Yes Bunnahabhain! That is part of the Drug Companies' problem - they can't patent a natural form, so they'll do their utmost to ensure it is banned as untested and unsafe (never mind CENTURIES of successful use!) - witness the banning of Comfrey (just coz ingesting a whole gardenfull in one sitting will prove fatal - duh!).
We are quietly having our commonsense undermined and our power to choose (and our choice!) removed from us, so the Drug Companies can increase profits and ownership, aided and abetted by the AMA and related bodies. BEWARE!!!

A highly recommended read is :
"Green Pharmacy : the History and Eviolution of Western Herbal Medicine" by Barbara GRIGGS - 1997 - which is actually a history of medicine and pharmaceuticals too.
It is a real eye-opener and an extremely interesting read (covers much american medical practice too - speaking of snake-oil and charlatans! Also shows how "new" in mankind's history the Drug Company pharmaceuticals really are ...)

See also books by Phillip Day and the "campaign for truth" publications on our health rights and their destruction by the EEC/EU (e.g.) bureaucrats.

Cheers! R-J