Botanical Sources: Scam

Botanical Sources, purportedly operating of Rome, Italy;  is selling  fraudulent "herbal remedies" for serious illnesses.   How do I know this?  Because I see the patterns. I read between the lines and I know. ...KNOW that some of the claims they make are patently untrue. If some claims are false, how can you trust ANY of their claims?  You can't.  So don't waste your money.

Here's how I know:

First off, Botanical Sources (BS -appropriately enough) is one of the three companies that SPAH -which has been previously outed here as a scam, uses consistently as an option where BS has a um... "remedy" available. 

Although -let's face it-, it is probably all the same remedy repackaged 185 times and it could consist of  weeds, cat poo and talc and still fall under the "100% natural" guarantee. Because legally: 100% natural means squat. "Certified organic" means something. "wholegrain" means something. But 100% natural means it 100% originated in nature. 

Rocks,  bark, dirt, maggots, hairballs  and poo are all 100% natural too, but I'm not planning to go out into my backyard and chow down on any of those in an attempt to cure ...anything. Except maybe my life. They might cure me of that.

BS's "shtick" is a supposed (very tenuous) association with something a guy from the Mayo Clinic once said. There is no association between BS and the Mayo at all. If you read the carefully worded text, they say

"A unique Mayo Clinic collaboration has revived the healing wisdom of Pacific Island cultures by testing a therapeutic plant extract..."

...and they go on to cite an article from Science Daily which itself sound like a bunch of baloney.  About Science Daily (from Wikipedia)  "Some have criticized the site's refusal to provide links to the specific release on which each article is based, and its decision to list instead the home page of the institution responsible for the release--a practice that makes it difficult for researchers and interested laymen to cite and consult the actual scientific paper discussed."

So you can't verify any of the story. Not that there is much verification to be had. Here is my synopsis of the "huge breakthrough" Science Daily announced in 2006

Some plants have healing properties and you can make drugs from plants.

SHOCKER!

HOLD THE FUCKIN FRONT PAGE!   We didn't know what, did we? We didn't know that Aspirin came from willow, and morphine came from poppies and that MANY medicines used today are synthesized versions of plant compounds. Or just the compounds themselves.

Oh.

You know that already?

But there IS more. How about this for a breakthrough:

If you study indigenous people and their natural remedies, or if we "accidentally" wiped out those indigenous people years ago; if you go back over old writings of the people who originally studied and documented those indigenous people (before they were accidentally wiped out), you might learn about "new" medical compounds which the indigenous people knew about for centuries.

WOW!

Whoda thunk it?

...whaddyamean EVERYONE?

And because someone in the Mayo clinic points out that this is pretty fuckin obvious, BS now seems to think; - through no connection whatsoever with Science daily that I know -except that they read it at least once, -or the Mayo clinic; -except they have heard of it; is that this means they can sell whateverthefuck they please to the unsuspecting and desperate sick person, based on something somebody once said about plants being a good potential source of healing compounds.

House. of. Cards.

You're being too harsh, OSM I hear you say.

You've just blasted your own argument and come in a complete circle! I hear others say.  OSM, You say that plants can heal is obvious, and in the next breath, you tell us NOT to believe Botanical Sources?

 

No. I haven't contradicted myself. Let me clarify:

• I COMPLETELY believe that some plants have healing properties.
   
  
• I also believe that old style medicine can definitely help some people. I don't believe Western medicine is the be-all and end-all.
   
  
• However, I also believe in research and double-blind studies.
  
  
• And in a specifically targeted, rather than a carpet-bomb approach to cures.
   
  
• I also believe in knowing the source of anything you put in your mouth.
   
  
• I also believe -nay- I KNOW that many of the claims BS makes ( and they don't make too many claims, actually. They tell you to try the product for yourself. Then once they get your money, do you think you will get it back?  Google Botanical Sources and "ripoff" and get back to me on that one.) -I know many of the claims they make just CANNOT be true.
   
