Caveat Emptor-Buyer Beware!

Important questions for those considering purchasing medicinal products via the website TibetanWay

Why, given its products association with, and many references to, Tibetan medicine does its website not feature any evidence that it is qualified or trained in traditional Tibetan medicine?

If it is producing supposedly Tibetan herbal treatments why are its herbal 'formulations' almost identical, in product description and ingredients, to those sold by Doctor Terry Willard of Wild Rose (Canada) who is not a qualified Physicican of Tibetan Medicine and has been selling these for years before the arrival of TibetanWay?

Why is it that health products on TibetanWay also seem to share a troubling similarity to health programmes once peddled by Christopher Hansard, whose self-appointed claims to being a 'Master Physician of Tibetan Medicine' (Bon or otherwise) were publicly exposed as being completely false? According to testimony featured on

http://lizziejanecochran.wordpress.com/

of someone who knew Mr Hansard

“His basement flat - then Barons Court, had been transformed. In the living room all the house plants had been taken out of their pots, the soil shaken off and they were tied upside down to the ceiling, to dry. CH maintained that these plants - rubber plants etc were really “secret Tibetan herbal remedies” and he was preparing them for use as remedies".

So much for Mr.Hansard's professional medical knowledge of Tibetan herbs!

The herbal ingredients of products featured on TibetanWay do not derive from, nor are native to Tibet, a fact testified in a communication by the National Institute of Medical Herbalists, and confirmed by other definitive sources. Why therefore is there any requirement, through suggestion, association and claims, to link these products with Tibetan medicine?

Conclusions

Despite the 'Tibetan' appearance of their website, repeated allusions to Tibetan medicine, and claims they are "dedicated to the best of traditional Tibetan natural health formulations" and that their formulations are partly based upon "Tibetan medical knowledge"one must genuinely question that they are producing or trading traditional and authentic Tibetan medicines?

Anyone wishing to purchase genuine Tibetan medicines is advised to visit the website of the Tibetan Medical and Astrology Institute.

http://www.tibetan-medicine.org/

A Woman's Choice

Tibetan Way sells a herbal formulation on its website which it calls 'Woman's Choice', it is virtually identical to 'Femaherb', a treatment being sold by Doctor Terry Willard of 'Wild Rose' (Canada) who has thus far chosen to maintain a silence on how and why his products seem to be being re-branded and sold by Tibetan Way. The descriptions used by both parties, to promote this particular item, share a remarkably simliar syntax, apart from an interesting addition which is featured by Tibetan Way.

They state that the central active ingredient of 'Woman's Choice' (which retails at a price of £17.50) is a herb called Dong Quai. This is what Tibetan Way claim:

"The primary botanical in Woman’s Choice is Dong Quai (Angelica sinensis), used in traditional Tibetan medicine for thousands of years."



Significantly Doctor Willard, who is an eminent and experienced herbalist of many years standing does not assocate this herb with Tibetan medicine. He is quite correct not to do so. Of course this begs the question, why has Tibetan Way once again sought to link 'its' products with Tibetan medicine? Is it sheer ignorance on their part? Recall however that the product description used by Tibetan Way are taken, almost word-for-word, from the website of Doctor Terry Willard's 'Wild Rose'. So we must question, why it is that they have borrowed the description for this particular item with such accuracy, apart from their basesless assertion that this herb is used in Tibetan medicine.

Can it be that Tibetan Way are seeking to mislead their customers, by creating an impression, through association, that their products are, as they term it "traditional Tibetan natural health formulations"? They also claim that their 'formulations' are produced partly through "Tibetan medical knowledge" unfortunately they do not feature on their website, the source of this supposed knowledge, while customers are still being denied an opportunity to view their credentials in Tibetan medicine.

Returning to their assertion that Dong Quai has been "used in traditional Tibetan medicine for thousands of years.". which one presumes has been made in the full confidence of their apparent knowledge of Tibetan medicine?

