A while back we issued a press release supporting the introduction of adverse event reporting legislation - S. 3546. It is a bi-partisan piece of legislation introduced by Senator Orrin Hatch - a long time advocate of nutritional supplements. It has the support of the Natural Products Association and the American Herbal Products Association among others. But there are organizations vehemently opposing this legislation…

The American Association for Health Freedom is an organization in opposition. On their website, they do raise some legitimate concerns.

However, I find the Natural Products Association’s reasons for supporting the legislation more convincing, and they provide a bit more information and insight.

It is definitely a complex issue, flanked by mistrust of government regluation and big-pharma on one side, with faith in our trade organizations and legislative advocates on the other. Anyone who has experience in the industry is familiar with this high-wire act.

Links to both sites have been provided, please check them out and feel free to comment!

Well, I’ve made a blog post three days in a row! I’m really trying to post more frequently as we have been told people enjoy reading the Enzymes, Inc blog - even when it doesn’t have to do with enzyme supplements.

A couple of things to report today…

A doctor called us wondering why our phone number was not on our professional products. I wondered as well…

It turns out it was removed from the labels of the NESS, BioSET and Advanced Formula lines to prevent confusion among patients with questions. The health care practitioner who recommended the product is the person a patient should call with questions or concerns as we at Enzymes, Inc. do not have access to their records and no knowledge of pre-existing conditions, allergies, sensitivities, etc. While we are happy to provide information, we certainly would not want to unknowingly circumvent a doctor’s recommendation. The doctor knows best…

Also, it looks like Tom Bohager’s (Enzymedica) new book is out - I’ve read the first couple of chapters and can’t wait to give it a read cover to cover! At the end of the second chapter he mentions some enzyme pioneers. He of course mentions Dr. Edward Howell (Enzymes, Inc. was formed from his National Enzyme Company), and also Dr. Ellen Cutler - founder of the BioSET Institute and author of MicroMiracles: Discover the Healing Power of Enzymes. Congratulations Mr. Bohager - and kudos for promoting enzyme supplementation. How about sending a few copies over…?

In the mean time, tomorrow begins the yearly Enzymes, Inc. FCA adventure. We’ve been doing the FCA event since the beginning and have seen it grow and grow. If you’re a DC and happen to be in Kissimmee, Florida this weekend - swing on by booth(s) 304 / 306 and say hello!

One last thing. Consumer Labs just release information stating they have tested 16 brands of products containing Valerian. They list all of the companies tested, and state one contained lead and two contained cadmium. How unfair is that to list all the products and then semantically link them all to the contaminated brands? To add insult to injury, Consumer Labs wants you to pay to read this study as well.

I read Jon Benninger’s blog (from Natural Products Insider magazine) and agree with his statement: Until industry creates, funds and delivers a meaningful product testing program, Consumerlab will continue with these questionable practices. Here’s a link.

Oh yeah – one last thing. Dr. Ellen Cutler is answering questions on prevention.com relating to food sensitivities, allergies, and enzymes. Sign in and ask her a question. Here’s the link to Dr. Ellen Cutler on prevention.com.

Thanks for reading – see you soon!

Hello again everyone.

In my public relations capacity with Enzymes, Inc. I come across many interesting websites and news articles.  Most of the news article are posted or archived on www.enzymeexperts.com, but the interesting sites never really get posted anywhere.

I thought you might enjoy it if I shared some of them with you - even though they don’t all have to do with digestive enzymes, systemic enzymes, or enzyme supplementation (fyi - there’s plenty of that in previous posts and on www.enzymesinc.com!):

This is a neat site containing water quality information by city. You just select your state and city, and the reported water quality information is provided – pretty neat, huh?  Check your city’s water quality here.

Here is a link to National Enzyme Company’s quantitative report proving the efficacy of enzyme supplementation – NEC and TNO study.

NPI Center is a fantastic place to keep up to date on the ins and outs of the nutritional supplement industry – a great site full of current industry related news

Since 1983, Townsend Letter has been publishing a print alternative medicine magazine. As a forum for the entire alternative medicine community, they present scientific information (pro and con) on a wide variety of alternative medicine topics – view the website for a premier Alternative Medicine journal here – including information on meetings and conventions.

This is a super cool site designed for kids with an interest in medicine. Edheads Virtual Knee Surgery has won web design awards for this interactive knee surgery site.  Perform surgery on a knee or a hip from the comfort of your computer table.

Google’s health news is a fantastic tool for someone interested in keeping up on health news on a daily basis, click here for a link to Google health.

 As you know Dr. Edward Howell is the pioneer of enzyme therapy, and the author of groundbreaking work on the subject.  Well, it turns out he has his very own MySpace page, visit Dr. Howell’s page and add him as your friend!

Well, that’s about all the time I can spend on this update.  I’ll keep a list of new ones I come across and bring them to you at a later date!

Things have been busy as usual at Enzymes, Inc.

No sooner do we return from the American Association of Naturopathic Physicians annual convention in Portland, Oregon, do we have to turn around and head out again for the Florida Chiropractic Association’s National Convention in Kissimmee, Florida - with Peggy heading out for the Pennsylvania Chiropractic Association meeting in Valley Forge as well. We love the opportunity to discuss our enzyme supplements face to face with new, current, and prospective customers alike!

Dr. Russell Lieberman and Lynn Greaves with join our Florida broker Suzanne Fields, and new consultant Mark Rosales from CardioGrade, at the Gaylord Palms Resort and Hotel in Kissimmee.  Also, Dr. Ellen Cutler from the BioSET Institute, and author of MicroMiracles: Discover the Healing Power of Enzymes, will be present signing copies of the new book.

