Dr Hyman,

In response to your article of pharmaceutical companies, I would like you to also comment on the innovative therapies that have come to market over the last 25 years.  This article was one sided, malicious and very angry. 

I am dissapointed that you would take such a liberal point of view and only present a small version of that you percieve as the "truth".  Many pharmaceutical therapies have been proven to have saved millions of lives. 

I also highly doubt that if you or one of your family members suffered a heart attack that you would refuse life saving medical intervention. (Just like most misinformed people with 'opinions').

There is a necessary place for pharmaceuticals and it is sad that this current blog is so one sided. 

Regards,

A Former Fan

I see in today's paper that the "CDC panel recommends virtually all kids get flu shots each year"! What are your thoughts on this??

This really makes me tremble when I hear some of our politicians talk about nationalized health care. it's bad enough that the FDA is not doing their jobs, but to think that government can make this better is really scary. I have read several articles with regard to cholesterol lowering drugs which echo what you have expressed in your blog. Thanks for telling it like it is.

"...other therapies that work better – such as diet and lifestyle or nutritional therapies – never get enough funding. "

Agreed.  But we probably know more than enough about diet and lifestyle, and we can get good information about nutritional therapies at www.pubmed.com if you read conclusions to technical abstracts about such herbs as turmeric and rosemary, though you may have to use the Latin names.  Here's a good one: andrographis. 

OK, yes, I knew this, In fact I too report these things and am excited that it is finally seeing more press.  I am on a semi-raw, semi-veg diet all whole foods, no prcessed, no gm, I've lost weight- over 15% of my body weight- over the last year, and lowered my bloog sugar to nearly normal....  on my blog http://to-reverse-diabetes.blogspot.com/ I'm journaling my progress.  I've learned so much in this last year.  I have completely turned around my health,  I have taken no drugs since 1975, even tho' my daughter is a pharmacist.  I'm trying hard to reach her with these dangers too, with a light touch.

Since 1983 I have been diagnosed with "over the top" cholesterol readings.  So high that it has caused every Doctor to beg me to take medication.  Occasionally, I comply.  Its always been a statin with dosages from 20mg to 80mg.  I recently gave in and am taking 40mgs of simvastatin, daily. 

Recently a friend gave me a copy of Harvard Medical School's newsletter entitled "Harvard Women's Health Watch" the 02/2008 edition.  With an article entitled "The status of statins" she and I both have high cholesterol, would prefer not to take medication, have believed the cholesterol conspiracy incited by the drug companies.  So with zeal I read the article which kind of agreed that it did not significantly lower cholesterol in woman but did briefly mention the anti inflammatory benefit.

So when your article appeared in my email I was again excited as you too mentioned the anti inflammatory event.

But what I really need to find out is whether or not I should continue to take the medication?

Dear All,

Over thirty years ago I was visualizing a Drug Free environment for my family and I. IMAGINE THAT!!!
And today my husband, my three children and I are a living example of Wellness perhaps Ultra Wellness. I used to read all kinds of health books in my teens and now I'm over fifty and still doing it. I am actually healthier than I was in my teens. I am consistently choosing this path to natural wellness. So this direction has proven to be phenomenal. Yes, I breast-fed "forever", avoided toxic foods, used supplements, and cleansed my body, mind and spirit etc. etc. And yes, I will go to the doctor if my leg is broken.
The key thing to remember is BALANCE and following leaders like Dr. Hyman. He is brilliant for choosing to stick with these controversial health issues. I have read his book and use the information to educate others. I'm extremely proud of him for standing up. We need more people like him.

Wish you all Ultra Wellness.

I'm a 68-year-old active male with no serious health problems.  Early last October, on my own, because of perceived side effects, I quit taking my high BP and cholesterol drugs.  Later in the month, I discovered a doctor here in Walla Walla who believes in holistic approaches.  He recommended your book, "Ultra-Metabolism," which I read and which I have followed closely, although I have yet to begin the Ultra Metabolism Prescription.  In addition, based on my doctor's recommendation, I take USANA Essentials, plus NAC 9000 and Vit. D3 5000 IU.

I'm encouraged that my cholesterol has come down (211 on one reading, 225 on another, from an all-time high of 267) and that I feel better in several ways. 

I'm discouraged that in over four months my BP is still high (150/80, give or take), and because I have not lost a single pound.  My doctor tells me the body takes time to adjust to a radically different diet, and he encourages me to increase my exercise regime, which was already intense enough to keep me fatigued a good part of the time. 

I'll soon begin the Prescription.  I'd appreciate any comments you may have.