  

For example,  one of their products: Porpharex, claims to be a "unique porphyria product" then parrots some general mumbo-jumbo about herbs and plants in medicine (asks you to click for more) ...then more general stuff about herbs -nothing specific to Porphyria- They mention an anti-cancer treatment (porphyria is not a cancer)...

oh wait... here come the claims

Following FDA and DSHEA guidelines at all stages of development we are now able to present what we believe is the most proven, effective, safe and easy to use product for healing Porphyria and titled it Porpharex.

 

Sound goods, right?

Here's the problem.

Porphyria is not a disease. The Porphyrias are a group of diseases. There are at least eight of them, falling into two separate groups  and each one of the eight has a different underlying mechanism.

In short, if you have "porphyria" you can have one of at least EIGHT things broken in you. And this single remedy is going to automatically hone in on whichever one of the eight enzyme deficiencies a given person has, and not do any harm to the healthy seven? Ummm hmmm...

And what about the known fact that one of the things all EIGHT types of porphyria patients have in common, is that they are horribly sensitive to certain drugs and other compounds. Sometimes the worst thing you can do to a prophyric is attempt to treat him (or her).

So let's have a look at the list of 100% natural" components that BS plan to give to someone with any (all) kind(s) of  porphyria -some of which can be fatal BTW.  OK. Let's not.  I got as far as "Sulphur" and I stopped.

 

Here's why. This is taken from this site:

 

 

Dietary Notes regarding Sulphur / Sulfur

Sulfas, sulphites and sulphurs are contraindicated for porphyria patients.
One does need to look at food labeling to know what are sulphur based products.

If you want to avoid sulfur-based preservatives, these are the names to watch for:

Sulfur Dioxide
Sodium Sulfite
Sodium Bisulfite
Sodium Metabisulfite
Potassium Bisulfite
Potassium Metabisulfite

Many commonly used products at home contained some of the above ingredients.
Many of these products are medicinals.

Sulfur is used to treat many kinds of skin disorders and is contained in cream, lotion, ointment, and bar soaps. It is also found in numerous ointments.

 

So people with porphyria are warned to keep away from all sulphur -even in soap!

Yet, Botanical Sources, AKA  BS are proposing that people with porphyria should EAT sulphur, (at least you can wash it off your skin!).  What is this, some kind unmonitored aversion therapy?

 

Or maybe  ...just maybe   ...it's a SCAM?

 

Of course it's a bloody scam! 

 

Not only are BS full of BS, they are dangerous.

Please don't buy any of their products (listed below)

