In the land that is known as Vintage, I'd bet there are a few of us who take over the counter supplements to help what ails us, or as a preferred method over prescription drugs.

Rick has high cholesterol and has tried three prescription meds. They worked great but he had to stop taking them due to side affects.

Since then he's tried a few things. Niacin was supposed to help. Nope. We read cinnamon was supposed to help. Nope.

He did lower his triglyceride levels quite a bit with fish oil capsules, but his total cholesterol number is still too high. He does have a high ratio of good to bad cholesterol which is "supposed" to be a good thing. His cholesterol is a family gift. Diet and exercise alone do not work for him. We cut fat intake, we ate chicken and fish until I thought we would grow gills and feathers, and still no appreciable difference in cholesterol. Thankfully he has no family history of heart disease.

I have him trying red yeast rice capsules. Supposedly the ingredients in it are similar to the ingredients that the statin drugs are made from. He hasn't had his cholesterol levels checked yet. He's due next month.

Anyone have any luck with red yeast rice? I know it can affect the liver so we'll be watching the blood work.

What have you tried and has it worked for you?

 

Have you tried oats (for the cholesterol)? They'll make you whinny and prance around, but maybe that's not a bad thing...

I take vitamins (and minerals), all sorts. But I'm one of those literalist scientist types who has to question the meaning of "natural" remedy -- as if there are such things as "artificial" remedies (aside from those that don't work, of course). HPH

 

Not the oatmeal, but if he had 10 point drop from oatmeal it would only be a drop in the bucket with his total number.

 

The only supplements (other than daily vitamins) that I've ever taken are things that help during strength training - creatine mostly, and a few others occasionally. Basically, they are just nutrients that are found in food in more concentrated form. Creatine, for example, is excellent at helping rebuild after a tough workout. To get the same amount in your daily diet would require an inordinate amount of red meat or fish each day. Though I may enjoy it, that wouldn't be very healthy in the long run.

My point of view is that these 'natural' remedies don't take you too far. They may certainly contribute to good health, especially when they deal with what may be missing from your normal diet, but to fix something ususally requires some serious pharmaceuticals. If the easy stuff really worked, then the drug companies would find a way to concentrate it and sell it to you at a profit, instead of spending millions/billions on R&D & trials.

If you can measure the difference (lower cholesterol, blood pressure, etc) then it may actually be helping. Be wary of highly subjective measures like 'I feel better' - the placebo effect can be pretty strong sometimes.

JonasM

 

^ I take these, when I don't have brain fade. One mutli, and two each of the others, every day.

I am not a fast learner. I've learned over and over, to take the Triple Flex. I have degenerative discs in my back and have lived on 12 Advil a day in the past. When I take Triple Flex, I don't need any. Well, I did have to quit jogging too, but they really work for me, once I take them for a few days.

 

I'm lucky so far Lainey, Vytorin works for me.

 

Lainey, many people do not understand that "natural" and herbal concoctions are drugs similar to the synthetics manufactured by pharmaceutical companies. Red Yeast Rice has a similar effect on the body as do many of the statins (particularly lovostatin). If Rick could not tolerate the statins, then he probably would not be able to tolerate red yeast rice either. Here is a link to herbal info on red yeast rice for a Sloan Kettering website about herbs, etc.:

Sloan Kettering You'll need to agree to their disclaimer and put red rice into the search box.

Herbal meds, supplements, etc. are my preferred form of treatment in many instances, but they are drugs and can be as harmful and deadly as drugs. The problem with alternative treatments is that people self-treat and there are interactions, etc. that can be as deadly as mixing prescription drugs.

I'm sending you a pm about how I lowered my cholesterol.

 

HPH, I eat oatmeal for breakfast, too. I whinny, and I don't like to be reined; but I do frolic on the lea!

The only other remedy that I use is gensing: tea, pellets, liquid, or whatever form. My Korean students started bringing it back for me as a gift when they would return from visits home to Korea. So I have a gensing hoard; a lifetime supply in the pantry. They promise me it keeps you young and healthy! I've been dutifully taking it for years. I'm just not sure it is working...

 

^^ Often were it not for gensing tea, I wouldn't be able to move!! Love the stuff.

 

From what I know and also based on personal experience, numerous natural approaches plus dietary changes all have minor positive effects of total cholesterol levels. But, they do not seem to have additive effects that result in significant net lowering Thus, if the total level remains overly high, statins seem to be the only alternative. As you noted though, not all people can tolerate them. However, if your ratio is good and family history is on your side, the heart disease risks may be limited. Docs may not be willing to tell you that though, if for no other reason than there is a lack of conclusive evidence.