Non-Compliant Workaround #9: implying a disease claim by suggesting that the product augments a particular therapy or drug action;
A product cannot claim to augment a therapy or drug intended to treat disease. An herbal supplement marketed to treat hypertension along side beta-blockers is still making a disease claim that it will lower high blood pressure.
For example:
Tian Ma Gou Teng Yin (Gastrodia and Uncaria Decoction)
Boosts efficacy of beta blockers 35%
This is actually kind of unfortunate as this is the key treatment strategy among the integrated hospitals in China. Remember too that DSHEA doesn't regulate what we can do with herbs, but what we can claim. I don't see anywhere in the DSHEA act anything about how we discuss the benefits of these formulas in face-to-face interactions with our patients or clients.
This face-to-face interaction however brings us to another legal issue called "scope of practice" which is not a DSHEA issue.
Next: disease claims by suggesting that supplement can work on pathogenic vector.