Condition	Product
Abdominal Adhesions	http://abdorax.com/ingredients.html
Acanthosis Nigricans	http://canthorax.com/ingredients.html
Acrocyanosis	http://nithrotex.com/ingredients.html
Acute Broncitis	http://chronarax.com/ingredients.html
Adenopathy	http://panthorex.com/ingredients.html
Adrenoleukodystrophy	http://renothrax.com/ingredients.html
Agalactia (lack of breast milk)	http://lactitax.com/ingredients.html
Alkaptonuria (genetic)	http://patnorax.com/ingredients.html
ameloblastoma	http://blemorax.com/ingredients.html
Anginoedema (hereditary)	http://genathrax.com/ingredients.html
Angionma	http://angiorax.com/ingredients.html
Antiphospholipid Syndrome	http://lipratax.com/ingredients.html
Aquagenic Pruritus	http://hydrarex.com/ingredients.html
Arachnoid cysts	http://dinothrax.com/ingredients.html
Ascites	http://calsotrax.com/ingredients.html
Asthma	http://asthorax.com/ingredients.html
Atherosclerosis	http://athratax.com/ingredients.html
Athlete's foot	http://pedirax.com/ingredients.html
Atrial Fibrillation	http://fibratax.com/ingredients.html
Azospermia	http://azothrax.com/ingredients.html
Behcet's Syndrome	http://cobirex.com/ingredients.html
Bell's palsy	http://balsorax.com/ingredients.html
Benign essential blaphasospasm	http://blepharax.com/ingredients.html (the links say bomarax and burning mouth syndrome, although the addy is correct)
Benign essential tremor	http://remothrax.com/ingredients.html
Blepharitis	http://belpharex.com/ingredients.html
Blisters	http://siblarec.com/
Blood in the Semen	http://semarax.com/
Bone and Joint Tuberculosis	http://bercilex.com/
Bone Degeneration	http://regnatrax.com/
Bowen's Disease	http://webnathrax.com/
Breath odor	http://odorax.com/
Bronchiectasis	http://ronatax.com/
Bulima	http://bulmathrax.com/
Bullous pemphigoid	http://gustarex.com/  (pemphigus)
Burning mouth syndrome	http://bomarax.com/
Canker sore	http://orcilex.com/
Carbunkles	http://nebralex.com/
Carcinoid syndrome	http://carsorax.com/
Cardiomyopathy	http://domatax.com/
Cataract	http://secarax.com/
Cellulitis	http://celsirex.com/
Cervical spine ( i.e. "neck"!)	http://cervorax.com/
Cervical Spondylosis	http://ondotax.com/
Chloracne	http://chloratex.com/
Chordoma	http://darcorax.com/
Cluster Headache	http://myorex.com/
Condyloma	http://dolmirex.com/
Congestive Heart Failure	http://hopnatax.com/
Cronkhite-Canada syndrome	http://narkorax.com/
Cushings disease	http://cushnorax.com/
Cyclic Vomiting Syndrome	http://vomorax.com/
Dandruff	http://dandirex.com/
Dark Circles	http://melatax.com/
Dermatomyositis	http://dermatax.com/
Drematofibroma	http://fermatorex.com/
Dyshidrosis	http://dystrotex.com/
Eczema	http://eczerex.com/
Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (EDS)	http://dovnorax.com/
emphysema	http://hismatax.com/
Enlarged Tonsils	http://norsalax.com/
Epididymitis	http://didmorax.com/
Erysipelas	http://serpilex.com/
Erythroderma	http://rythrotex.com/
Erythromelalgia	http://glematax.com/
Eyelid ptosis	http://postatrax.com/
Fahr's Disease	http://roftarax.com/
Flatulence	http://neftarax.com/
Folliculitis	http://folitax.com/
Formaldehyde poisoning	http://malfarax.com/
Friedreich's Ataxia	http://defratax.com/
Frozen shoulder	http://zofratax.com/
Ganglion	http://anglatax.com/
Gastritis	http://gastratax.com/
Gastro paresis	http://segratax.com/
Gilbert's Syndrome	http://balgorax.com/
Glaucoma	http://glocatax.com/
Globus hystericus	http://hystetrax.com/
Gonorrhea	http://ongrotax.com/
Granuloma annulare	http://granutab.com/
Grave's disease	http://vegarax.com/
Grover's Disease	http://egratex.com/
Guillain-Barre Syndrome	http://gabratax.com/
gynecomastia	http://sagnotax.com/
Hand tremors	http://limbarax.com/
Hearing loss	http://santarax.com/
Hemmorhoids (what, no Pileen?)	http://rhomatax.com/
