Precision Herbs

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'''Precision Herbs''' is a manufacturer of herbal products and [[parasite]] "zappers". Precision Herbs was owned by the late '''James R. Overman''', [[ND]],<ref name=fda1>[https://web.archive.org/web/20090710042350/http://www.fda.gov/ICECI/EnforcementActions/WarningLetters/2008/ucm1048286.htm Inspections, Compliance, Enforcement, and Criminal Investigations: Precision Herbs, L.L.C. 21-May-08]</ref> who [[PIDOOMA|came up with]] the idea that parasites cause diseases, including cancer, and that the parasites in the body can be killed with [[electromagnetic]] "zappers".<ref>''Overcoming Parasites Naturally'' by James R. Overman (2006). Overman's Healthy Choices.</ref> Although some parasites (obviously) do cause some diseases, there is no evidence whatsoever that the zappers kill these parasites or that parasites cause all of the types of diseases that Overman claimed. Overman also claimed that "nanobacteria" cause diseases, i.e. [[bacteria]] that are 1 nm in length.<ref name=newparadigm>[https://web.archive.org/web/20121207153156/http://newparadigmhealing.net/Parasite_Elimination.html New Paradigm Healing: Parasite Elimination]</ref> There are actually no such thing; one of the smallest bacteria known is ''Pelagibacter ubique'', which is 370-890 nm in length.<ref>[https://microbewiki.kenyon.edu/index.php/Pelagibacter_ubique MicrobeWiki: ''Pelagibacter ubique'']</ref> Overman's degrees included a Master of Arts in biological chemistry from the University of Michigan, a Master of Divinity from Grace Theological Seminary, a Masters Herbalist and Doctor of Naturopathy from Trinity College of Natural Health. Trinity College of Natural Health is a [[diploma mill|non-accredited institute]].<ref>[http://quackwatch.org/04ConsumerEducation/nonrecorg.html Quackwatch: Questionable Organizations: An Overview] by Stephen Barrett, M.D.</ref>

How does one know that one has parasites? By using the completely worthless [[applied kinesiology]] to detect "[[Subtle energy|parasite energy signatures]]" of course.<ref name=newparadigm/>

==FDA action==
On May 21, 2008, Precision Herbs received a warning letter from the [[FDA]] regarding claims they made for their herbal medicine products (e.g., "Historically used with tumor shrinking combinations to keep tumors from morphing from one type to another." and "Historically used to help dissolve some malignant tumors caused by slime molds.").<ref name=fda1/> Specifically, the FDA warned that the claims made by Precision Herbs regarding use of their products for treatment of [[cancer]] effectively made them unapproved drugs (as covered under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act) and not [[herbal medicine]] (as would be covered under the Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act).<ref name=fda1/> The FDA further warned Precision Herbs that their "disclaimer" ([[Quack Miranda Warning]]) did not mitigate the products from being considered unapproved drugs.<ref name=fda1/> The products in question were: "Activase, Amorph, Apritum, CanAlk, CancerGene, Carcinogex, Fungustum, Molex, Neoplasmex, Pau d Arco Bark, ThermaPop, TNF-Max, TumGo, Tumorex and VX-O".<ref name=fda1/>

On December 1, 2011, Precision Herbs received a warning letter from the FDA regarding adulterated and misbranded medical devices.<ref name=fda2>[https://web.archive.org/web/20120119232017/http://www.fda.gov/ICECI/EnforcementActions/WarningLetters/2011/ucm286798.htm Inspections, Compliance, Enforcement, and Criminal Investigations: Precision Herbs, LLC 12/1/11]</ref> The devices in question were: Chi Max Protectors, Chi Max Water Wand, Chi Modulator Attachment, Electrolysis Foot Tub, Harmonic Combo, Harmonic Quad HQ5, Harmonic Transmitter, Healing Detox Attachment, Heart-Shaped Pocket Diode, and Reflective Blanket.<ref name=fda2/>

In both of these letters, the FDA threatened legal action, including seizure, injunction, and monetary penalties unless prompt corrective action was taken.<ref name=fda1/><ref name=fda2/> In October 2009, the FDA began a civil and criminal investigation against Precision Herbs. In response, the company reconstituted from "Precision Herbs, L.L.C." to "Precision Herbs, a Private Health Membership Association", and apparently successfully claimed protection against FDA litigation based on the [[First Amendment|First]] and (inexplicably) the [[Fourteenth Amendment]]s.<ref>[http://www.proadvocate.org/precision-herbs-successful-challenge-defense-1st-14th-amendment/ Precision Herbs: A Successful Challenge and Defense of a 1st & 14th Amendment]</ref> The Private Health Membership Association requires signing a legal contract before purchases at Precision Herbs can be made.