I approached the Tibetan Medical and Astrology Institute of HH the Dalai Lama, who are the premier and authoritive source of knowledge and training in Tibetan medicine. I provided them with the recognised herbal description, botanical name and images of Dong Quai and enquired if this herb was featured in traditional Tibetan medicine. The response was clear, their Director stated that, "this herb is not commonly used in traditional Tibetan Medicine".

Now any woman considering buying 'Woman's Choice' from Tibetan Way may wish to evaluate which would be the most qualified informed, definitive and authentic source of Tibetan medical knowledge, the Tibetan Medical Institute or Tibetan Way?

One must question the supposed Tibetan medical knowledge, which Tibetan Way claim, contributes to the 'production' of their formulations, and ask if it's seriously flawed, superficial, or simply non-existent?

Those interested in obtaining authentic Tibetan medicines are advised to visit the website of the Tibetan Medical and Astrology Institute.

http://www.tibetan-medicine.org/

No Comment?

What has Doctor Terry Willard of 'Wild Rose' (Canada) to say about the incredible similarities between his herbal products, and those being peddled by Tibetan Way? The ingredients and descriptions, which 'Wild Rose' used since at least 2004, are virtually identical, although unlike Tibetan Way it does not associate its formulations with Tibetan medicine, nor suggest they were made with Tibetan medical knowledge. Meanwhile, customers of Tibetan Way have still not beeen afforded a statement on its website detailing any credentials it may possess.

The following suggestion may suffice

'We (Name of Company) wish to inform our customers that transparency, accountability and integrity are core values of (Name of Company). Therefore, we hereby affirm that our herbal products should not be confused with traditional and authentic Tibetan medicines. Moreover, any repeated reference on our website to that tradition should not be construed as any assertion, suggestion, or implication that (Name of Company) has any training or qualification in traditional and authentic Tibetan medicine'.

As a trader that presumably respects, and operates upon such principles, surely Tibetan Way has no objections to issuing such a clarification? Particularly as its becoming increasing public knowledge that its products are not derived from Tibetan herbs, and that it appears to lack any formal and recognised qualifications in Tibetan medicine.

"Curiouser and Curiouser"

Further information has emerged which questions the claim by Tibetan Way that it's "dedicated to traditional Tibetan health formulations".

As was reported previously the herbal ingredients of its 'formulations' do not derive from, or are found in, Tibet, a fact which surely invalidates any suggestion or interpretation that such products are traditional Tibetan medicines? Recent enquiries into the medical products being promoted by Tibetan Way present additional questions about the origins of their products, before speculating further upon what are critical issues of importance, a brief outline concerning some significant coincidences and similiarities.

Viewers of this blog may recall that the original posting concerned the possible association with Tibetan Way of Mr.Christopher Hansard, and speculated upon the credibility of supposedly Tibetan medical products being promoted. The objective of this blog have been made clear from the beginning, to speculate and critically examine if Tibetan Way has any genuine training or qualification in traditional Tibetan medicine, and to question if there is any association with its products and Mr.Christopher Hansard.

It was revealed on other forums that there existed a worrying similarity between the medical products being sold by Tibetan Way, and those formerly peddled by Hansard, whose claims to being a Master of Tibetan medicine (Bon or otherwise) were publicly exposed as bogus. It was such a likeness that generated what was very understandable concern and speculation. Here is a comparison that was shown between Hansard's previous health programmes and those presently featured Tibetan Way:

From Hansard's site in 2006

Renewal and Rejuvenation Health Programme, Body Balance Health Programme, A Woman's Wisdom Health Programme,Emotional Rescue Health Programme, Essence Health Programme, Energy Health Programme, Digestion Health Programme,Skeletal Support Health Programme

and from http://www.tibetanway.co.uk/ (2008)

Renewal and Rejuvenation, A Woman’s Wisdom, Body Balance, Essence, Emotional Rescue, Digestion, Energy, Skeletal Support.

Given that Christopher Hansard is not a qualified Doctor of Tibetan medicine, nor received any formalised or authentic training in the traditional medical system of Tibet, his products can in no sense be considered to be genuine Tibetan medicine. By extension, if he is indeed associated with Tibetan Way, and some may be forgiven for speculating upon that possibility when comparing the similarity of products, then anyone considering purchasing any of their medical formulations should give due consideration to such points and question why Tibetan Way associates its formulations with Tibetan medicine?

