREAM (GBP3.95),
with gentle antiseptic properties, can be applied if there is concern
over infection.
Bumps and Bruises
Whether you are young or old a knock or a fall can cause a painful
bruise. NELSONS ARNICA CREAM (GBP3.95) is an effective way of
limiting the bruise and shortening it's lifespan. NELSONS ARNICA
CREAM should be applied as soon as possible after the injury occurs
to minimise bruising. Gently massage the cream onto affected area.
Bites & Stings
Whether at home or abroad, warm, sunny weather brings out the worst
in insects. There's nothing worse than suffering from a painful wasp
sting or itchy mosquito bites. NELSONS PYRETHRUM SPRAY is an
essential item for any first aid kit and is the key to relieving
insect bites and stings. Made from a combination of specially
selected natural plant tinctures, NELSONS PYRETHRUM SPRAY offers on
the spot relief for all types of insect bites and stings in a natural
pump action spray. Each 30ml spray is priced at GBP4.30.
Nelsons formulated creams, and sprays are available from Boots,
Holland & Barrett, Sainsburys, Superdrug and pharmacies and health
food stores nation-wide.
Nelsons products can also be despatched by mail order from Nelsons.
====
Nutraceutix: Signs Memorandum of Understanding with Sinphar
REDMOND, Wash., May 14, BW HealthWire -- Nutraceutix Inc., a leading
provider of proven technologies and patented products for the
nutraceutical and pharmaceutical industries, has announced the
signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Sinphar
Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd. of Taipei, Taiwan.
The two companies will co-develop dietary supplements,
over-the-counter (OTC) products and prescription drugs for Japan,
China, Philippines, Taiwan, Macau, Hong Kong, Korea, Singapore,
Malaysia, and Indonesia.
For Nutraceutix, the agreement allows the company to extend its
products and services to the growing Asian market with the assistance
of an established, respected leader in Sinphar. For Sinphar, the
agreement means it can offer exclusive, unique Nutraceutix products
and technologies, garnering the competitive edge in an already
competitive market.
Specifically, Sinphar will co-develop CDT(TM) and probiotics
products with Nutraceutix for the Taiwan market exclusively. In
addition, Sinphar will represent Nutraceutix technologies and
products to its existing client base in Asian markets.
Sinphar will also produce those technologies and products in its
cGMP facility in I-LAN, Taiwan for export to its established
territories. Sinphar's Canadian subsidiary CanCap Pharmaceuticals of
Richmond, B.C. will assume the responsibility of coordinating
research activities developing products for the Asian market
utilizing Nutraceutix' patented technologies.
According to Tim Lee, Sinphar Pharmaceutical's chairman, "Based on
the existing sales network Sinphar has in 11 Asian countries, and
experience of working with multi-national companies such as Takeda
Chemical Industries Ltd. Taiwan, and Janssen-Cilag Taiwan, a
division of Johnson & Johnson Taiwan Ltd., Sinphar has the confidence
to develop and market products licensing Nutraceutix' patented
technologies in Asian markets to achieve mutual benefits."
David T. Howard, president and chief executive officer of
Nutraceutix, added, "We are excited about the prospect of broadening
the audience for Nutraceutix products and technologies with a leader
in the Asian markets such as Sinphar Pharmaceutical. We look forward
to a very rewarding arrangement for both companies."
Nutraceutix Inc. possesses proven technologies and products for
the nutraceutical industry. In addition to patented ingredients like
Calcium D-Glucarate(TM), Nutraceutix provides patented and
proprietary technologies like CDT(TM) Controlled Delivery Technology,
MDT(TM) Molecular Dispersion Technology, SET(TM) Self Emulsifying
Technology and LiveBac(R) Probiotics.
Nutraceutix technologies provide distinctive supplements with tangible
benefits for the consumer and competitive commercial advantages.
Sinphar is a publicly traded company that develops, manufactures
and commercializes pharmaceuticals, nutraceuticals and cosmetics
products. Their cGMP compliant and ISO9002 certified plant produces
parenterals, sterile solutions, creams, ointments, tablets, hard and
soft gel capsules, etc.
They have a line of Sinphar brand name products that are widely
distributed throughout Taiwan and surrounding territories such as
Macau, Hong Kong and Mainland China.
Sinphar's research and development center is in I-LAN, Taiwan and
is staffed by 32 highly experienced and qualified personnel that are
responsible for development of patent drugs and contract
manufacturing for multinational pharmaceutical companies such as
Takeda and Janssen-Cilag and other world-leading multi-layer
marketing companies.
