Editor's pick

In 1994, the US Congress passed a law severely curtailing the powers of the Food and Drug Administration to regulate herbs and other alternative health products or dietary supplements. The law was in part a response to manufacturers, who urged deregulation to foster growth of their industry. (The manufacturers were no fools: the industry has tripled in economic terms since the law was passed.) But Congress was also responding to the passions of consumers who use alternative products on a regular basis. Many of these consumers have doctors.