Republican Sens. Mike Lee and Tommy Tuberville introduced legislation Thursday aiming to safeguard Americans’ access to homeopathic medicines, the Daily Caller News Foundation has first learned.
The Homeopathic Drug Product Safety, Quality, and Transparency Act would in part federally acknowledge that homeopathic drug products are distinct from other pharmaceutical products and thus require their own independent regulatory framework. The bill would also create a standard definition for homeopathic products and clarify that they are not a new type of drug.
“Americans have a right to manage their own health and choose treatments that are right for them, including homeopathic methods,” Lee told the DCNF in a statement. “The current federal regulatory framework is designed around traditional pharmaceuticals, but it is ill-equipped to review the safety and effectiveness of homeopathic products. So we are building a new one. Our legislation answers the concerns of thousands of families across the country who have been calling on Washington to find a better way.”
Homeopathic medicine refers to an alternative medical practice developed in the late 1700s, according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Homeopathic products are sometimes marketed as natural, safe and effective alternatives to FDA-approved prescription and nonprescription products, per the FDA.
“I’ve long been an advocate for homeopathic medicine,” Tuberville told the DCNF in a statement. “The reality is that too many Americans today are hooked on pharmaceuticals when they could be using homeopathic remedies, which are often cheaper and can yield miraculous results. There’s no reason why the FDA shouldn’t be reviewing and approving some of these remedies to help Americans live healthier lives.”
“Americans for Homeopathy Choice Action and the 120,000 consumers we represent are grateful to Sens. Tuberville and Lee for introducing this bill which, when enacted, will ensure continued access to homeopathy for millions of Americans who use it to restore and maintain their health,” Americans for Homeopathy Choice Action President Paola Brown said in a statement. “Homeopathic medicines are also an important nontoxic option for health practitioners including medical doctors, nurses, dentists and others who appreciate this choice when treating patients with both everyday and serious conditions.”
Many Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) supporters have embraced homeopathy. Over-the-counter homeopathic products are generally used for self-limiting, self-diagnosable conditions such as cold symptoms, according to the Consumer Healthcare Products Association.
MAHA Action President Tony Lyons said in a statement provided to the DCNF that his organization “proudly supports Senator Tuberville’s and Senator Lee’s legislation to protect and preserve Americans’ access to homeopathic medicines.”
“We believe individuals should have the freedom to choose the modalities they use to support and maintain their health For generations, homeopathy has been an important part of the diverse range of options available to American families,” Lyons added. “Safe, holistic, and effective homeopathy has been used by billions of people around the world as a non-toxic alternative to big pharma.”
There is presently a lack of evidence supporting homeopathy as an effective treatment for any specific health condition, according to the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health.
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