CanCap Pharmaceutical Ltd. is a subsidiary of Sinphar and is
located in British Columbia, Canada. It is a GMP-compliant soft gel
capsule contract manufacturer that services clientele in Canada,
United States, Japan, Mexico, Philippines, Hong Kong, Taiwan and
China, producing pharmaceutical, herbal, nutraceutical and cosmetic
products.
CanCap is part of the Sinphar research and development center and
is responsible for development of new drug products and clinical
trials. CanCap is responsible for the screening and evaluation of
technologies that may be beneficial to the group. For more
information, please email cancapltdaol.com.
====
Prolab and GNC: Sign New Distribution Agreement
BLOOMFIELD, Conn., May 22, Business Wire -- Prolab Nutrition Inc.,
which markets the Prolab brand of sports nutrition products to body
builders, athletes and health minded individuals, today announced
that it has signed a definitive agreement with General Nutrition
Centers (GNC), the nation's largest retailer of sports nutrition
products, to distribute Prolab products nationwide.
Prolab is a wholly owned subsidiary of Natrol Inc., a manufacturer
and marketer of branded dietary supplements.
"Prolab is a solid brand with a reputation for delivering high
quality sports nutrition to men and women who are serious about
fitness," said Rich Stanley, Prolab's Vice President of Sales &
Marketing.
"As the most recognizable sports fitness retailer in the country, GNC
will help us broaden our customer base by allowing us to reach a
larger group of consumers through its 4,500-plus stores. We intend to
take advantage of this opportunity by concurrently launching Prolab's
new cutting-edge look, and advanced products, including Prolab's
EcdyVone(TM), the super anabolic accelerator, that will be available
in GNC stores this summer," he added.
"GNC is extremely pleased to be taking our partnership to new
heights," said Roberta Gaffga, GNC's Senior Vice President of
Marketing. "As a major retailer of sports and nutrition supplements,
GNC is committed to bringing only the finest, high quality products
to its consumers, and Prolab's brand of sports nutrition meets our
customers' needs and our quality standards," she added.
General Nutrition Companies Inc. (GNC), based in Pittsburgh, Pa., is
the largest nationwide specialty retailer of vitamin, mineral and
herbal supplements, sports nutrition as well as many personal care
and related products. GNC operates more than 4,500 retail outlets
throughout the United States and 26 foreign markets including Puerto
Rico, Canada and Mexico. GNC is a wholly owned subsidiary of Royal
Numico N.V., a worldwide market leader in specialized nutrition that
includes infant and clinical nutrition and nutritional supplements.
Headquartered in Zoetermeer, The Netherlands, Royal Numico's family
of companies includes Boca Raton, Fla.-based Rexall Sundown Inc., a
major supplier of vitamins, herbal and nutritional supplements to the
food, drug and mass market, sports nutrition leaders MET-Rx and
Worldwide Sport Nutrition, and Unicity Network, the company's
multi-level marketing operation which encompasses the former Enrich
International and Rexall Showcase International network marketing
organizations.
====
Rocky Mountain Ginseng: Shareholders Meeting Rescheduled
VANCOUVER, B.C., May 4, Market News Publishing -- The Board of
Directors of Rocky Mountain Ginseng, Inc. wish to report that the
Company's Annual Shareholders Meeting was adjourned at the May 3rd
meeting due to the lack of a quorum.
Brian Hodge, president of RMGG, announced at the meeting that the
Annual Shareholders Meeting will recommence on Friday, June 8, 2001,
at 10:00 a.m. and will be held at the Century Plaza Hotel in
Vancouver, B.C. Canada.
The Directors of RMGG urge all shareholders who did not vote to do so
prior to June 8th.
Rocky Mountain Ginseng, Inc.'s head office is located in British
Columbia, Canada. The Company exports American ginseng to China as
well as manufactures and processes America ginseng products in China.
Rocky Mountain Ginseng, Inc. holds exclusive world processing and
distribution rights to several innovative value added ginseng
products developed in North America.
Rocky Mountain Ginseng, Inc. purchased Fuzhou Fujian Drug Company
located in China in February 1999. This acquisition included all
necessary drug and hygiene licenses allowing the Company to import,
export, manufacture and distribute ginseng products in all provinces
of China. The Company has completed the construction of its new
office and manufacturing facility in the city of Fuzhou and is
currently producing traditional ginseng products for the Chinese
Market. The Chinese factory employs 42 people in processing, sales,
accounting and management. Rocky Mountain (Fuzhou) Drug Co. Ltd. is
the first wholly owned Canadian Company in the Fujian province.