Hepatic Hemangioma	http://magnatax.com/
Hereditary Fructose Intolerence	http://tofratax.com/
Hidradenitis Suppurativa	http://suppuratec.com/
Hives	utitec! (not hives)
Hookworm	http://movratex.com/
Horner's Syndrome	http://neharax.com/
Hydrocele	http://cedratax.com/
hydrocephalus	http://cephratax.com/
Hydronephrosis	http://dorsarex.com/
Hypertension	http://restratax.com/
Hypertensive retinopathy	http://perotax.com/
Hypotension	http://tensorax.com/
Ichthyosis	http://thorsatec.com/
Impetigo	http://pegnarex.com/
Inclusion body myositis (IBM)	http://meslarax.com/
Jock itch	http://tersarec.com/
Keloids	http://declarex.com/
Keratoacanthoma	http://cantharex.com/
Leg ulcers	http://gleratax.com/
Lennox Gastaut Syndrome	http://gelatrax.com/
Lichen Planus	http://nepralex.com/
Lichen Simplex Chronicus	http://simplarex.com/
Lipoma	http://polmirex.com/
Liver cirrhosis	http://rosatax.com/
Liver cyst	http://cervatax.com/
Lymphadenitis	http://phednarex.com/
Malabsorption	http://sorbitax.com/
Molluscum Contagiosum	http://gemsalex.com/
Motor Neuron Disease	http://neuratax.com/
Multiple System Athrophy	http://alpharax.com/
Muscular Dystrophy	http://dystratax.com/
Muscular Fasciculation	http://meflorax.com/
Myasthenia Gravis	http://gravitax.com/
Myelitis	http://simlatax.com/
Narcolepsy	http://corsatax.com/
Nasal Polyps (Note Correct Spelling)	http://neslarax.com/
Optic atrophy	http://trophirax.com/
Osteomyelitis	http://mylotax.com/
Pancreatitis	http://secratax.com/
Parkinsonism	http://niprotax.com/
Pemphigus	http://phemorax.com/
Peripheral Neuropathy	http://lephratax.com/
Peyronie's Disease	http://neprotax.com/
photodermatitis	http://dermarec.com/
Photosensitivity	http://litnarex.com/
Pityriasis Alba	http://sitratax.com/
Pityriasis Roseca	http://serpirex.com/
Pityriasis Rubra	http://subratec.com/
Polycystic Kidney Disease	http://cytotax.com/
Polycythemia Vera	http://revotax.com/
Polymyalgia rheumatica (PMR)	http://gemlarax.com/
Porphyria (All 6 kinds?)	http://porpharex.com/
Post-Polio Syndrome	http://oplatax.com/
Premature Gray Hair	http://melotax.com/
Pressure Ulcer	http://ulcatec.com/
Prickly heat	http://kipralax.com/
Prostatitis	http://prostirax.com/
Pruritus Ani	http://aniphrax.com/
PseudoTumor Cerebri	cerebrax (not available)
Raynauds Syndrome	http://dornatex.com/
Rectal prolapse	http://lapratax.com/
Reiter's Syndrome	http://terirax.com/
Renal Failure	http://kidnatrex.com/
Retinitis Pigmentosa	http://pagnatrax.com/
Ringworm	http://genritex.com/
Rosacea	http://sebarex.com/
Salivary Duct Stones	http://voltarax.com/
Scabies	http://scabitex.com/
Scleroderma	http://scleritex.com/
Sebaceous Cyst	http://sebatex.com/
Seborrheic Keratosis	http://sebarec.com/
Sensitive Teeth	http://dentorax.com/
Shingles	http://siglarec.com/
Sjogrens Syndrome	http://sjogratex.com/
Skin Tags	http://tagarec.com/
Spasmodic Dysphonia	http://phonratax.com/
Spider Veins	http://teglatec.com/
Stroke (...REALLY?)	http://treseaex.com/
Sunburn (check the privacy policy)	http://bursalex.com/
Syringomyelia	http://omiglatex.com/
Teething troubles	http://dentotab.com/
Temporomandibular Joint Syndrome	http://domnatex.com/
Thalassemia minor	http://selmarax.com/
Thrombocythemia	http://bromarex.com/
Thyroid Nodule	http://thyratax.com/
Tick Bite	http://bitnotec.com/
Tinea	http://tinorex.com/
Tinea Versicolor	http://tinorec.com/
Tinnitus	http://sintatex.com/
Trigenimenal Neuralgia	http://negratex.com/
Trimethylaminuria	http://tremarax.com/
Ulcerative Colitis	http://cerlitex.com/
Urethritis	http://rithrotex.com/
Urticaria	http://utritec.com/
Urticaria Pigmentosa	http://gemnitrax.com/
Uterine Fibroids	http://neftratax.com/
Uveitis	http://visortex.com/
Vocal Cord Nodules	http://dorcilex.com/
Warts	http://wilsotec.com/
Wiskott Aldrich Syndrome	http://waldarax.com/

