Heavenly Orchard Herbal Concentrate... Question!

[rawfoods]

Hi everyone!

So, I recently went to a holistic healer for a problem with eczema. He could tell right away from looking in my mouth that I had a sore back... which I didn't even tell him. Well after checking me, he said I have a bowel problem where I'm not digesting certain foods properly and he gave me Heavenly Orchard Herbal Concentrate.

When I got home I took 2 and felt like I was getting a cold. I just didn't feel right. I looked it up online, and if you do the same, the only thing that comes up is saying it's not approved by Health Canada, they were all recalled 2 years ago, there's evidence these supplements may have been contaminated by lead, inorganic arsenic, and harmful bacterias.

I freaked out, took them back to the holistic guy, and he said not to worry... it's just government propaganda because they make money off sick people, etc.

But what concerns me, is the manufacturer put up a lab report on their website about the inorganic arsenic levels... but why not lead levels or bacteria levels, etc. Plus, Health Canada approves other supplements like Nature's Sunshine, etc., so why not these ones?

This stuff is expensive and the holistic healer won't exchange it for anything else.

My question is... Would you continue taking them and listen to a holistic healer with a good reputation? Or obey Health Canada and avoid them?

[Dimond]

After reading the health warning and not finding this product anywhere, I would say you have the right to a refund. If this product was useful in any way, there would be tons of info on it, regardless of if it was banned. If you paid by credit card, you could dispute it with them. But the doctor is being unethical by selling this and by not giving you a refund.

It's really up to you though. Listen to your intuition, pray, etc. What's in it that's suppose to be so useful? It could be a good product. It's the not knowing that's scary.

[rawfoods]

You're right. That is exactly what I was thinking. Thank you for your input!

[RawLibrarian]

Hi everyone!

So, I recently went to a holistic healer for a problem with eczema. He could tell right away from looking in my mouth that I had a sore back... which I didn't even tell him. Well after checking me, he said I have a bowel problem where I'm not digesting certain foods properly and he gave me Heavenly Orchard Herbal Concentrate.

When I got home I took 2 and felt like I was getting a cold. I just didn't feel right. I looked it up online, and if you do the same, the only thing that comes up is saying it's not approved by Health Canada, they were all recalled 2 years ago, there's evidence these supplements may have been contaminated by lead, inorganic arsenic, and harmful bacterias.

I freaked out, took them back to the holistic guy, and he said not to worry... it's just government propaganda because they make money off sick people, etc.

But what concerns me, is the manufacturer put up a lab report on their website about the inorganic arsenic levels... but why not lead levels or bacteria levels, etc. Plus, Health Canada approves other supplements like Nature's Sunshine, etc., so why not these ones?

This stuff is expensive and the holistic healer won't exchange it for anything else.

My question is... Would you continue taking them and listen to a holistic healer with a good reputation? Or obey Health Canada and avoid them?

This might sound contrarian, but ...

Seems to me the burden of proof is on your practitioner. If he is prescribing a medication, one that is quite expensive to boot, he should be making darn sure that it is not harmful. Just because something is natural doesn't mean it is safe. The book 'Prescriptions for nutritional healing' is full of warnings about not taking certain herbs if you have certain ailments, are taking other medications, etc. If I had a question about the safety of a medication, I would want my concerns addressed in a professional manner-- 'it's government propaganda' wouldn't cut it. I'd want to see lab reports and the like.

As for 'making money off sick people' ... well, isn't that what *he's* doing?

If you are having a negative reaction to this medication, you could cut the dosage, or stop taking it.

I can't find a website for Wild Vineyard, the company that makes Heavenly Orchard Herbal Concentrate, and I'm a professional librarian and do research for a living. That makes me wonder a bit.