Herbs, vitamins, alternative therapies being curtailed and banned and even discussion being throttled.
Does this not somehow have the taste of pogrom, or witchhunt?
Looking at Natural Health believers and Quackbusters I seem to see all the elements of religion on both sides. Each side earnestly believes they are right, sensible, intelligently thought out, logical. Each side tries to persuade the other that science, if not god, supports their belief. The new converts are the loudest and most vociferous. Each side believes the other to be wrong, foolish, thick-headed and wishes they would only see sense. Each view, particularly the natural health view, is held not in isolation but as a kind of 'world-view' incorporating attitudes to organic growing, fair Trade, other people, morality, and the planet. Each side 'knows' that if only everyone thought the way they did, the world would be a better place. The Quackbusters in particular think that the Natural Health Believers should be forced to conform and that the ingredients for practising their beliefs should be banned, outlawed and eliminated because the Quackbusters do not believe in them.
Now Britain is supposed to pride itself on allowing freedom of religion. Lots of people think covering yourself in black clothing is not for them, but they don't ban the sale of burq'a clothing. Lots of people do not want to eat halal or kosher but there isn't a great lobby to ban kosher food. For some reason we have decided to let other people have their beliefs, even though there are many other belief systems around that think they are bonkers, and also allow them to be able to obtain those items that they need in order to practice their beliefs.
Perhaps this is an angle from which to press for the availability of herbs, vitamins, minerals, and alternative therapies?
After all, the nanny state is not banning drugs that are known to kill and be dangerous - they allow the Quackbusters the tools of their religion - why not allow the Natural Health Believers their rather more 'undangerous' vitamins and herbs?
Gotami