Transcript
A (0:00)
I was diagnosed with an autoimmune disease called interstitial cystitis. And the way I describe that for people is think of your bladder now. Light it on fire, turn it inside out, and put it out with a track shoe. That's what my bladder felt like all day, every day for seven years.
B (0:16)
That's how Paola Brown describes the condition that took over her life and set her on a very different path to healing.
A (0:23)
I eventually find homeopathic medicines, and within a month, I felt a shift in my bladder, a shift in my symptoms, and by the end of that year, I was 90% better.
B (0:34)
Earlier this year, lawmakers introduced the Homeopathic Drug Product Safety, Quality and Transparency Act. Brown is an advocate for homeopathic medicine and president of Americans for Homeopathy Choice. So what exactly is homeopathy, and why do some people turn to it? When conventional treatments fall short, it's almost
A (0:54)
like it introduces a false disease to your body. Your immune system goes to fight the false disease. And what does it cure? Almost by accident.
C (1:03)
Are there side effects?
A (1:04)
No, there's no side effect.
B (1:06)
Supporters say the new bill would protect access to homeopathy by creating clearer rules.
A (1:11)
The FDA basically blocked all homeopathic eye drops, and as of a little over a year now, you can't buy those anymore.
C (1:19)
What's the objection?
B (1:21)
This is American Thought Leaders, and I'm Jania Kelik.
C (1:26)
Paola Brown, such a pleasure to have you on American Thought Leaders.
A (1:30)
Thank you. I'm so excited to be here.
C (1:32)
So America is in, unfortunately, and kind of unprecedented crisis when it comes to health. You hear this maxim, okay? On the one hand, the spending is off the charts, and on the other hand, the health outcomes are low, especially when you compare it to the spending on health care. So what's the problem?
A (1:55)
So I'm a mom, and we are raising by far the sickest generation of children to ever walk the earth. And as mothers, and even the millennial moms worse off, we are the sickest generation of moms to raise children. And we are so sick. And we are looking for alternatives. And when we find those alternatives, we're finding that those alternatives are harder and harder to get access to.
