Strauss HEART DROPS
Jim Strauss in critical condition
This section was originally posted in May 2002, right after Jim Strauss was rushed to the hospital with an aortic aneurysm. BULLETIN
- MAY 24, 2002 - CHML's favourite guest is in critical condition in the
sixth floor north of the Royal Inland Hospital in Kamloops, British
Columbia. His distributors are preparing for the worst. If Strauss doesn't make it, what will they tell the public?
Perhaps his listeners can send him flowers or something like that.
311 Columbia St.
Kamloops, BC V2G 2T1
Tel: (250) 374-5111
Fax: (250) 372-0330
Strauss
apparently has an IV connected to his neck, and apparently does not
look
well at all. He has an aneurysm, and according to Mosby's Medical
Dictionary it's "a localized dilation
of the wall of a blood vessel. It is usually caused by atherosclerosis
and hypertension, or less frequently by trauma, infection or a
congenital weakness in the vessel wall".
His heart drops as advertised on CHML were designed by him to "unclog
arteries". If his condition was caused
by atherosclerosis, (clogging of the arteries with plaque), then it
would appear his product failed him. In over 20 years of making the
stuff, he never
disclosed the true formula. He claimed that it was a family secret.
But,
whatever it was or is, it obviously did not prevent him from getting an
aneurysm.
Strauss is 79, DOB is October 31, 1922.
I think it's about time that Larry Silver at CHML hangs up his
warm up jacket for what may be the final inning in a losing ballgame.
It seems that the Strauss team is about to be without a skipper.
I think CHML should seize the moment, and go to its bullpen and hand
the microphone and headset to Wayne Elliott of the PC Natural Health
company from Pt. Colbourne. Let's see him explain to all those people
that he has been educating over the last year, why the Strauss Herbal products didn't work for the inventor himself.
It's about time that paid programming be announced on the air, and why not invite Jim Strauss to call in from his hospital bed for some really good community reporting.
On May 24, 2002, I received a rebuttal to a complaint I filed with the Canadian Broadcast Standards Council about the Strauss
broadcasts. Bob Sherwin, who is the latest CHML program director stated
that anyone who appears on their show is "merely voicing their opinions
and not doing anything in contravention of the law."
Where have the people at Corus radio network been hiding out?
Are there deep underground caves without access to the internet in
Hamilton? Don't they know when someone is not telling the truth about a
particular product? Common sense is something they left in the wood
shed back home.
Have they not spoken with Health Canada about Strauss? Have they not read his written attacks on our government regulators?
Mr. Sherwin is hiding his head in the sand. It is obvious to me that
CHML has to know what is going on. He said he didn't have enough
information to go on. Well, I suggest that he read this web site for a
start.
In particular, I think he should read the transcripts below. There are
many more where they come from, but then again, he's running a
business, and perhaps he doesn't have time to face up to his
responsibilities as program director. Perhaps he would do his community
a big service and educate himself about dangerous herbs, of false
advertising, and all the rest of the story.
The details are all here, he just has to take a peak, and open his eyes.
Terry Polevoy, MD
HealthWatcher.net
Who cares about clinical studies anyway?
DATE: October 4, 2001
PRODUCT: Strauss HEART DROPS
RADIO STATION: CHML - AM-900 - HAMILTON, ONTARIO
- Jim and Peter Strauss have marketed their dubious "Strauss Heart
Drops" for years from British Columbia. No actions have been taken to
stop them from marketing their bogus herbal mixture to cure serious disease.
- Their facilities have not been approved by Health Canada.
- Their claims are not allowed under Federal regulations.
- They continue to advise clients as if they are health providers. A
court case against them failed to stop their activities.
- Strauss
Herbal Products are marketed heavily across Canada. Their distributors
spend thousands of dollars a month for advertising and promotion,
especially in Ontario.
- Many of these companies also continue to market dangerous and banned
herbs and are directly linked to Strauss and his company. Any consumer
can find them on the internet.
- Companies in British Columbia send Strauss Heart Drops to the U.S.
despite the FDA rulings.
October 2001
Radio station CHML - AM-900 in Hamilton, Ontario began the promotion of their
show called "Ask the Experts",
a Saturday afternoon spot, usually reserved for hucksters and wise
men/women who have something to sell. It doesn't take an expert to see
that snake-oil usually floats to the top. And "Ask the Experts" is a
prime example of Canadian-based health fraud artists to ply their
trade.
