That is a 100% fair assement of almost all of the supplement industry. A lot of it is people selling vitrually useless chemicals/plants, and is set up to prey on people who desire/need an end result. The seller/distributers will tell you anything to get you buy their products.
I do think there are some sparse, but notable exceptions to the useless nature of them though. Like kratom for opiod withdrawal, or chamomile tea to aid relaxation. The main issue is that even both of those are abused by the industry. “Kratom is totally 100% safe, not addictive at all, and removes all pain!” or “Chamomile will treat insomnia!” come to mind as how a lot of companies market these plants. Both of these claims are false and dangerous to spread as having validity.
Management of expectation is not easy, especially if you are in pain, or cannot sleep, and just want to feel better. It is pretty gross that almost all supplement companies do this. I’ve seen even seen “B12 energy unlock” types of products a lot, and hate it. I am B12 deficient (according to blood tests a doctor ordered and talked with me about after), and that is the ONLY context in which you feel more “energized” from taking it… by not having enough B12 in your body.
That said, I do think that I need to read a couple more peer-reviewed studies on this specific plant, before personally tossing the idea into the “exclusively a grift” pile. It definitely is not hormone replacement therapy, or going to treat dysphoria, which I understand. I don’t experience dysphoria (at least the gender kind -.-), and do not neccesarily have the desire to transition at the moment, or the means to do so with my current fixed income.
The primary result I want is to not go bankrupt buying moisturizer, while still bleeding from my hands. I haven’t found/read enough info to know if that is possible with Pueraria Mirifica. Hell, even the “fact” that the cause is low E is only based on knowledge that a head injury can disrupt the endocrine system, and low E can cause dry skin.
Thank you for the warning tho. The plant in question definitely is not for transitioning, and is sold by a lot of grifters. At least none seem to claim it is for transfems, or transitioning, that I have seen. I imagine it could be a massive disaster to take it while doing HRT, since it affects hormones in some way.
Yeah :< I can’t use any soap that doesn’t have moisterizer of some kind in it. I wish it was localized to just my hands too, but they def get some of the worst of the dryness over all.