Pharmaceutical Grade = USP...a standard for purity +edit Re: A thought on LF

I can play the same game.  I can prove that all of the "liver flush" supporters are pro-pharma.  They use magnesium sulfate, which is a synthetic compound produced by pharmaceutical companies.  Therefore the "liver flush" supporters are supporting the pharmaceutical companies and thus are 100% pro-pharma!!!

http://www.usp.org/referenceStandards/


There are many dietary & nutritional supplements that are "USP" or "pharmaceutical grade"...it's a standard of purity - NOT a relationship with "Big Pharma".  Using a substance that is USP/pure doesn't mean anyone is "100% pro pharma".  And for what it's worth, not everyone uses Epsom Salts (magnesium sulfate) when liver flushing.

Edit - here's a good explanation of pharmaceutical grade/USP:

>>>What is pharmaceutical grade (USP)?

The US Pharmacopeia (USP) publishes official monographs for certain substances. These monographs include specific assay methods and product specifications to assure identity and potency. Material that is tested by these methods to meet those specifications is then eligible to be called pharmaceutical grade, or USP. The key concept is "standards and verification" http://www.usp.org/aboutUSP/
Many natural ingredients do not have published USP monographs, so cannot be called USP grade (as there are no USP specifications or standards to test against). Also, the testing is often a bit imprecise, so a test result for purity may be acceptable within a narrow range (from 98% - 101% of label potency, for example) and still be considered good. Another standard monograph is that found in the Food Chemicals Codex, desribing FCC food grade materials. A product with an FCC monograph can be tested to meet the food grade specifications that are typically less rigorous than those in a pharmaceutical monograph, but do provide standards for purity and identity. http://www.usp.org/fcc/
Some substances have both USP and FCC monographs and can claim both grades. For example, the amino acid l-arginine has monographs in both compendia, as do some other aminos.<<<