When I originally heard their promotions throughout the
day, I called toll-free phone numbers, and listened to the sales pitch
from the hucksters in Port Colborne, home of PC Natural Health Company.
The operator really made my day. I know she didn't know who I was, and
why I was really calling. After what she said, and what I know about Strauss Heart Drops claims, it rekindled my interest in the company.
Health Canada, and other regulators in British Columbia should have
taken firm action against this company years ago. Instead they buckled
under and let them scam the world with wild claims and products
supported by testimonials. It makes a mockery of the natural health
products industry, its regulators (yeah right), and Health Canada.
CHML must recognize the fact that their broadcast
license might be in jeopardy because of their support and promotion for
products like this. I guess they don't care. The bottom line are
profits.
According to an article from the Vancouver Courier in June 2001, Health Canada says that they are investigating Strauss.
The ad for
Strauss Heart Drops appears to violate the federal Food and Drug
Act, which prohibits companies from making therapeutic claims for
medical conditions that require a doctorâs intervention. Health
Canada, which acts on complaints about such infractions every
month, is now investigating the Strauss case.
Advertising department needs to wise up says a letter to the editor about Strauss Heart Drops - June 25, 2001 - Vancouver Courier.
Seriously guys, someone should slap a few heads in your
sales/creative departments for letting this crap get into print.
Especially considering your readership, many of whom I suspect are
infirm and are literally dying for such a medical miracle. Anyone in
advertising knows the kinds of claims made by this advertiser must
receive proper clearance by the Canadian Advertising Foundation or
another watchdog. Needless to say, this kind of absurd copy would
never survive even superficial scrutiny.
Google groups lively discussion raises many issues
- Wendy and the battle of the Teds - March-April 2000
- Jim Strauss stands to make one hell of a lot of money by lying to innocent idiots
who buy his products.
- My "response" to you is that you are a charlatan, a weasel, one of the lower life
forms, since you prey on the fear and pain of sick people. But let's not forget
that YOU HAVE NOT RESPONDED TO ONE QUESTION I POSED TO YOU. NOT ONE. Just so we're
clear.
- Along with curing neuropathy, this site claims that with the use of Strauss drops,
"...glasses are retired, eyesight improves, new hair color and growth, better
complexion, memory improvements, more energy, leg pain diminishes, nitro no longer
needed, improved hearing, aneurysm diminishes,... arteries unplugged, blood pressure
lowers, off heart medication...helps toothache, varicose veins diminish in size,
psoriasis gone, diabetic's circulation improves, cholesterol lowers." This site
also says "There are no side effects." Damn, I bet it even helps people walk on
water!
- Hmmmm, sounds familiar, doesn't it? But wait: this site offers something special
THE REASON WHY WE'VE NEVER HEARD OF THIS MIRACLE CURE IS (drum roll, please):
"The answer· Advertising dollars.
It costs a fortune to fight the governmental and medical establishments."
- "If Canada became the alternative medicine capital of the world, Canadians and
Americans wouldnât have to flock to Mexico and the Philippines to try the latest
cancer treatment. Think of the tourist dollars this might generate!"
- Hey they might also unplug the kitchen sink if it was made out of a natural substance?
- There are some snake oil products touted around here that are undoubtedly
harmless -- you'll lose your money but little else. There are others,
like this one, which are potentially dangerous.
- I mean, just how stupid do you have to be to believe something like this?
These drops have been around for twenty years? And this is the first we've
heard of it? Shrinks enlarged hearts, unclogs plugged arteries, eliminates
angina pain, and this is the first we've heard of it? I mean, if this actually
worked, don't you think that the entire world would be onto it by now?
Oh no, wait, I forgot: it's the military-industrial-drug cabal keeping this
important medical development a secret, so they can make money on their
surgeries and medicines.
Strauss Heart Drops fail the test --- Reality!!
There is absolutely no evidence that this product made by Jim Strauss
and his company in British Columbia does what they say. In fact this is
blatant consumer fraud. So far no level of government has taken action
to remove their products from the market.
