Definition: A wide variety of medicaments and folk remedies may be involved, but the particularly important groups are: (a) psychotropic drugs that do not produce dependence, such as antidepressants, (b) laxatives, and (c) analgesics that may be purchased without medical prescription, such as aspirin and paracetamol. Persistent use of these substances often involves unnecessary contacts with medical professionals or supporting staff, and is sometimes accompanied by harmful physical effects of the substances. Attempts to dissuade or forbid the use of the substance are often met with resistance; for laxatives and analgesics this may be in ...[+++] spite of warnings about (or even the development of) physical harm such as renal dysfunction or electrolyte disturbances. Although it is usually clear that the patient has a strong motivation to take the substance, dependence or withdrawal symptoms do not develop as in the case of the psychoactive substances specified in F10-F19. | Abuse of:antacids | herbal or folk remedies | steroids or hormones | vitamins | Laxative habit

antifibrinolytic drug | fibrinolytic drug

medicine box

remedial diagnosis

herbal remedy

ayurveda | ayurvedic medicine | ayurvedic therapy

antipyretic | antithermic | febrifuge | fever treatment

miracle drug

One is the traditional herbal remedies, and there is a suggestion in the letter that this includes Chinese, ayurvedic, and aboriginal.

Because of these inadequacies of evaluating these remedies according to current protocols, we recommend that new methods of ensuring safety and efficacy be developed by traditional practitioners and research scientists expert in the area of natural ayurvedic products.

For example, with some of the products, like traditional Chinese medicines and ayurvedic medicines from India, it's much more likely that Canadians are going to be able to mine that information from those parts of the world where there is a larger population.

For instance, maharishi ayurveda products—which is a separate organization—will apply for a drug identification number for a traditional ayurveda remedy.