Thanks,

Robert Griswold

I have been going to my current doctor about two years and am becoming increasingly skeptical of his solutions. He seems to be very nice person with good "bedside manner" but all he does is give me another prescription with out getting to the root of the problem. He usually spends about 5 minutes with me and gives me a renewal for my blood pressure medication. If there is another problem yet another prescription is made. Recently I began following the Ultrametabolism diet and have been pretty impressed at the changes in my physical wellbeing. It has made enough of a difference that I am about to research if my insurance will pay for one of the many Doctors that favor functional medicine. So your article about the corruption in the drug industry is not the least bit surprising given the current state of attitudes toward treatments

i am a victim of the medical industrial complex. the past 4 years i have been taking HBP medication. i have recently read that it was a cause of my gout. i no longer take that medication, but i have altered and supplemented my diet. i lowered my HBP naturally. no more gout "episodes"! thank you Dr. Hyman, please keep helping our brainwashed scociety. 

I subscribe to and read Dr. Hyman's wellness newsletter, regularly; have his book, and respect his advice, along with that of a few other alternative doctors.

I agree with PaulB (my husband) that the FDA — which is in bed with the drug companies and in their pockets, and rarely doing the U. S. citizens any favors — needs to be disassembled and a new, reliable and honest agency put in its place, which cannot be bought! Let us write to our congress people about that, please!

I have forwarded your e-letter on to Dr. Rima Laibow, of the Natural Solutions Foundation, who is also fighting on our behalf with the FDA for our right to take supplements. This organization is another place where we can make a difference.

Next, I'm waiting to see the people in this country rise up in dissent against a government that believes it can do whatever it likes to our food, without our consent (irradiation, hormones, injection of our meat supply without labeling, etc.). The citizens of Europe do not allow this kind of nonsense, neither should we. What's next?

This is the same government (a few years after the fact) that released plumes of radiation (from Hanford) into the atmosphere in my area of the world; it is the same government that experiments on incarcerated persons, and on other disadvantaged populations which are not in a position to defend themselves.

We have given our government none of these rights or permissions, and if asked, I'm sure we would not choose to do so.

Let us take back our country in every way.

Stay well.

Jannette Robert Murray, RC, CCHt

www.inspiredcounseling.com

I totally agree with you on this matter.  It is sad that we are considered only cattle to be led to slaughter by the drug companies and even sadder that most doctors think they are doing the right thing for a patient.  As someone recently pointed out...you go to a dr., tell him what is wrong, he feeds you data into a computer program that I am certain was provided by drug companies and walla, it tells him what drugs there are for those SYMPTOMS....amazing huh?  Except that it does not tell what caused these symptoms nor does it take into consideration diet, nutrition and exercise.  Lets face it, we have to watch our diet and we must exercise, or we WILL be ill...

I was put on statins and zetia for high cholesterol.  Fortunately I immediately had a reaction to the zetia which caused flu-like symptons.  I never stuck with the statins either and the doctor basically said take the treatment or don't come back.  I didn't go back.

 I went to an endocrinologist who put me on statins and niacin.  Since I lift weights and exercise aerobically 4-5 times per week, I am sensitive to changes.  My bench press went down dramatically and my cardio went from 1 hour to 20 min with me gasping for breath.  I had asked the doctor about their safety and was assured they were perfectly safe.

 I did further research on how statins work and found that not only do they block cholesterol in the liver but also the substances that fuel the mitochondria in the muscles.  Yes, the warning that is touted as a rare side effect by the drug companies is not so rare. 

I also have a friend who was a research scientist at Columbia University and he was so mattr of fact about muscle damage and statins that indicated it was common knowledge.

I decided to take my chances with diet and exercise rather than the deadly path of drugs.

Here's my experience.  It's a long post, but I hope everyone who views the replies takes the time to read it because it's so important to keep yourself informed and combine your research with your doctor's advice to make the best decisions about your health.  I hope my experiences can help others do the same.

I never used to question doctors' advice and treatments until I had gallbladder disease.  A year before I had to have it removed, I checked myself into the emergency room with excruciating pain in my abdomen and between my shoulder blades.  When the pain suddenly subsided, the ER doctor sent me home with Maalox.  By the time anyone figured out what it was, my gallbladder was so diseased and chopped up by the golf-sized gallstones that there was no saving it.  I have scars on my liver from those huge stones!  That's when I started questioning my doctors more and doing my own research because had I waited any longer, I could have died.

