exactly, the risk associated with statin use is FAR greater than that associated with policosanol and for anyone with history of heart problems, the anti platlette aggregation effect of policosanol would be more of a benefit than a risk for preventing blood clots.

you gotta do your own research on a LOT of this stuff. yeah, the docs (for the most part) have your best interest in mind, but if it comes down to deciding if they should prescribe you and OTC med or a pharmacutical that they get kickbacks on, which do you think they'll prescribe? in my experiences the past year, i've come to the conclusion that the pharmacutical industry has doc's in their pocket. doctors are becomming pushers for big drug companies.

my cholesterol is a little high (family history) and my doc has prescribed statins to me at least 4 different times. each time i tell him, "im not taking statins" and he trys to give the the big sell on how good they are, but all the research i've done shows that they are great for lowering cholesterol #s, but for the cost and sides they only reduce your chance of cholesterol realated problems by less than 5% or something rediculously low like that.

its treating symptoms instead of the underlying problem. there are several MUCH more effective indicators of heart problems than cholesterol... its like having a runny nose and him prescribing a certain tissue to use. yeah it'll keep snot off my face, but its not fixing the problem thats causing my nose to run.

It's hard to blame MD's because of their ignorance. Their formal education does not include nutrition, exercise, or alternative medicines. Their only weapon is the pad they scribble on. My MD friends are clueless in the use of vitamins, anti-oxidants, herbs, and nootropics for health benefits. It's all about "pills" for all their patients.

i can't argue with your statement, but it is very disheartening to know that so many ppl go to these docs for help thinking that the docs KNOW thier shit and that if they suggest somthing, that that MUST be the best optoin for them simply b/c the DOCTOR told them. the more i've learned, the less i trust doctors. i have a couple docs i goto these days and one is very openminded and if i ask him a specidifc question he has no qualms about saying "i really don't know what you're talking about... i'll have to check it out and get back to you" whereas one of the other docs i see is more along the lines of "well, i dont' know what that is, so the best bet is to just take this drug that i want to prescribe to you..."

most people don't even consider that the doctor might know less about their situation than they do