==FDA inaction==
The FDA appears to have quietly decided not to pursue any action against Precision Herbs, since there is no mention of further action on the FDA website, and similar claims and unapproved medical devices are listed as being for sale on the Precision Herbs website as of March 2016.
===Herbal mixtures with unsubstantiated cancer-related claims===
{|class ="wikitable" 
|- 
!Herbal product||Ingredients||Unsubstantiated cancer-related claims
|-
|Activase||Yerba maté (''Ilex paraguariensis''), strawberry leaf, pomegranate, Montana yew tips, acid protease, magnesium oxide, cellulase||Historically used to activate the immune system to attack tumors.
|-
|Apopto||Yellow dock (''Rumex crispus'') root, anamu root (''Petiveria alliacea''), sesame seed, bayberry (''Myrica'' sp.) bark, celandine (''Chelidonium majus'' or ''Ranunculus ficaria'') herb, cellulase, xylanase 150.000 xu/g [sic]||Historically used to break open abnormal cells in the [[DNA]].
|-
|Blood SCR||Water (reverse osmosis), grain alcohol-12%, Protein Recycle premix 5-270, Blood SCR premix 5-235||Historically used for chronic bone marrow and blood cell problems. Chronic bone marrow and blood cell problems caused by mutated cells made from mutated stem cells. Leukemia.
|-
|Carcinogex||Apple fruit pectin, marshmallow (''Althaea'' spp.) root, ''Ginkgo bilboa'' leaf, cellulase||Used historically to help remove carcinogenic chemicals.
|-
|C-Gene||Pygeum (''Prunus africana'') bark, marigold flower, milkweed herb, Montana yew tips, wintergreen leaf, cellulase||Historically used to inhibit cancer.
|-
|GSC Apop||Salba seed, cleavers herb, onion (green), germander herb (''Teucrium fruticans''), parsley seed, black peppercorn, caraway seed, L-threonine, chondroitin sulfate, cellulase||Historically used in stopping metastasis in cancers of the brain and neural tissues.
|-
|HCSC Apop||Water (reverse osmosis), grain alcohol-12%, chrysanthemum flower, cardamom seed pod (green), honeybush tea, split pea, clove bud oil, moringa (''Moringa oleifera'') leaf||Historically used to break open cancer stem cells related to red bone marrow and blood cells.
|-
|Macrophage Factor||Fennel seed, bird's-foot trefoil (''Lotus corniculatus''), raspberry leaf, winter radish (daikon), eyebright herb (''Euphrasia'' spp.), lemon verbena, potassium phosphate monobasic, cellulase||Used historically in targeting white blood cells, low macrophage activity and malignant cells.
|-
|Mal-Mute Redux||Hawthorn (''Crataegus'' spp.) berry, ''Notopterygium incisum'', orange peel, yarrow flower, lobelia (''Lobelia cardinalis''), wild yam (''Dioscorea villosa'') root, cocoa (dark), kale leaf, shavegrass (''Equisetum arvense''), ''Costus'' root, goldenrod herb (''Solidago'' spp.), shavegrass, cellulase||Historically used to possibly help with some cancer-related issues. See a practitioner.
|-
|MC Ex||Sevia [''Stevia rebaudiana''?] herb, alfalfa seed, spearmint leaf, dog grass (''Elymus repens''), African birdseye chili pepper, cellulase||Used historically to stimulate activation of insulin and insulin-like growth factor receptors of malignant cells.
|-
|Microcal||Water (reverse osmosis), grain alcohol-12%, ''Hydrangea'' root, papaya leaf, strawberry leaf, boneset herb [comfrey? (''Symphytum officinale'')]||Used historically to dissolve calcium deposits in tumors and soft tissue.
|-
|Mutex||Saw palmetto (''Serenoa repens'') berry, wood betony, stone root (''Collinsonia canadensis''), shavegrass, tomato, watercress herb, cellulase||Used historically to remove mutated cells from the body.
|-
|Mycoplex Altered||Butcher's broom (''Ruscus aculeatus''), feverfew (''Tanacetum parthenium'') flower, honeybush tea, Irish moss, olive leaf, sesame seed, yellow dock root, cellulase||Calcified tumors
|-
|Polonex||Safflower (''Carthamus tinctorius''), mustard seed (yellow), radish seed, epazote (''Dysphania ambrosioides'') and cellulase||Used historically to remove polonium 210, which causes the production of too much DNA.
|-
|Spirex||Water (reverse osmosis), grain alcohol-12%, Oregon grape (''Mahonia aquifolium'') root, wintergreen leaf, olive leaf||Calcified tumors
|-
|T-Apop||Lakeweed, kudzu (''Pueraria'' spp.) root, witch hazel (''Hamamelis'' spp.) bark, wood betony (''Pedicularis canadensis'' or ''Stachys officinalis''), cellulase||Used historically to eliminate abnormal cells through apoptosis.
|-
|T-Go||Pau d'arco (''Tabebuia'' spp.) bark, celery leaf, shavegrass, cellulase||Used historically to help the immune system attack tumors.
|-
|TNF-Max||Asafoetida (''Ferula assa-foetida''), ''Echinacea angustifolia'' root||Historically used to help improve immunity by increasing the tumor necrosis factor. Helps dissolve tumors when used along with tumor-dissolving products.
|-
|T-X||Water (reverse osmosis), grain alcohol-12%, pau d'arco bark, Oregon grape root, licorice root, Montana yew tips, alfalfa herb, black walnut (''Juglans nigra'') hull, red clover (''Trifolium pratense'') tops, ''Stillingia'' root, peach bark||Historically used to attack tumors, especially those caused by slime mold infection. Slime Mold tumors.
|-
|}
Note how often the bogus [[Appeal to tradition]] is used in the form of "Historically used to…". Also note, there is no such thing as a "slime mold tumor", and there is no evidence that slime molds have ever parasitized people (since the topic does not appear at all in the last 50 years of [[peer-reviewed]] medical research at PubMed).