Its main page on "health programmes" (http://www.tibetanway.co.uk/shop/intro.html) opens with the declaration, "Welcome to a site dedicated to the best of traditional Tibetan natural health formulations" then in the first two paragraphs refers to Tibetan medicine on seven occasions, before stating that:

"All of our products have been created with care and detailed attention based upon a blend of Western science and Tibetan medical knowledge and lifestyle wisdom which has been successfully used for thousands of years". (Emphasis added)

Given such content it is difficult for any visitor to their site not to conclude that Tibetan Way is associating its products with Tibetan medicine. Moreover it asserts that its formulations are in part based upon "Tibetan medical knowledge", perhaps they would care to make public details of any authentic training within the Tibetan medical system that qualifies them to prepare traditional Tibetan medicines?

More recently equally curious similarities have arisen which question if the medical products being sold by Tibetan Way are not traditional or authentic Tibetan medicines, but derive from other sources? It would seem that Tibetan Way's website was registered in late 2006. Given that its website-administrator has claimed that there is no association between Hansard and that company, and affirmed that neither Ms.Stephanie Wright or Mr. Roderick Lane http://www.skeptics.org.uk/forum/showthread.php?t=696&page=14 also have any involvement, one would have concluded that the items being sold are under the copyright control/origin of Tibetan Way itself?

Unfortunately thus far they have been rather coy about who exactly IS involved, but their website-administrator has insisted that there has been no copyright infringements concerning the products http://forum.rickross.com/read.php?12,25113,page=105 and been clear to state that they have nothing whatsover to do with him http://www.skeptics.org.uk/forum/showthread.php?t=696&page=14)

In light of such statements surely it would be reasonable to conclude that the formulations being sold on Tibetan Way are copyrighted to that company, and produced by them?

If so I wonder if Tibetan Way would care explain WHY and HOW the descriptions and contents of its 'medical' formulations, which appear on their website, match, in remarkable detail, those herbal medicines being sold by a Canadian company, which seems to have been using those same descriptions/formulae since at least 2004!

Take the following examples:

"Cleansaherb is specially formulated to cleanse the bloodstream, muscle tissue and lymphatic system of toxic waste material ("morbid" matter) and metabolic byproducts. These waste materials are then eliminated from the body via the urinary system. Red Clover, the primary herb in this formula, has been used successfully in many cases of heavy metal toxicity, lymphatic toxicity and mucous congestion. Cleansaherb is an excellent adjunct to fasting and other cleansing programs. Each Tablet Contains: Red Clover 130mg, Burdock root 65mg, Echinacea angustifolia herb 65mg, Mullein leaf 65mg, Uva Ursi leaf 65mg, Parsley leaf 65mg, Marshmallow root 65mg". (Wild Rose Herbal Medicines Canada)

http://www.wrc.net/store/ProductDetails.aspx?productID=414

...and now Tibetan Way's description of its formulation

"Purity is specially formulated and may cleanse the bloodstream, muscle tissue and lymphatic system of toxic waste material and metabolic by products. These waste materials are then eliminated from the body via the urinary system. Red clover, the primary herb in this formula, has been used successfully in many cases of heavy metal toxicity, lymphatic toxicity and mucous congestion. Purity is an excellent adjunct to fasting and other cleansing programmes. Red Clover blossoms (Trifolium pratense), Burdock root (Arcticum lappa), Echinacea angusifolia (Echinacea angustifolium), Mullein leaf (Verbascum thapsus), Uva Ursi leaf (arctostaphlos uva-ursi), Parsley leaf (Petroselinum sativum), Marshmallow root (Althaea officinalis)."

