Folic acid, a Vitamin B supplement, is not harmful

By Jonathan Evans Herbal Information Specialist /Business Representative for the Herbarium Special to PRIME A happy and healthy New Year to you all. My New Year's resolution is to call a spade a spade. No more mister nice guy. Here is my reason. You may have already seen or will shortly see a story about a study linking folic acid to lung cancer. The people who conducted this study and the conclusion they came to are morons. Those who published this nonsense are even worse but for good taste, my editor won't allow me to expand on the description. Norwegian researchers think they found a connection between folic acid intake and lung cancer. Folks, folic acid is part of the Vitamin B family, it is very important to the human body. It is one of the few nutrients that is recommended for pregnant women to help stop birth defects such as spina bifida. As many of you may know, studies on herbs and nutrients that affect the fetus are very few and most products have a warning to check with your health professional before using them if you are pregnant, but folic acid is strongly recommended. It took many years of court battles by members of the alternative health community, and a U.S. Supreme Court decision ordering the Food and Drug Administration to allow health claims for folic acid. How in the name of all that is holy could these researchers find something that is safe for a fetus to be dangerous to an adult? Oh yeah, did I mention that 94 percent of the study participants are or were smokers? Did I mention that Scandinavians tend to be very heavy smokers, drinkers and consumers of smoked fish, all of which have been linked to cancer? I did read one doctor's review of this study. He said it should have read "Smoking linked to lung cancer." Do you remember a study published some years ago that linked beta carotene and Vitamin A to cancer? Surprise! That study also originated in Scandinavia. Please folks, when you read a story about a nutrient or herb, something that we consume daily, or over several thousand years, to now be found bad for you, Run away! Use the common sense God gave you. Just stop and think to yourself" Does this make any sense?" I will bet you dollars to doughnuts you will come to the correct conclusion. It is sad to me that here in 2010 the relentless propaganda assault on herbs and nutrients continues. I will continue to investigate these stories and give you the facts. It is part of my job, and my passion. Speaking of sad, this is the time of year many are suffering from Seasonal Affective Disorder or S.A.D. Lack of sunlight is one of several factors. Some remedies that might be tried include installing full spectrum light bulbs in your home. Extra Vitamin B complex is very helpful, as is St. John'swort. There are many essential oils that can be very uplifting. These include Sweet Orange, Red Mandarin, Lime and other citrus oils. Kathleen Duffy has formulated essential oil blends that are very helpful during the SAD season. For more information on the nutrients or oils, contact me at The Herbarium. Jonathan. Please send your questions on botanical remedies to Natures Rx : Jonathan Evans via e-mail at info@theherbarium.com, or by regular mail at The Herbarium, 264 Exchange Street, Chicopee, MA 01013. If you are requesting additional information from Jonathan, please include a self-addrresed stamped envelope.