===Unapproved medical devices===
Precision Herbs is also still selling unapproved medical devices, including: Harmonic Quad HQ5, Harmonic Combo, Harmonic Antenna, Food Zapping Attachment, Milk Zapping Attachment, Meridian Attachment, Harmonic Transmitter, and Harmonic Transmitter &mdash; Agricultural.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20070427011918/http://www.precisionherbs.com/ Precision Herbs]</ref>

Precision Herbs claims that the zappers will kill or deactivate roundworms, tapeworms, pinworms, whipworms, flukes, protozoa, warts, amoeba, spirochetes, [[viruses]], mycoplasmas, slime molds, bacteria, "nanobacteria", yeasts, fungi, mildews, and weaponized bacteria, arthropod larvae, pupae, and "morgons" (a fictitious cause of the fictitious [[Morgellons disease]]).<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20090418170933/http://www.webdeb.com/zapper/morgellons-disease.htm Morgellon’s disease]</ref> The zappers are available directly through at least one online retailer without having to go through the contractual ruse that the manufacturer now requires.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20091015224602/http://webdeb.com/zapper/order.htm WebDeb order form]</ref>

==External links==
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20070427011918/http://www.precisionherbs.com/ Precision Herbs]

==See also==
*[[187 Fake Cancer "Cures" Consumers Should Avoid]]
*[[Hulda Clark]] &mdash; another zapper promoter

==References==
{{reflist|2|90%}}

[[Category:Cancer woo]]
[[Category:Alternative medicine]]
[[Category:Alternative medicine promoters]]

Categories: Cancer woo, Alternative medicine, Alternative medicine promoters