====
Simmetech: Announces Acquisition of New Zealand Ginseng Company
ST. PAUL, Minn., May 2, Business Wire -- Simmetech, Inc. stock symbol
(SIMH) traded on the (OTC) announced today that the Company has
completed negotiations to purchase a Ginseng company in New Zealand.
Simmetech is a progressive high-tech company headquartered in St.
Paul Minnesota. The company has been involved in various aspects of
the telecommunication industry and prides itself in innovative
developments in many areas.
"The acquisition of Ginseng New Zealand Ltd is exactly what the
company needs to be well diversified," stated Rob Wasson, President &
CEO. "The company has over 40 million mature ginseng plants with a
current wholesale market value of three to four U.S. dollars per
plant and they will be ready for harvest next year. With the current
world shortage of Ginseng and the long (six to eight years) growth
period, the forecast for profit is extremely high." Wasson went on to
say, "The acquisition represents the first of many acquisitions
planned by Simmetech this year. The Ginseng Company is dynamic with
an international flavor and is currently operating profitably."
Simmetech is purchasing the Ginseng Company with stock, which will
not deplete cash reserves and allow the combined company to move
forward with working capital. The Ginseng Company will be acquired
and operated as a wholly owned subsidiary company of the parent
Simmetech, Inc. The board of directors will keep the Ginseng
Company's management in place to run day-to-day operations with the
financial responsibilities being transferred to Simmetech's corporate
headquarters. This will ensure a smooth transition and will reduce
administrative costs for the combined company.
Simmetech, Inc. is a Minnesota based holding company that specializes
in advanced market driven technologies.
====
Twinlab: Reports First Quarter 2001 Loss, Revenue Decline
HAUPPAUGE, N.Y., May 16, Business Wire -- Twinlab Corporation today
announced results for the quarter ended March 31, 2001.
First quarter net sales, excluding the operations of Changes
International which has been accounted for as a discontinued
operation, were $53.2 million, compared to $67.0 million for the same
quarter a year ago. The company experienced a net loss for the first
quarter of 2001 of $15.9 million or $0.56 per share compared to net
income of $2.4 million, or $0.09 per share, for the first quarter of
2000. The net loss for the first quarter of 2001 includes the
estimated loss on disposal of Changes International of approximately
$8.7 million or $0.30 per share.
"We have continued our efforts during the first quarter to refocus
the direction of our business. This resulted in the sale of the
assets of Changes International and PR Nutrition to the Goldshield
Group plc." noted Ross Blechman, Twinlab Chairman, Chief Executive
Officer and President. "Additionally, we have reviewed and made
changes to our infrastructure with the aim of reducing costs and
improving operational efficiencies. We have new tools and systems in
place as well as a new banking facility to assist us in this regard.
While we have significant work ahead to fully realize our growth
potential, with these steps, and a trusted brand, we believe we are
moving in the right direction."
Twinlab Corporation, headquartered in Hauppauge, N.Y., is a
leading manufacturer and marketer of high quality, science-based,
nutritional supplements, including a complete line of vitamins,
minerals, nutraceuticals, herbs and sports nutrition products.
====
Uni-President: Invests in Plantaceutica
TAIPEI, May 16, Reuters -- President Life Science Corp, an affiliate
of Taiwan's leading food maker Uni-President Enterprises , said on
Wednesday it will invest US$3 million to take a 45 percent stake in a
new herb and medicine company in North Carolina in the United States.
The new company, Plantaceutica Inc, will focus on research and
development of natural products, said Jessica Lien, a President Life
official.
President Life, established in March 2000, has invested more than T$1
billion in eight companies in the U.S., including US$6 million in
Orchid Bioscience and US$2 million in Arena Pharmaceutical Inc .
"We have made lots of investments since last March, but our focus is
also on technology transfer, and research and development," Lien told
Reuters by telephone.
Lien said President Life will spend more than T$100 million to form a
research company studying proteins in conjunction with a with a
professor at National Cheng Kung University in the near term.
Also, the company planned to form a biotech company in Japan to study
spine-related research, Lien said. But she declined to give further
details.
Asked if President Life hopes for listing in the TAIEX market, Lien
said "there is no such plan at the moment, but we hope the companies
we invested in can list in the future."
[US$1 = T$33]
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