Addicted to 'ya dom'
Re: "Inhaler fuss 'a lesson'", (Opinion, Nov 3).
This brief Post opinion piece neglects many important points. For inhaler products, the FDA fails to require full disclosure of ingredients, instead allowing "other herbs" to be used. Therefore, health-conscious consumers do not know what they are putting into their bodies when using ya dom products. While the FDA apparently acknowledges the addictive properties and potential harm to the nervous system of inhalers, they do not cover the whole gamut of health harms, some of which are serious in the long term, and they fail to require relevant warning labels.
Perhaps foremost is the potential dysbiosis inhalers cause to the microbiome community of organisms that live in the sinuses and nasopharyngeal cavity. This is our first line of defence against pathogens, especially viruses, which often attack the body via airborne transmission. When such a truly essential and complex immune system component is constantly bombarded with strong chemicals and herbs, the delicate balance of beneficial and potentially harmful organisms is disrupted and can no longer maintain its essential function to protect humans from disease.
To relieve vertigo and syncope when they occur is useful, but there are countless ya dom addicts in this country. Substance addiction is never a good thing, and the FDA must jettison what has long been recognised as an antiquated approach to its regulatory role in favour of a modern scientific approach.
