It is sometimes hard to know whether matters are progressing or not with Complementary Medicine.

There are times when one almost despairs. Take the case of Jennifer Worth (see page 29) who had previously sorted out an extremely aggressive case of eczema with an Elimination Diet and Enzyme Potentiated Desensitization (EPD), as recounted in Issue 81 October 2002, and who, following an illness after New Year's Day in 2004, couldn't shift the most horrendous illness despite trying every type of treatment around. Finally, what worked for her was yet another round of her elimination diet and further EPD treatment from an allergy specialist.

Following an entirely different approach, Claire Schrader, who had continuously suffered from flu, colds, stomach problems and depression in her youth, discovered that she was no longer plagued by these illnesses following her personal involvement and exploration through theatre, movement and creative healing (see page 24).

Jason Barlow formulates an individual exercise, nutrition and training regimen depending on each person's needs, body type, metabolism and injury risk, customizing individual training programs which are truly holistic (see page 48).

Dr Heather Parsons had previously worked as a research scientist identifying drugs to treat leukemia. Through training as a Healer, McTimoney-Corley Spinal Therapist, Kinesiologist and through her personal experience with a cancerous breast lump, she developed Universal Harmonic Healing which enables a rebalancing of energies within and outside of us in our aura.

Published research shows that St John's Wort extracts inhibit the growth of human prostate cancer cells (see Martarelli et al, page 40), that silibinin has now been entered into phase I clinical trials in prostate cancer patients (see Singh and Agarwal, page 40) and that a combination of dietary antioxidants reduces lung cancer risk (see Wright et al, page 40).

So, everything seems fine from a distance. However, as revealed on the letters pages (see EU Supplement Directive Court Challenge page 52), unless the Alliance of Natural Health's challenge to the EU Supplement Directive at the European Court of Justice in Luxembourg is successful, the ban on perhaps 5000 nutritional supplement products will come into effect on 1 August 2005. If this occurs:

An individual's freedom of choice to take safe natural health products will be removed – 40% of the UK's population take vitamins and minerals. Products are to be banned with absolutely no scientific justification. Many of the world's leading scientific and medical experts in nutrition support this.

When asked by Judge Lenaerts as to the origin of the positive list which appeared to have been derived from an old list produced by the European Commission, and so omitted a vast array of nutrients that can normally be found in food, Paul Lasok QC, representing the ANH, responded: "The list was put together without adding, without subtracting and without thinking." Advocate General Geelhoed, the senior judge at today's hearing, appeared to be baffled by the procedure for adding nutrients to the positive list, which he described: "As transparent as a black box."

These events fill me with foreboding. The recent Early Day Motion in the House of Commons in January 2005 was defeated, despite vigorous debate outlining the ludicrous situation in which, if the EU Directive is not defeated and comes into law, an 18-year old teenager could legally purchase cigarettes and alcohol, both known killers and intoxicants, whereas an adult who wished to purchase minerals such as boron or various kinds of selenium, or vitamin C above tiny dosages of 60mg would be breaking the law.

The Government is apparently committed to improving the health of the nation and regularly lectures the population regarding the importance of good nutrition. Yet this same Government is a party to attempting to withdraw some of the finest nutritional products in the world and destroying many hundred of nutritional businesses in the UK. What is the point of furthering nutritional research and publishing the results demonstrating the clinical benefits of optimal vitamin and mineral nutrition, when all that we will be left with are toxic substances that kill but are legal, and myriads of unhealthy drugs such as paracetamol and foods such as salt and sugar, which cause untold tens of thousands of deaths each year but are sold with no restrictions.

Hence my unease at the current time. What we must do is continue to support the Alliance for Natural Health's legal challenge – www.alliance-natural-health.org – otherwise, we may be sleepwalking into the demise of nutritional supplements and their businesses in the UK.

On a less somber note, enjoy the new-look and streamlined Positive Health magazine, now printed on recycled paper.

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