Legal implications for a medicine man/woman

Owl

I recently gave a friend a bottle of my goldenrod tincture for her husband’s constant wheezing. The effects have been almost miraculous to hear them tell it but it did get me wondering about the legal implications. I don’t care about my nursing license since I haven’t practiced in many years and had to retire medically anyway but, is there a liability involved in sharing these wonderful healing herbs that God has provided? Everybody is different so I know that someone could, in theory at least, have a bad reaction to an herb.

Torey

I'm in Canada so I don't know what the legalities are in other countries. I have medical liability and malpractice insurance that covers me. It is just over $200 per year. It covers me for herbalism, homeopathy, certain massage techniques, ear candling and energy medicine such as reiki. Well worth the price. Not sure what type of insurance would be available in other countries.

Also, when we sell products we are required to have those products listed with Health Canada. They allow all sorts of homemade products to be registered (salves, oils, lip balms, etc.). However, we are not allowed to make any claims as to the properties or have a label that might indicate uses. For example, we can label a product with the name of the ingredient such as Chickweed/Plantain Salve but we can't call it "Healing Salve" or "Burn Salve". We could use a term like "Bum Butter" but not "Diaper Rash Cream". Again, not sure what sort of regulations the US would have on natural health products.

Linda Bittle

I find this article to be useful. https://www.rmhiherbal.org/aa/f-ahr5-summ.html

dottile46

I read an article a couple of weeks ago on this very subject. Naturally, I think I bookmarked the page for future reference but cannot find it. From what I remember it said that liability is different from state to state, and has a lot to do with whether you make "health claims" about your product, or attempted to diagnose or treat a condition.

I'll keep looking for it as it had a lot of information the would apply to most if not all of us here at TGN.

dottile46

@Lexie I found it. Hope this helps.

https://www.americanherbalistsguild.com/legal-and-regulatory-faqs

Marjory Wildcraft

I love what joel Salatin says "Everything I want To Do Is Illegal"

lmrebert

@Marjory Wildcraft love that !! and until recently it was quite true... had a little cannibis tincture situation for a while but now in Cali it’s a free for all weeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!!!!...

Owl

I’m hoping still that Alabama will join the rest of the world!