Comments

[queen-slug]

Because these scams are so over the top I keep waiting for one of them to have a cure of Poland's Syndrome, but I guess it's either too rare or too obviously not fixable without surgery.

I think that's what makes these so sad, it's not in your face obviously fake, but it's for half a moment believable fake to people to have lost hope that they will get better or who've lost home in medical science.

[JP]

Wow, thank you for this info. Sometimes you can just "feel" that a website is not right, and that is how I felt about didmorax.com...its a shame people out there feel the need to exploit people looking for help.

[helen]

Wow. I've spent the last day reading your site, and don't know whether to scream or cry.
I landed here after I was asked my opinion on the postpolio supplement. Before checking the site I advised it was 99% likely to be bogus internet marketing shit.
But this is a new level of level of scary dangerous.
Before I was pissed off at $40 e-books claiming to cure the untreatable with baking soda and apple cider vinegar. That was so lame that even a techno challenged me could download without actually paying. In comparison, that was benign (although I was astounded that anyone would blatently rip off sick and vulnerable people.
As aherbalist I thought vI should recognise the ingredients, but half I don't. The combinations are wrong and the doses random. Funny how they seem to have the same 27.62 mg of most herbal ingredients. Ths would be about 1% of a therapeutic dose for many herbs like liquorice (glycyrrhiza)
FYI the Linn you queried elsewhere is the Linnaeus classification of plants - obviously they directly copied from some source. Homeopathics such as Nux Vomica should have a dilution number, not a mg value.
You write and research so well I thought WEB MD would respond, although I had surmised they were just an internet scam site anyway.
But your efforts need to be acted upon, so go the person with power - OPRAH.
Seriously, f you sent a printout of this stuff, I can't see her being able to ignore it.
Thank the universe that there are people like you maintaining vigilance.
Helen from Australia

[Rae]

I agree with Helen, send all of this to OPRAH. Who in this world has more clout than her. I feel confident that she would be willing to expose these scammers.

[Charles]

This niche scam appears to be enormous. I was looking for natural remedies for Lichen Planus when I came across lichenplanusproducts.com, a site supposedly created by a humanitarian who wanted to share his personal "research" & experience with others by reviewing 4 good products for treating Lichen Planus, one of which is Plenical listed among the 56 products ending in "ical". Then I found this site, substituted names of 2 of the other medical conditions and found urethritisproducts.com & keratosisproducts.com. All 3 of the "products.com" sites I looked at have identically formatted website and graphics; only the names of the 4 "reviewed" products were different along with a small fraction of the text. Assuming similar feeder sites are out there for all of the 56 medical conditions, and each site reviews 4 "products", that's 224 scam sites. Unfortunately there may be many more than that. As I recall, the Internet originated in the USA as a way for Universities to easily communicate and foster research, yet be safe from people without a "need to know". I'm dumfounded that things seem so out of control now, that someone in a high "Internet" position somewhere can't just push a button and fry the servers that these scammers depend on.

[One Sick Mother]

Charles,

Yes. I have found some of the review sites. See here, here and here (and see all the other sites under the scams heading on the left-hand side of this site) . All-in-all I have found over 1,300 bad sites.  Are they all connected? I dont know. Some of them definitely are.

Who owns the Internet?  No-one. it is cross-border, so it is not fully regulated. Anyway. I imagine if whoever owns the Internet killed one scammer IP address, it would be  easy enough to change it on the host and the scammers would be back in business in about ten minutes or so. Or they could switch out a fried server in slightly more time.

There needs to be proper legal ramifications for activities like this. If running a scam like this might cost 50 years in jail, rather than an IP address or  fileserver;  I guarantee you the scammers would think twice.

But it isnt.
OSM

[One Sick Mother]

hmmm. the links didn't take. Here they are:

http://onesickmother.typepad.com/my_weblog/2009/07/spah-the-medical-scam-clearinghouse.html

http://onesickmother.typepad.com/my_weblog/2009/08/herbal-product-reviews-scam.html

http://onesickmother.typepad.com/my_weblog/2009/08/towards-natural-health-scam.html