A scam, I presume. Nevertheless: I hope Andrea contradicts me this time.
Thanks for the heads up! I hadn’t seen this one before.
ARP 100 Anti Body-Hair Growth Active
Some plants have medicinal properties, but many herbalists make claims about plant uses that have not been tested under scientific conditions. For instance, St. John’s wort was claimed to be an anti-depressant for centuries, but last year, a thorough medical test showed it was not helpful in treating serious depression.
In the case of ARP 100, herbalists claim this product contains three plants called phytoestrogens. These plants have been shown to have a mild antiandrogenic effect (they sometimes reduce levels of certain male type hormones that appear in both men and women). The three they list:
saw palmetto
epilobium roseum (willowherb)
pumpkin seed
These herbs have been investigated clinically for use in treating benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). BPH is worsened by the presence of 5-alpha reductase, a chemical that also influences hair growth. These herbs have been shown in clinical studies to affect levels of 5-alpha reductase in some men.
Here’s where herbalists make their leap in logic. When they read a legitimate scientific study about an herb’s effects under controlled conditions, many assume (without proof) that it must work under other conditions. Rather than subjecting the product to testing for that specific use, they mix some up and claim (without proof) that it works for other purposes.
That’s what we have here. Some classic quackery. Here’s their logic:
- BPH is partially affected by 5-alpha reductase
- Some herbs improve BPH by reducing 5-alpha reductase
- Hair growth is partially affected by 5-alpha reductase
They take these three scientific facts and make an unscientific leap into quackery. They assume without rigorous testing that if a product inhibits BPH, it must also inhibit hair growth, since both are partially affected by 5-alpha reductase.
That’s the flaw in their logic, and where they become unscientific.
To lay a veneer of science over their claim, they also say they have done testing, but this testing is not up to scientific standards and would never be published in an established medical journal.
In an unpublished, in-house test, they claim they tested it on ten people, with final results measured three weeks after last application. This small sample size of ten people is way too low for an accuate assessment. The Vaniqa tests submitted to FDA had almost 600 participants. In addition, three weeks is far too short a time to make an evaluation regarding hair growth.
The manufacturer makes soaps, toiletries and sells fragrances for use in the field of aromatherapy. They sell ARP for mixing into other products. From their site:
</font><blockquote><font size=“1” face=“Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif”>quote:</font><hr /><font size=“2” face=“Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif”>ARP 100 - A very exciting new cosmetic ingredient from France. Ingredients: water, alcohol, saw palmetto extract, epilobium roseum extract, cucurbita seed extract. This synergistic herbal complex provides a combined action of limiting body hair growth. Recommended use rate is 2 - 5%, 5% in a lotion was the percentage used in the testing. A transparent amber liquid, it is easy to incorporate into formulations. pH: 5.3 </font><hr /></blockquote><font size=“2” face=“Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif”>Oshun Spirit Arts Ltd.
33511 Best Avenue, Mission, BC V2V 5Z3 Canada
Sherri-Lee Gagnon
Email: info@oshun.ca
Phone: 604-820-1099
Fax: 604-820-0280
So, bottom line: this cosmetic additive has not been tested under controlled clinical conditions and should be avoided by those who demand proof of claims before buying a product that claims to affect hair growth.
[ May 11, 2002, 12:45 PM: Message edited by: Andrea ]
so andrea do you have any information about any product that is under development or clinical trials?
so andrea do you have any information about any product that is under development or clinical trials?
so andrea do you have any information about any product that is under development or clinical trials?
I’m not aware of any that are being tested in preparation for FDA approval, and I’m not aware of any studies being done for publication in medical journals.
Vaniqa has been tested for use treating razor bumps in men by some hair removal experts, but this use has not yet been evaluated by FDA.
I’ll definitiely let you know if I hear anything!