60 minutes story

[Guest guest]

In reference to the email below about the 60 Minutes story, after

reading just portions of " What Your Doctor May Not Tell You About

Menopause " by R. Lee, MD, I think it's a must-read, not just for

women and not just for older women, but for anyone who's taking

prescriptions of any kind. For example, Dr. Lee writes that aspirin

used to come from natural sources (willow bark, which has no side

effects) and was used for centuries to relieve pain. But in the

1800's laws were passed in the US that medicines could only be

patented if they were NOT derived from natural substances. " These

days, when a plant with medicinal value is discovered, the `active

ingredient' is isolated and transformed. This new molecule can now

be patented. " So now we take aspirin which has plenty of side

effects because it has been chemically altered only so that it could

be patented. Estrogen is a natural substance. What all of us women

are taking in birth control pills and hormone replacement therapy is

synthetic, it's not estrogen (or it's derived from mare's urine –

okay that's natural, but yuck!).

" Many synthetic drugs are made patentable simply by changing a few

atoms of the natural substance. This may sound harmless enough, but

the addition or subtraction of a few atoms of a molecule can make a

big difference in their effects on the body. This holds especially

true with hormones. Tiny amounts can create major effects on the

body. For example, the molecular difference between testosterone and

estradiol (a form of estrogen) is one hydrogen atom and a couple of

double bonds. Amazing! Adding or subtracting one hydrogen atom at a

specific place on a molecule can make the difference between a man

and a woman! Now compare that exquisite level of biochemical

specifivity to what a pharmaceutical company does to a perfectly good

natural hormone – they add whole chains of molecules! They do this

not to make a better drug, but to make one that behaves similarly yet

is different enough to be patentable. " If pharmaceutical companies

will go to these lengths to own a patentable drug, is it such a

surprise that the drug testing trials may be rigged in their favor?

After reading just a small amount of his thought-provoking book,

pieces of the puzzle are falling into place for me concerning all the

metros, the antibiotics, and all the drugs that are pushed at us

every time we walk into a doctor's office. And guess what? My

rosacea began after being on HRT for about a year. That might not

have been the only cause, but it's obvious that my body is not

getting what it needs, and undoubtedly getting things it doesn't need

from these synthetics. Dr. Lee recommends using natural progesterone

instead. " My patients using topical progesterone who happened to

have rosacea have applied the cream directly to affected areas and

report excellent results… " I'm trying this right now to see if it

will make a difference, with a product called Pro-Gest by Emerita

(ordered from Vitamin Shoppe). But please get this book and read it

yourself before trying it, because if Dr. Lee makes one thing clear,

it's that hormone balance is very delicate. By the way, red clover

may be working for some people because it is an estrogen (contains

isoflavones, as does soy), and by using the tea as a rinse, the

estrogen will be absorbed into the body through the skin.

Lots to think about, eh? -- Barbara S.

>Message: 8

>Date: Wed, 4 Apr 2001 12:14:44 EDT

>From: PLATOALSO@...

>Subject: Re: cea Survey more participants needed

>The survey concept is great. Anyone catch 60 Minutes on Sunday? The

jist of

>the program stated that clinical trials are often corrupted, also

since they

>add quite a bit of cash to solo practicioner's income.

>University clinical trials were questioned, also, since increasingly

>universities are sharing in the profits from the pharmaceutical

sales.

>Retin-A was developed at a university. Study participants were

composed of

>some incarcerated prisoners.

>NRS--could it be a shill for generic Metrodiazanole? Costs pennies

to

>produce.