The Herbal Pyramid Scheme!

[Michael Alexander]

Does anyone know anything about a tale where certain people are involved in an alleged pyramid scheme to urge people to buy a certain herbal brand of medicines?

[SandyB]

Seen ads on TV for various stuff  like that ... One thing  Our Bertie definitely  not involved ...   

[Bertie Horak]

No-noooo  Defiitely NOT my cup of tea (excuse the pun...)

I had a big fight with Herbalife a few years back - I accused them of being a pyramid scheme, and really shaky when it came to their products.  Main argument was, when I inquired about the caffeine content of their "energy tea powder" they wanted to rub off onto me - they told me it's a "different kind of caffeine and totally safe".... OH PLEASE!!! Caffeine is caffeine - it is an alkaloid with a known chemical structure - there simply isn't any "other kinds of caffeine".  Morons - got an immediate dislike in them, and when they explained to me that if I joined I would get so much and so much commission on every new person that joins on my recommendation, I straight forward called them a pyramid scheme with NO idea on their "secret" ingredients.  I will NEVER advise people to take the stuff.  It's sad that a company has the word "HERB" in their name, but they cant give you info on the so-called herbs in their products...

My advice:  There's many scam artists on the net and selling their stuff on the shelves.  If you want advice on herbal medicine, go to (or ask) a REGISTERED practitioner who has NO direct connection to any product sold over the counter or mail order....
I ask all my patients who take funny products to bring me the containers/telephone numbers/names, and then I do my own research, often phoning the manufacturers themselves to get the facts from them.  I know what questions to ask, regarding constituents, manufacturing process, plant parts used, etc,etc...  90% of the time, the products are a load of bulldust, and I even found one where a lady paid R200 a month for a product, and when I checked up on it.... she had all the ingredients to make it herself in her own kitchen...... for less than R10 !!!!!   

[Michael Alexander]

My sources, allege that people in professional positions, are using their positions, during work hours to "promote" these products to the benefit themselves financially.....

[SandyB]

Mmmm seems   our  intrepid  Mike has  stumbled upon  the  secrets  of the pharoah's and how they get wealthy .....   

[Michael Alexander]

Just thinking about the correct wording for this tale, so I cannot be sued by anyone.....

   

[Diana Rudd (Boehme)]

I feel quite strongly about these products Herbalife being one, that advertise.....drink this shake or whatever and loose X amount of kilo's in X amount of time. Then in tiny print "with a calorie controlled diet". Bullshit.....its the calorie controlled diet that is making you loose the weight not the product. I have dieted a grand total of 3 times in my life counting calories and have lost a good amount of weight each time keeping the weight off for a good few years. NEVER using one of these products in conjuction with it. Now they will say the shake adds vitamins to the diet ect ect. Another bullshit from me. All our good foods from all the food brackets are generaly low or lowish in calories therefore when counting calories you would tend to eat them.
Sorry here's me getting off the pyramid topic but it just got me thinking about these ads that irk me everytime I see one.

[Michael Alexander]

Let's see if I can put this in a way that certain people understand what is happening here:

Here's a Fairytale......

An individual is employed by a major pie making company.
His job is in the get healthy department.
The pie making company pays him a nice salary to make all the pie making companies employees healthy when they are feeling under the weather.
He is meant to prescribe medical products from the local hole in the wall that dispenses these legal get well medications.
However he(they) found out that they can make more $$$$$$ By prescribing herbal products( and other things) to the sickly pie making employees than the real medication.
It just happens to be that he(they) are the agents for these products and on the pie making company's time, choose to "market: their wares...... said simple Simon to the pieman.

Besides defrauding the pie making company by stealing their time to push their wares, the masses are starting to rumble, talk on the wires, and they ain't happy anymore.... they want the real mccoy to get healthy, not to further inrich these folk

One wonders what oath these folk swear by!!!!


....

[Adriaan Van Rooyen]

Gee Mike you should have become a detective, and as for the  company,the top guys get rich and the bottom guys stay  although they jump on the band wagon like all schemes they really make nothing.......

[Bradley Eugene]

My heart's desire got caught out by this "herbal goodness". R1600.00 for 3 months supply, cash up front, to work in conjunction with medicinal boxes,syrups, et al. 14 days cure with the herbs, two weeks without. My objections were stated, but obviously nothing has been done. Wonder why? wonder if the sangomas and the chief sangomas are throwing the bones together on this this issue. Well you only get to rip me off once. Next time I will phone Bertie.

[Bertie Horak]

@ Bradley - you're welcome.  An OMDonline PM will be answered quickly, I check in every day!!! Oh, and advice for all Oranjemunders is FREE!!!!
 

[Michael Alexander]

@ Bertie, free advice you say?  Er... what's the lottery numbers this friday?

[Bertie Horak]

Maybe if I smoke some of my herbs in stead of making teas or tinctures I might be able to predict...

[SandyB]

Thinking   of of the pieman  story   for  which  you  may or may not be sued        ...   My mind  slipped  to the  slimming  industry ..    a profitable thing for those  selling the  latest  book or eating plan or supplements ...   a road  littered  with disapointment and   for  many  people  the only thing losing weight is the wallet  ( not  that all fail , a reasonable amount  with sheer  belief and  willpower  achieve  the desired result )   I got  these in the  mail last night ... irony and contradicting  messages or statements ...  enjoy ...

[Andrew Darné]

Oh brilliant Sandy... loik the second waan... in the background, just add extra fat for 30p! Lovely.