10 years after that, I had bronchitis and was on hold with my GP doctor waiting for a refill for a decongestant, and their on hold message mentioned a doctor-supervised program for weight loss.  I was having a lot of trouble losing weight I suddenly gained for no reason, and I was gaining more when I exercised which was weird to me.  After I recovered from the bronchitis, I made an appointment to sign myself up for it.  Part of the program was to use Meridia, an appetite suppressant, but they had to do a thyroid test to make sure I was a candidate for the drug.  Overeating was not my issue and thought it odd that he didn't believe me when I told him that.  His answer to me was that everyone says that.  I was actually struggling to eat 3 meals a day because I had no appetite.  Anyway, the tests came back and I was diagnosed with hypothyridism and prescribed Synthroid.  At first I refused to take it because I had no information about it or thyroid disease and knew enough not to accept his answer to my questions about how one gets thyroid disease.  He said it just happens sometimes for no reason and they never find out.  Googled hypothyroidism, did a whole bunch of research myself and bought a bunch of books about it including Mary Shomon's "Living Well with Hypothyroidism."  Finally I had answers and felt comfortable enough to take the Synthroid.  I also signed up for the site on thyroid.about.com.

Within weeks I felt worse.  My face swelled up very badly, my hair started falling out and I started falling asleep behind the wheel when driving to work because I was so exhausted yet was sleeping 14 hours or more a day.  I reported all this to my doctor, but since my blood work was in the normal range he said it couldn't be my thyroid and that it had to be something I was doing wrong.  I couldn't accept this because I knew I felt worse on Synthroid and with further research found out there were other medications besides Synthroid like Armour Thyroid, and I asked to try it.  By this time my blood pressure soared to 170/100 and he said the T3 in Armour would kill me.  I spent a year going from doctor to doctor trying to find one who would prescribe anything but Synthroid because it just wasn't working.  My marriage was in trouble and my family relationships and my friendships were in danger of being lost because I felt so horrible that I had just become a nasty person.  My husband thought I was being lazy because I completely stopped doing any housework and called in sick to work a lot.  He thought I was being lazy because of wrong information he was getting from that doctor.

I finally did find a wonderful Osteopath who prescribed Armour first in small doses and gradually raised it.  I remember the first thing I noticed in his office was no posters advertising medications.  The letterhead they got from pharmaceutical companies was only used as scrap paper and mostly kept under the counter.  This was promising to me because all the other doctors and specialists I saw had Synthroid practically wallpapering their offices.

On Armour I felt better in days.  In a year my blood pressure dropped to 120/70 and it hasn't gone up since.  I also was able to get further testing at my request to find out the cause of my hypothyroidism and it was Hashimoto's disease - an autoimmune disease that attacks the thyroid.  Amazing at how my health crashed all because I didn't have enough thyroid hormones, and all I have to do is take my dose daily and my health is great.  I was finally able to have a baby and I gave birth to a healthy, beautiful baby boy on February 13th!  All my relationships were healed and my marriage is strong and wonderful again now that everyone knew that I truly had health problems.  I'm my old happy self again, and I feel great.

My lesson learned from that whole ordeal is to do my homework, and get second third and even fourth opinions if I feel the need to.  I always pay close attention to treatment options drug studies especially who funded it.  I also pay close attention to what is displayed in the doctor's office when I see a new one, and how comfortable I feel talking with my doctor also plays an important part in treatment for everything.  Now as a mom, my health is more important than ever to give my son the life he deserves.  Plus, I can make more informed decisions about his health that I probably wouldn't have had I not had my health crisis.

I'll bet you won't post this--we'll see.

I am a registered pharmacist, my job is to consult with people on their medication. I had to research the study done on Zetia and Vytorin, and you like the media, have distorted this thing way out there.

The Zetia/Vytorin study was only done on a small group of people (about 750) who are genetically predisposed to high cholesterol (only a small percentage of the people on cholesterol meds fall into this category). The study was not whether or not Zetia worked in combination with simvastatin (Vytorin) to lower cholesterol, but whether or not it aided in decreasing the thickness in the wall of the carotid artery. Which it was found to be of no benefit in this study in decreasing the thickness of the carotid artery wall.

Zetia does work well, to lower cholesterol. This was a very small study. In a limited segment of the population. The press, and you have distorted it and sensationalized it.

However, I totally agree with you that Western medicine has no vested interest in curing disease. They are only into disease management, because that is what drives the profits.

I also believe that if we ever get socialized medicine, and are forced as a nation into that. It will be the biggest diaster to hit this country since the war in Iraq.

Imagine you discover, or believe you have a terminal illness. Your turn to see a doctor about it will take months.

 I personally use alternative medicine b/c it acutally gets to the heart of the issue. Diet and exercise are what should be encouraged by the government and insurance companies. Not drugs.

