I agree. Just because something is natural doesn’t always mean that there aren’t other factors that can cause harm. However often times natural methods of curing problems are often safer, more affective, and cheaper than laboratory methods. For example Red Yeast Rice has been used in China for centuries for lowering cholesterol. It’s probably the safest, most affective, and cheapest method of doing so. People who eat Red Yeast Rice generally live longer, healthier lives than people who don’t. The UCLA School of Medicine conducted a study involving 83 people with high cholesterol levels. Within twelve weeks those who received Red Yeast Rice experienced a significant decrease in total cholesterol, LDL (bad) cholesterol, and triglycerides compared to those who received placebo. HDL (good) cholesterol wasn’t affected in either group during the study. In 1999 two studies involving Red Yeast Rice were presented at the American Heart Association’s 39th Annual conference. In the first study, 187 people with mild to moderate elevations in total cholesterol and LDL cholesterol revealed that treatment with red yeast rice reduced total cholesterol by more than 16%, LDL cholesterol by 21%, and triglycerides by 24%. HDL (good) cholesterol increased by 14%. In the second study, elderly people who received red yeast rice experienced significant reductions in total cholesterol and LDL cholesterol compared to those who were given placebo. Both studies were done over an eight-week period. In another 8-week trial with 446 people with high cholesterol levels, those who received red yeast rice experienced a significant drop in cholesterol levels compared to those who received placebo. Total cholesterol dropped by 22.7%, LDL by 31%, and triglycerides by 34%. HDL cholesterol increased by 20%. Red Yeast Rice has been sold in the U.S for over six years and there have been no reports of any harm or injury (from anyone). The very expensive statins now used in America are much more dangerous and less affective than Red Yeast Rice. Bayer's drug Baycol was removed from the market in August, 2001 because it caused over 100 deaths.

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Life is in the Blood

[This message has been edited by Bettawrekonize1 (edited 10-09-2002).]