Does Phil Waddington, who is a graduate of the Canadian College of Naturopathic Medicine in Toronto, and who is the new head of the latest incarnation of the Natural Health Products Directorate
have anything to say about this, or any other herbal health scam? You
bet he doesn't!! While many of us are still waiting for Phil to say
something to the Canadian public about why he does nothing to control
rampant consumer health fraud in the health food industry, Phil puts on
his other jacket, and speaks to the Canadian Health Food Association at one of their meetings.
But, the NHPD did publish their Proposed Regulatory Framework
on September 21, 2001. I don't believe that there is anyone who really
believes that the publication of this work will change a thing.
While associations and media agencies ignore health product regulation,
Health Canada would seem to be doing the same in regards to products
like these.
The FDA in the U.S. has very harsh criticism of the Strauss Heart Drops.
Larry Silver, CHML radio personality in Hamilton, Ontario will be
schlepping for these people on Saturday, October 6, 2001 in his "Ask the
Experts" infomercial show. This is not news, or information, it is part
of a misinformation campaign.
It is very typical of CHML's paid presentations that market quack
remedies, and bogus treatments to the public on a regular basis.
www.900chml.com - the infomercial
was broadcast from 1:06 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. EDT on CHML AM-900 in
Hamilton. The show was repeated on Saturday, October 20, with new
callers, and same old format.
I suggest that CHML cancel the show because their station's signal
reaches U.S. listeners. The FDA has attempted to stop these people from
marketing this stuff in the U.S. It is wrong for a Canadian based radio
station to help market these and other bogus products to the public.
Here is a list of specific sites that might be of interest to those who
are in a position to assist the public:
"The agency (FDA) is taking steps to warn our citizens that drugs
promoted and sold via the Internet, from foreign
sources, may not be approved for marketing in this country, and may not
be legally imported. With copies
of this letter, we are advising the regulatory drug officials in the
countries from which you operate of these
potential violations. In addition, we are advising the U.S. Custom's
Service through an Import Alert that all
shipments offered for importation into the United States as a result of
your activities may be detained and
subject to refusal of entry."
Click here for a link to FDA Cyber Letters web site with links to complaints.
Needless to say, I think that Larry Silver and the other folks at CHML
will have no trouble at all finding some of their advertizers on this
site.
Heart Monday with
Don Wiskin - Susan Cameron-Block radio show
This article describes what happened when Strauss went to court in British Columbia.
Notorious cancer quack Hulda Clark featured the Strauss case on her web page.
We don't know why it was dismissed in B.C. and why Health Canada has failed to take action.
I called the toll free number that CHML provided on their promotional
spot that I heard today today, October 3, 2001 - 888-937-3382
I spoke to someone named Debbie who told me that the Strauss Heart Drops
unclogged blocked arteries.
Why does Health Canada ignore the fact that even though the FDA has
serious complaints about this company, they have so far done nothing.
Why does this company continue to market their products on the internet,
and at health food shows?
www.NaturalHeartMedicine.com - English language
www.naturalheartmedicine.com Other products
Hey, in case you think that it's o.k. to market bogus supplements for your heart, this
company has the balls to market comfrey here. This was banned from
internal use years ago in Canada, and was the subject of FTC actions this summer:
Google search for FDA banned comfrey
Scan the www.naturalheartmedicine.com for other bogus claims to treat cancer,and a host of other diseases. On November 6, 2001 less than 48 hours after Strauss
appeared on the Peter Warren show with Terry Polevoy, the site was
dead. They say it was because they were updating it. Yeah, right.
Why haven't the folks in the new Natural Health Products Directorate taken action.
Are they too busy taking French lessons?
Herbalinks a poppin'
Pay attention to their links, particularly the testimonials, the FAQs etc.
www.luckyforus.com/news.htm -
I don't see anywhere in this web site where Health Canada has approved
of the manufacturing process.
Lucky for Us - Strauss Heart Drops -- Oh, but the way, the stuff lasts
forever, and doesn't have to be refrigerated. Boy are we lucky on that
one. If it helps 85% of people, what happened to the other 15%?
BTW - I didn't see any disclaimers on this web site.
Strauss and his group was in Toronto earlier this year and had one of
the largest booths at the Total Health Expo at the Toronto Convention
Centre. I picked up lots of literature from them. All of it made wild
and unsubtantiated claims.
Real Herbal News
In conclusion:
This company has flaunted its products for years. Nothing has been done to stop them.
We call on all levels of government, and the media to take whatever action necessary to protect the public.
