Warnings about Bloussant, Isis and Gro-bust products

 Physicians and  Professors of Pharmacognosy (the scientific study of herbal remedies) and Pharmacology have concluded that there is no evidence that any herbal compounds can enhance breast size and that there is no reason to believe that any can.  A growing number of products are being sold that contain herbal compounds that are claimed to be capable of enhancing breast size  without any other effects on the body.  These products which are marketed under names such as; "Bloussant," "Isis," "Gro-bust," all contain similar "active ingredients."  These ingredients include herbal compounds such as Saw Palmetto and Black Cohosh that have been historically considered relevant to women's health issues.  See Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database (Therapeutic Research Faculty 2002).  Although the active ingredients in these products have been the subject of numerous scientific studies, no peer-reviewed study has ever been published in any medical or science journal that has shown that any of the active ingredients or phytoestrogens compounds in general are effective in enhancing breast size when applied in a lotion or taken orally.  The mechanism by which these products claims they are effective has no scientific basis because, contrary to the manufacturer's assertions:

(1) there is no evidence that a significant number of women tend not to develop to their full breast-size potential in puberty because of their body's failure to "fully awaken estrogen receptor sites;"

(2) there is no evidence that by ingesting any of the active ingredients or any phytoestrogens compounds in general a physically mature woman can cause her body to enter a "second puberty;"

(3) there is no evidence that the ingestion or topical application of any of the active ingredients or phytoestrogen compounds in general can stimulate the pituitary gland to produce additional human growth hormone; and

(4) there is no evidence that estrogen receptor sites can be stimulated so as to enhance breast size by the ingestion or topical application of any of the active ingredients or phytoestrogens compounds in general.  

Testimonials of persons who have used these products to the effect that their breast size has been enhanced after they started using the product are not a scientifically acceptable basis to believe the products are effective even if they are honestly reported. Cosmetics are susceptible to the placebo effect where those using the product tend to believe it is working even when it is not simply because of the psychological effects of using a product that they are told is effective.  See FTC v. Pantron Corp., 33 F.3d 1088 (9th Cir. 1994) (surveying studies describing the placebo effect in shampoo marketed as a cure for male pattern baldness).  In order to eliminate the placebo effect, it is essential to use double-blinded testing on the individuals using the product so that there is no possibility that any observed changes are not the result of the placebo effect.  Testimonials are also not a scientifically valid basis to believe the product is effective because, absent controls on the subjects, it impossible to conclude a cause and effect relationship between its use and breast tissue changes.  This is because breast size and shape can be influenced by a variety of factors including, most significantly, general weight gain or loss.    

In addition, manufacturers of these products claim that the production and release of more human growth hormone within the body could cause the breasts to grow without impacting the rest of the body is obviously false.  If human growth hormone levels are raised within the body, the additional levels of hormone will necessarily affect the entire body.  If the product actually stimulates the pituitary gland to cause the body to produce more human growth hormone, it could cause a disease known as acromegaly.  In adults, acromegaly causes a multitude of health problems including: growth of the bones in the skull, jaw, hands and feet; swelling of soft tissues; high blood pressure; diabetes; and even death.   If manufacturer's claims that their products stimulate the pituitary gland to cause the body to produce more human growth hormone were true, those using the product might manifest symptoms of acromegaly or other endocrine diseases.  Because they apparently do not, it would seem that the use of these products does not stimulate the pituitary gland to cause the body to produce more human growth hormone.  The fact that the manufacturers of these products make such obviously false health-related claim in their promotional materials is evidence that thier other health-related claims are unreliable and false.