I have heard a couple more radio news blurbs on the Tylenol issue; any sort of potential public health scare which has a noteable corporate attached is usually big news; Tylenol bounced back before! But for whatever reason the scare is being attached to a brand name and not the actual drug (acetaminophen); why is that?

Doc: I agree with your assessment of where "wisdom" lies; but it does seem like such wisdom is impossible even for the most finely trained doctor, naturopath, herbalist or wise woman...I think the worst thing is that most people do not care to educate themselves about their own bodies, do not bother to make lifestyle changes to aid their own well-being (the nationwide addiction to antacids and laxatives is testament to this) and people are willing to take any pill if promised it will cure their ills (no matter what that ill is: depression, obesity, fatigue, stress, etc.)

As for testing of herbal cures: plants will simply never be subject to he same sorts of measureability as lab-produced drugs, for the reasons already mentioned. I still think it would be wise for anyone planning to spend any time away from civilization to learn basic plant identification in the wild and how to utilize plants for everything from anti-septic wound treatment to food poisoning and beyond...when pills in a bottle are not available or desirable, Mother Nature offers a veritable pharmacy. As you say, many pharmaceuticals are herbally derived. Using the plants themselves as opposed to a pill is similar to eating an actual tomato, as opposed to taking supplements which purport to supply vitamins A, C, and those other nutrients the tomato gives.

Interesting study you cite, Spaw (but, Harrison Tweed???) One could not live on supplements alone; a great many otherwise intelligent people seem to think eating a few Power Bars every day provides them with nutritional surfeit. But it's not FOOD.