Recently, the FDA prohibited the marketing of natural remedies for treating disease. Though intended to protect consumers from certain questionable natural products, this regulation further reduced competition for pharmaceutical companies. As a result, consumers were forced to use mostly brand-name drugs as they are not publicly informed of natural alternatives, remedies, and cures for illnesses. In addition, the medical industry is consistently supplied with information on the latest drugs used to treat diseases, but possible cures such as herbs are discouraged and have not been taught in medical schools. Such a regulation seems largely to protect the interests of pharma ceutical companies while endangering the health of American citizens, who are continually persuaded to overuse prescription drugs in an effort to relieve often naturally-curable health issues.

Through such regulations, the pharmaceutical companies have augmented their authority over the consumer base as well as the medical industry. This guaranteed consumer base secures continuous profits for pharmaceutical companies, and while it encourages an increased production of drugs, this newly earned profit could be employed in the persuasion of the FDA and other regulatory departments of the American government.

FDA regulations label any substances marketed to have a medical affect on the human body as “drugs” that are subject to FDA approval. The FDA strictly enforces this mandate as it has investigated many health clinics, hospitals, and even private farmers. For instance, in November 1988, the FDA raided a company that manufactures health products. During this raid, it confiscated two drums of black currant oil (an herbal good used along with other medicines in the treatment of arthritis and to stimulate the immune system), as well as significant quantities of the product in capsules under claims that they were “unsafe food additives.” In 1993, the Supreme Court ruled against the FDA stating that under such a broad classification, even water would be considered an additive.

The raids did not end there. More recently, the FDA accused FulLife Natural Options, a company that markets herbal products and natural alternatives, of advertising an "unapproved drug". The company had marketed a product that would lower the blood sugar of patients through the works of its main ingredient: bitter melon fruits. Although this proved to be an accurate claim, the FDA considers anyone or any company making medical claims without FDA approval to be in violation of FDA authority. Such an approval process is both lengthy and costly— according to nonprofit health advocacy group Natural News: "costing about $800 million and requiring the favor of an agency that practically works for Big Pharma." This form of regulation has expanded to fruits, vegetables and plants as well. Earlier in this year, the FDA warned 29 cherry growers of the consequences associated with advertising the anti-inflammatory effects of phytonutrients found in cherries. Simply mentioning scientific literature describing the medical properties of cherries converted them from fruits to "drugs" requiring FDA approval.