http://www.tibetanway.co.uk/shop/renewalPurity.html

"Biliherb Formula stimulates bile production by the liver and its release from the gallbladder (where it is stored) into the small intestine. Bile is necessary for proper digestion as it serves to emulsify dietary fats, enhancing their absorption. It also makes metabolic wastes and toxins water-soluble, preparing them for elimination from the body. Biliherb helps to decrease cholesterol buildup in the gallbladder and aids in the prevention and dissolution of gallstones. It is an excellent formula for detoxifying and strengthening liver function. This herbal combination additionally supports the spleen which, in turn, leads to greater overall blood cleansing and enhancing liver function.Each Tablets Contains:Black Radish root 109mg, Barberry root bark 72.7mg, Wood Bentony herb 36.4mg, Dandelion root 36.4mg." (Wild Rose Herbal Medicines Canada)

http://www.wrc.net/store/ProductDetails.aspx?productID=410


...and again Tibetan Way's description of its formulation

"In Working Order can stimulate bile production by the liver and its release from the gallbladder (where it is stored) into the small intestine. Bile is necessary for proper digestion as it serves to emulsify dietary fats, enhancing their absorption. It also makes metabolic wastes and toxins water soluble, preparing them for elimination from the body. In Working Order may help to decrease cholesterol build up in the gallbladder and aids in the prevention and dissolution of gallstones. It can be an excellent formula for detoxifying and strengthening liver function. This herbal combination can additionally support the spleen which, in turn, can lead to greater overall blood cleansing and enhanced liver function. Black Radish Root (Raphanus sativus nigra), Barberry root bark (Berberis vulgaris), Dandelion root (Taraxacum officinale), Ginger root (Zingiber officinalis), Cramp bark (Viburnum opulus), Marshmallow Root (Althaea officinalis), Wood Betony (Pedicularis Canadensis), parsley root (petroselinum sativum)".

http://www.tibetanway.co.uk/shop/renewalIWO.html

Virtually every formulation being promoted on Tibetan Way's website (copies of which have been filed) would appear to carry almost identical descriptions of herbal products to those manufactured and sold by Wild Rose of Canada http://www.wildrose.com/productinformation_herbal.htm , which has been using the same descriptions for its products for what seems to be two years before the emergence of Tibetan Way! Moreover the ingredients are the same, and noted in the same order of quantity!

What is the potential customer of Tibetan Way to make of this? Is it simply acting as 'middle-man' selling on re-branded herbal products? Given their continued reluctance to present any evidence of training or qualification in Tibetan medicine, considering the fact their herbal ingredients do not derive from Tibet, nor are native to that country, can potential clients be confident that they are purchasing "traditional Tibetan health formulations"? The identical nature of the descriptions and contents of such products force anyone of normal intelligence and integrity to ask, if Tibetan Way are trading the products of another company and 'presenting' them as Tibetan medicines?

Where does this leave the matter of copyright now? We have the previous assurances and assertions of Tibetan Way's website administrator that he had seen legal documents that made clear there was no copyright issues http://forum.rickross.com/read.php?12,25113,page=105 . One could only speculate from such a comment that either Tibetan Way has copyright control, or that they have been extended permission by another company to trade and re-brand products as their own? It is though unclear how they can reasonably claim copyright-control over herbal medicines, which would appear to be the product of another company?

Furthermore, Doctor Terry Willard of Wild Rose may well question if his herbal formulations are seemingly being re-packaged and promoted as "traditional Tibetan health formulations"? It must be presumed that Tibetan Way asked permission of Doctor Williard, to reproduce on its site, the same product descriptions which have been featured on the website of Wild Rose since at least 2004?

According to his website "For over thirty years, Terry Willard, Cl.H.,Ph.D., has studied the medicinal properties of plants. He is recognized as one of North America's leading Clinical Herbalists. He appears regularly in the print and electronic media as an exponent of responsible herbal use. He currently serves as the President of the Canadian Association of Herbal Practitioners, a professional member of the American Herbalist Guild and in the Canadian Health Food Association's Hall of Fame.".

Significantly, there is no reference to any qualification or training within traditional and authentic Tibetan medicine. If Tibetan Way are trading, what appear to be remarkably similar items to Doctor Willard's herbal treatments, and he would seem not be a qualified Doctor of Tibetan medicine, then this begs further questions about the claims made by Tibetan Way, that it is dedicated to "traditional Tibetan health formulations" or that its products are derived from "Tibetan medical knowledge". Moreover it promotes additional concerns as to WHY it associates Tibetan medicine with its products on its website?