The food we eat in this country is actually treated by chemicals, hormones, and genetic modification that actually works together to decrease nutrition and increase obesity, as well as food allergies. It is not natural food that our bodies were designed for.l

The government actually has plans to take away our ability to use vitamin supplements and alternative medicine very soon. Research the Codex Law. That is because a large segment of the population is beginning realize what scam our Western lifestyle, food and medicine really is. Designed to cause harm, not make well.

When that Codex Law is passed, and should we get some sort of forced national medical system. That is what we should all really be concerned about and fighting against.

Not some dinky little study on Zetia that got distorted by the media (a false source of information anyway).

---Geraldine Bryan RPh

My overall cholesterol numbers have always been high although the ratio was good.  About 10 years ago I was put on Lipitor.  It lowered my numbers and I was taken off it after a failrly short time (Months rather than years).  I moved to a new State and made it a point to find a doctor who was willing to consider alternaative therapies to drugs.  Last summer I was additionally diagnosed with Diabetes(I'm 83 years old).  With my doctor's agreement my research led me to a vegan,low fat, low glycemic diet.  At that time my A1C was well over 7(7.8 I think), my blood glucose was over 200 and I weighed 178 lbs.  At no time on this diet was I hungry, although I was careful not to overeat - e.g. eat because I had nothing else to do.  I saw my doctor this week after my blood work reports were available.  I weigh 155 lbs, my A1C was 6.1 and only rarely do my finger pricks reveal blood glucose numbers over the perameters set.  But a second benefit is enough to keep me on this diet forever.  All my arthritis pain has lessened or disappeared.  Another benefit - I feel better than I have in more years than I can remember.  I've slowly modified my all-vegan diet in that I now have an occassional egg and poultry and eat wild Pacific salmon twice a week or so.  I've also eased up on "low fat" in that I regularly snack on nuts (raw walnuts, almonds and Brazil nuts) and use Smart Balance or Earth Balance on a slice of sprouted grain toast and very lightly oil my no stickpan with olive oil.  What pleases me most is that I know nothing that I'm doing is going to harm my body.  I'm so enthusiastic about my success I want to "TELL THE WORLD!

I've only recently discovered your website (since my diagnosis of diabetes).  My daughter also loaned me a copy of Ultrametabolism. 

Oops!  I forgot to say my Choesterol is 160!

My ratio was 3.2 with high ldl and my doctor threatened to put me on drugs, so I told him I'd see him in 1 month. I returned to find my ratio to be 1.9 with an  ldl of 99, and a hdl of 120! I took a probiotic, digestive enzymes, magnesium, and fish oil. I knew my poor digestion was the problem. I realized that grain and sugar were driving my cholesterol out of wack, so I excluded them from my diet. I did have red wine each night, and did a sort of interval type of exercise program called "pace". I found that my alt and ast were high after that, and my fasting blood sugar was up to 106! Of course I was really stressed out at the time from my back going out on me for the first time in my life(57), but I decided to cut out the alcohol to see if those test results will change. My husband is diabetic, and from time to time he takes my bloods with his meter and lately, I've been about 70 every time, any time of the day. I have him, and myself on a diet of protein and vegetables at every meal and snack, along with nuts and a few seeds. His blood sugars are starting to drop. We do not eat grains, potatoes, rice, or sugar. We eat small amounts of berries for our fruits, and we don't overeat. We do pace on a stationery bike, and calisthenics for our muscles. I may have to add some rice and beans back into my diet if I feel hypoglycemia will be a problem for me.

I have worked, in the PAST, as both a Clinical Research Coordinator in an Oncology Practice as well as a Severe Adverse Event Coordinator Lead on Oncology Clinical Trials at a very large Contract Research Organization. In both settings, I personally experienced the momentum of how greed drives the pharmaceutical industry. Today, I am thankful to give credit to individuals, like Dr Hyman, who represent truth and passion to redirect us away from the false focus of the drug driven healthcare system. Not only has my own health been radically changed by your sharing of truth, but I, too, have caught your passion to, wherever and whenever opportunity presents itself, proclaim your Truths . . . Truths, with which you have helped to empower me and I am sure so many others! PLEASE, anyone reading this, join me in continually passing on to others this site . . . Mark, Thank you! . . . and "Keep Proclaiming the Truth!" I know sometimes you may get discouraged as it can feel at times like such an uphill battle . . . but it is, as I am sure you are aware, more than worth the effort as you see the changed lives you have had a part in guiding toward true health and wellness! Those testimonies, like my own . . . touch countless others . . . and plant the seeds of change that ULTIMATELY carry the potential to break forth toward a healthier world!