In conjunction with our cardiovascular products from the BioSET line – Heart, Vascular Maintenance, and Circulation – we have been working with Mark Rosales of CardioGrade at several different events.  CardioGrade provides patients and doctors with heart health information through Digital Pulse Analyzation device using Heart Rate Variability software.  For more information about CardioGrade visit: http://www.cardiograde.com/analysis.htm - the site is still under construction, but informative content is available.

After the FCA convention, Enzymes, Inc. representatives will be attending the International and American Associations of Clinical Nutritionists annual event in San Diego, California, Natural Products Expo East in Baltimore, Maryland, and the Illinois Chiropractic Society meeting in Springfield, Illinois.  For more information about Enzymes, Inc. events check the calendar at www.enzymeexperts.com.

Hello everyone.

Sorry we haven’t posted in a while – things have been kind of crazy around here!

Representatives from Enzymes, Inc. attended three tradeshow events in the month of July - the NNFA (now the Natural Products Association) Annual Natural Products Convention and Trade show in Las Vegas, the Kansas Chiropractic Association’s New Doctor Seminar in Wichita, Kansas, and the ANMA Annual Convention – also held in Las Vegas.

For the most part, the NPA (guess I should start referring to it as such) does it’s best to remain impartial and promote nutritional supplements and natural products evenly across the board. However, I did attend the “Opening SuperSession” featuring a well known naturopathic doctor delivering a “Natural Medicine Update”. Unfortunately, it seemed more like a seminar promoting his products. At one point he raised a question something to the effect of: “how do I know if I am getting quality supplements?” He answered himself by responding that if is his picture was on the label you could be assured it was quality – then a picture of his products actually appeared on his PowerPoint presentation. The audience erupted in laughter, but it really wasn’t funny.

This was supposed to be an “official” NNFA educational program, or at least not a “sponsored infosession”. He even went on to speak about the newest developments in supplements - which turned out to consist mainly of products his company was working on…sheesh! But then his computer stopped working and the poor guy was essentially unable to continue. He spent way too much time trying to get it running again, and people were walking out.

After this NNFA endorsed commercial display, I was hesitant to attend any more of these forums, but really wanted to hear the keynote address of Senator Orrin Hatch the following morning. He delivered a discourse concerning nutritional supplement legislation. Senator Hatch is a staunch supporter of the industry, and supplement enthusiasts on both sides of the counter can rest assured he will do all he can to insure their availability in the future. He is an excellent orator (he didn’t depend on a laptop to get him through, that’s for sure), and held the audience captive as they waited for his every word. I especially liked the part about the church pastor with the rolled up papers in his hand…if you were there then you know what I’m talking about! I tape recorded his speech – if I get some time in the near future, I’ll try to get it transcribed here on our blog or somewhere on the Enzymes, Inc. or Enzyme Experts site.

Anyway, before Senator Hatch spoke, NNFA President David Taylor announced the name change to the Natural Product Association, and awards were handed out for different areas of excellence in the natural products industry. It was a great way to kick off the two-day event. In addition to myself, our company owner Lynn Greaves, and our sales manager Dr. Rusty Lieberman attended the event. Dr. Ellen Cutler also was present both days, signing copies of her new book – MicroMiracles: Discover the Healing Power of Enzymes.

Dr. Lieberman attended the Kansas Chiropractic Association’s new doctor seminar the following week in Wichita, Kansas. This small, one day event is held yearly to familliarize new doctors in the state with different vendors offering products and services, as well as educate them on various areas of interest. He thoroughly enjoyed meeting the 30 or so new doctors present, and was pleased to meet the director of business development from Cleveland Chiropractic College, Dr. John Nab.

Steve Perry, Michele Jordan’s replacement as Western States Sales Representative, and myself attended the American Naturopathic Medical Association’s (ANMA) Annual Convention in Las Vegas. It was quite an event. We talked to numerous naturopathic members of this organization, and gave out almost all of our NESS and BioSET product samples and information.

This annual event is health product multi-level marketing heaven, and we were one of the few present who was not involved in some type of pyramid endeavor. Unfortunately, MLM is the only way some of these products can make their way to the people who need them, it just seems the “I’m going to get rich” aspect compromises the product’s integrity. Speaking of pyramids, the vendors at this event ran the gambit from pyramid hats with crystal pendulums to FDA approved devices used to detect arterial decay. It’s a good event with a very friendly atmosphere, we enjoyed meeting old and new customers and helping them address their questions regarding enzyme supplements.

Coming up, Lynn and Dr. Lieberman will be attending the American Association of Naturopathic Physician’s (AANP) annual convention in Portland, Oregon. Visit us in booth 525 – we will be providing information regarding our BioSET and Advanced Formula lines of supplements at this event.

Western States Sales Rep. Peggy Gower will be in booth 14 at the upcoming Pennsylvania Chiropractic Association Annual Convention in Valley Forge, Pennzylvania with NESS, BioSET, and Advanced Formula information and samples. If you’re a chiropractic physician in the state of Pennsylvania, and have any questions about digestive enzymes or systemic enzymes, there is no one better qualified to answer your questions than Mrs. Peggy Gower – that’s for sure!

Some other events coming up for Enzymes, Inc. include the Florida Chiropractic Association (FCA) National Convention in Kissimmee, Florida, the International Association of Clinical Nutritionist (IAACN) Annual Convention in San Diego, California, and the Natural Products Expo West in Baltimore, Maryland. Check back for more information!