Doctor Willard's site was prominently linked on Christopher Hansard's former website http://www.bonmedicine.co.uk/ which significantly has now been removed. Elsewhere there has been some speculation if indeed Doctor Willard was more closely associated with Hansard, and possibly the originator of his 'health formulations'? I have no personal opinion on such speculation, however what is known is that Hansard was formerly active in Canada during 2004 and 2005. It may not be relevant, however interestingly, Doctor Willard's 'Wild Rose College of Natural Healing' website was at the time actively promoting a number of 'workshops' by the Master of Dur-Con. Whatever the facts, many people will be asking if there exists a curious thread connecting Hansard's health (sic) programme, the specific herbal products of Trophic/Wild Rose and the formulations being sold by Tibetan Way? Possible connections which seem to go beyond a conventional understanding of coincidence?

This whole affair is characterised by an opacity and confusion which only adds to the many unanswered questions. Exactly who is behind Tibetan Way? Are they misleading the public by associating/presenting their products as Tibetan medicines/formulations? Why are they associating their formulations with Tibetan medicine, yet are not it seems qualified or trained in traditional Tibetan medicine? Is Christopher Hansard associated with Tibetan Way? Precisely whose products are being sold on Tibetan Way?

Care to Clarify?

Amidst continuing speculation relating to the 'medicines' sold by Tibetan Way, the public (including potential customers) have yet to be graced with any credible information that would testify to that company's training and qualifications in Tibetan medicine. This raises a number of important and reasonable questions, which one could imagine may be of interest to a variety of regulatory organisations?

It has been suggested to Tibetan Way they they feature a statement on their site to clarify the details of authentic Tibetan medical training and qualifications they received,. Such details would reassure people of their credibility as producers and suppliers of what they claim are "traditional Tibetan health formulations". Unfortunately thus far they have not featured such a statement, despite an understandable and reasonable curiosity to establish the facts. One wonders why it is that they seem reluctant to confirm their background in traditional Tibetan medicine? Moreover, in light of the fact that the active ingredients used in their formulations are herbs, not from or native to Tibet, many would be naturally be puzzled why Tibetan Way continues to associate its non-Tibetan products so closely with Tibetan medicine? Surely as a credible and responsible company it would wish to resolve the current confusion by addressing, what are questions of public interest and importance to possible customers?

Tibetan Medicine?

In the continued absence of any corroborative information, which would verify the credentials of Tibetan Way, questions continue to be raised concerning their training and qualification within Tibetan medicine. Their website claims to be "dedicated to the best of traditional Tibetan natural health formulations" and features a number of herbs as medicinal ingredients.

Anyone of reasonable intelligence and understanding would naturally conclude that the herbal ingredients of such 'medicines' would be those used in authentic Tibetan medical pharmacology, otherwise how could they credibly assert it to be traditional Tibetan 'medicine'?

However, if we examine in more detail the herbs featured by Tibetan Way we notice that they originate not from Tibet, but from climates, habitats and locations very different indeed to the Tibetan Plateau.

Tibetan Way lists the following as active medical ingredients in its "formulations". The native habitat and geographical location for each herb has been determined with the kind and authoritative assistance of the National Institute of Medical Herbalists and two definitive reference texts on the subject.

Blue Cohosh Root (caulophyllum thalictroides) - Eastern and North America
Black Cohosh Root (Cimicifuga racemosa) - North America & Candada and as far south as Florida in woodland.
Blessed Thistle (Cnicus benedictus) - Mediterranean, Asia - dry ground
Cramp Bark (Viburnum opulus) - Europe, North Africa - wood clearings and wet soil
Chaste Berry (vitex agnus cactus) - Mediterranean, West Asia, East Africa, - Subtropical upland
Dandelion Root (Taraxacum officinale,) - Northern hemisphere in most conditions
Meadowsweet (spirea ulmaria) - Europe and West Asian - fertile, waterside soils
Gentian (Gentiana lutea) - Europe - native to the Alps and mountainous regions of Central and southern Europe from Spain to the Balkans
Goldenseal (Hydrastis Canadensis) - North America
Fennel Seed, (Anethum Feoniculum), - Fennel is Feoniculum vulgaris - Europe, Mediterranean in well drained loam. Anethum feoniculum is Dill found in Southern Europe to India in rich, well drained soil.
Fenugreek Seed, (Trigonealla foenum-graecum). - Southern Europe and Asia in dry grasslands, hillsides