Dr. Hyman--

After reading your latest blog entry on hypothyroid, it stuck me that I suffer from many of these symptoms. My mother was diagnosed with both a hyper and hypoactive thyroid...is this a genetic condition? Or am i just more prone to have one of these conditions? And finnally how do I determine what thyroid supplement to take to correct these hypoactive thyroid conditions?

Thank You.

--A. Wynn

I had taken Zetia for about 18 months and last summer had my usual blood work with px and my liver enzymes were found to be elevated.  The doctors office notified me in November on a recheck visit that the liver enzymes were still elevated.  I was also having severe pain in my back and right arm with muscle weaknessand at times felt too tired to even walk.  The doctor took me off Zetia and I weaned myself off Wellbutrin (for menopause anxiety).  The doctor did not think the Zetia would be doing this to me.  In a month nothing had changed so she recommended a liver ultrasound--dx--fatty liver.  She recommended a CT scan which I decided to decline. 

 I got the ultrametabolism materials at the recommendation of my daughter who is in the Columbia University Integrative Nutrition program and began the diet and supplements and went on a search for another doctor. I located a "holistic m.d." in the city who has been through the Columbia University integrative nutrition program and he has helped me tweak my supplements.  Now at 3 months out my liver enzymes are almost normal, but my cholesterol is still high.  We have decided to continue to control my cholesterol with diet and exercise.  Who knows what the Zetia has done to my system.  However, now the pain and palpitations, fatigue, etc. are almost resolved.  I loved my first doctor, but she was very busy and not inclined to discuss supplements and dietary changes in detail.  I have faith that if I continue to work with my new doctor we'll be able to straighten out these medical issues without so many interventions with drugs.

Dr. Hyman,

I watched your show on PBS last night, compelling and most informative!

I had 2 Open Heart Surgeries last year all within a 6 month period, it was a life and death situation. I had my Aortic Valve replaced twice and then found my Aorta was ready to rupture, so I had to have an Aorta Root Replacement.

What I've discovered is that we are not prepared mentally or emotionally for this kind of radical surgery afterwards and what's going to happen to us once we get through it....we seem to be left on our own to figure it out..unless you have the medical to pay for it.

I don't eat right, I have gained weight, I have no one to help me because when I lost my job, I also lost my medical, then the state cut me off. I'm not sure what to do, I only know I do not want to end up back in the hospital. I ended up losing everything including my home, so I ended up in a shelter, and living on food from the food bank! I'm grateful for what I got, but it's made me gain weight, I still have hypertension. I'm scared!

I was the pillar of health when I got sick, and want to go back to that life, I have been getting my blood drawn for 6 months since my last surgery and they can not get these blood levels right. I'm on Coumadin, I'm also on a multi-vitamin and try to eat consistantly my greens, but this last blood draw my blood levels were at 4.2 instead of 2.3/2.5. My surgeon is very concerned because my blood is too thin. I became sick and ended up at the hospital due to severe heart palpitations, anxiety and just no energy. They said it was fatigue, exhaustion, but I also felt sick and light headed with headaches, up until that point I was walking every day, and now have a hard time walking to the mail box.

How can I get myself healthy and back to a normal life since both surgeries. I know I'm still recovering, but I need to get this weight off, and I need to get my blood levels under control and learn how to eat right. Is there a distinction between the amount of Vitamin K I get in my diet and the effects it has on the Coumadin I'm taking? I'm 56....4'8 and have always been pretty healthy......now I feel I'm in the worse shape of my life after these surgeries.

Sincere Regards,

Lonna

The medical establishment works closely with the drug multinationals whose main objective are profits, and whose worst nightmare would be an epidemic of good health. Lots of drugs MUST be sold. In order to achieve this, anything goes: lies, fraud, and kickbacks. Doctors are the principal salespeople of the drug companies. They are rewarded with research grants, gifts, and lavish perks. The principal buyers are the public - from infants to the elderly - who MUST be thoroughly medicated and vaccinated...at any cost! Why do the authorities forbid alternative medicine? Because they are serving the industry, and the industry cannot make money with herbs, vitamins, and homeopathy. They cannot patent natural remedies. That is why they push synthetics. They control medicine, and that is why they are able to tell medical schools what they can and cannot teach. They have their own sets of laws, and they force people into them. That is a mafia. This sensational expose' also uncovers the truth behind vaccines, AIDS, cancer, the World Health Organization, the Rockefeller Foundation, the World Bank, and more. With all of these, everybody should have plan B.. For those residences in remote areas cannot afford high cost medicine could just depend on herbal medicine.