Yo quiero ir a Winnipeg?

Here’s an interesting article about a Winnipeg man who sought treatment for his addictions in Cuba. The approaches used to treat the man for his alcoholism seem to have worked. It also makes me wonder about the state of our medical system, especially when it comes to mental health. Mental health experts in Manitoba are looking at the Cuban methods of treating addiction. This is an indication, at least to me, of some sort of validity to their approaches.

Regulation and Labeling of NHPs in Canada

I was recently steered towards some changes by Health Canada by a weekly podcast called “The Skeptic’s Guide to the Universe.” I was initially shocked that I hadn’t heard the latest news about Health Canada altering the regulations about labeling of “Natural Health Products” or NHPs. According to Health Canada, over 70% of Canadians report using some form of NHP. The changes in regulations have to do with labeling and how NHPs will now be able to make claims about the efficacy of the product with relation to disease. Apparently, the manufacturer of the NHP would have to show some sort of evidence to back up these claims. I thought I’d sniff it out.

Firstly, there were no changes announced in the news with regards to NHPs, as far as I could tell. As of June 1, 2008, homeopathic “medicines” will have to comply to the “HPFBI Compliance and Enforcement Policy.” What the heck this means, I have no idea. This is also interesting because they are trying to regulate an area that, by their own admission, they cannot define. All these shenanigans actually started back in 2004. The approach is to regulate NHPs starting with those that pose the most risks and leading up to homeopathic substances because they seem harmless. What I think is not harmless is the idea that an ill person can take a homeopathic drug and be cured, all the while avoiding real medicine.

What’s interesting is that Health Canada says they are funding CIHR research related to NHPs. However, the last funding I could find was back in 2005 when they handed 3 awards, totaling under $250,000. For a huge number of products that they want to regulate, it doesn’t seem like that much money to analyze their effects. I would then have to assume that any research done into these products is being done by the private companies themselves. I certainly wouldn’t trust it… you?