Echinacea angustifolia root (Echinacea angustifolia) - Central North America in dry open woodland
Echinacea purpurea root (Echinacea purpurea) - Native of central parts of USA and Europe
Ginger root (Zingiber officinalis) - tropical Asia in lowland forest
Barberry Root Bark (Berberis vulgaris) - Native to Europe, naturalised in North America
Valerian extract (4:1) (Valerina officinalis), -Native to Europe and northern Asia
Hops (Homulus lupulus)- Indigenous to Europe and Asia
Skullcap (Scutellaria lupulus) - Scutellaria lateriflora - Native to North America and Canada
Passionflower (Passiflora incarnate) - Native ot Southern US. Cultivated in Europe especially Italy
White Peony Root (Paeonia lactiflora) - Cultivated throughout NE China and Inner Mongolia
Corydalis Root (Dicentra Canadensis) Native to north eastern USA
Liquorice Root (Glycrrhiza glabra) - wild in SE Europe and SW Asia but now extensively cultivated
Cayenne fruit (Capsicum Sp.) - Native to tropical Americas. Now cultivated throughout the tropics especially Africa and India
Dong Quai Root (Angelica sinensis) - Central Asia
Lobelia herb (Lobelia infanta) - Indigenous American plant. N America and Eastern US
Red Clover (Trifolium pratense). - Native to Europe and Asia. Naturalised in N America and Australia

Siberian Ginseng Root (Eleuthrococcus senticosus) - Native to Russia, China, Korea and Japan
Astralagus Root (Astralagus membranaceus) - Native to Mongolia and North and East China
American Ginseng Root (Panax quinquefolium) - Native to North America and the Himalayas
Reishi Mushroom (Ganoderma lucidum) - Europe, China on stumps or roots of broadleaf trees
Condonopsis Root (Codonopsis pilosula) - Native to NE China
Fo-Ti Root (Polygonum multiflorum).- Polygonatum multiflorum - Native to Europe & temperate regions of Asia
Chlorella (Chlorella pyrenoidosa) - algae cultivated in Japan or Taiwan
Devils Claw (Harpagophytum procumbens), - Native to Southern and Eastern Africa most commonly found in veldt in Transvaal
Yucca root (Yucca sp) - SE USA - in dry, sandy areas

Anyone considering purchasing 'medicines' from Tibetan Way would surely question why it is that supposedly "traditional Tibetan natural health formulations" seem to be produced from herbs that do not exist in, or are native to Tibet?

SOURCES:
Private Communications with NIMH (2008)
RHS Encyclopaedia of Herbs (2003)
KADANS, JOSEPH M. Encyclopedia of Medicinal Herbs
1983

An Invitation

I would like once again to extend an invitation to Tibetan Way to make available, for the purposes of clarification, information which would testify to its training and qualification in genuine Tibetan medicine.

As its website states that it is "dedicated to the best of traditional Tibetan natural health formulations" I am genuinely curious to learn more details about the nature of any authentic Tibetan medical training, it has qualified in, to enable it to be a producer, of what is an extremely specialised and traditional form of medicine,. One that requires years of dedicated study at a recognised Tibetan Institute of Medicine.

As Mr.Chris Farmer has affirmed that he is a freelance web-designer contracted by the owners/sponsors of Tibetan Way, to construct and administer the site, and therefore one would reasonably imagine not per se of the company itself, my request for the publication of such information is directed to actual company members of Tibetan Way.

May I suggest that such corroborative information is placed upon your website for the benefit of visitors and potential customers.