Herbex – ASA rulings

Herbex makes a range of products which claim to be either homeopathic or herbal preparations. These include:

• Herbex Slimmers a.k.a. Herbex Original
• Herbex Slimmers for Men
• Herbex Slimmers for Women
• HerbAqua
• Herbex Nerve Tonic

We intend deconstructing each of these illustrating common threads, including one or more of the following:

1. No evidence based proof of efficacy for the individual ingredients, or the combination thereof.
2. Even if there was proof of efficacy for the individual ingredients, the dosage used in the product are far less than that used in the original studies for the ingredient – imagine if evidence shows that you need 200 mg of aspirin to treat a headache, and you are sold a product containing 2mg and making the same claim
3. Uses dosages greater than homeopathic range and much less than suggested by herbal texts
4. Contains ingredients which according to references, are actually appetite stimulants
5. Makes claims which requires it to be registered as a medicine
6. Contains an ingredient which requires dispensing by a qualified medical professional
7. The substantiator of these products, Dr RC Sandell, has very little experience in homeopathy, herbal medicine or pharmacology, and did not any use any evidence based proof to show that the product works, that is, he is unable to back up his arguments with any proof. In fact, Dr Sandell claims to be a homeopath but there is no evidence of having qualified as a homeopath (no diploma/qualification obtained by examination)

In conclusion, in spite of Herbex being able to convince the ASA that their products work based on the support of Dr RC Sandell, there is actually no proof of efficacy but simply the “belief” of this person. Based on science (or lack of scientific evidence), consumers need to consider that these products are nothing but scams.

Previous Herbex Rulings

Herb Aqua Slim / Dr H Steinman (3 May 2004)

Herbex Nerve Tonic / Dr W J Levin / 1439 (12 August 2004)

Herb Aqua Slim / Prof D Labadarios / 1556 (20 September 2004)

Herbex Slimmers / Prof D Labadarios / 1557 (14 October 2004)

Herb Aqua Slim / Prof D Labadarios / 1556 (18 October 2004)

Herb Aqua / Dr H A Steinman / 1757 (11 January 2005)

Herbex Slimmers / School for Health & Rehabilitation Sciences / 1197 (25 July 2005)

Herbex Nerve Tonic / MB Trutter / 940 (28 July 2005)

Herbex Nerve Tonic / MB Truter / 940 (19 August 2005)

Herbex Slimmers / School for Health & Rehabilitation Sciences / 1197 (19 August 2005)

Herbex / School of Health & Rehabilitation (25 August 2005)

Herbex Slimmers for Men / Dr H Steinman / 879 (26 August 2005)

Herbex Slimmers / School for Health & Rehabilitation Sciences / 1197 (5 September 2005)

Herbex Slimmers / MB Truter / 2233 (11 October 2005)

Herbex Slimmers for Men / Dr H Steinman / 879 (15 November 2005)

Herbex Slimmers for Men / Dr H Steinman / 879 (20 September 2006)

Slim Herb Aqua / Dr HA Steinman / 8020 (12 January 2007)

Herbex Slimmers / Prof D Labadarios / 1557 (14 February 2007)

Slim Herb Aqua / Dr HA Steinman / 8020 (25 April 2007)

Herbex / HA Steunman / 8020 (Appeal) – 5 February 2008

Herbex Website Erroneous / HA Steinman / 10733 (15 April 2008)

Herbex “No Side Effects” / HA Steinman / 10732 (15 April 2008)

Herbex Natural / HA Steinman / 13351 (1 July 2009)

Herbex Weight Loss / HA Steinman / 12944 (14 July 2009)

Herbex Natural / HA Steinman / 13351 (ASC) – 21 September 2009

Herbex Hlasela Amafutha / A Dormer / 16267 (15 October 2010)

Herbex Immune Defence Syrup / HA Steinman / 19483 (15 February 2012)