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April 6, 2008, 7:11 pm
Flag as Inappropriate tmostuff  

I'm not certain if I should post this here or elsewhere. but it concerns the OTC (over-the-counter) medication called CholestOff by Nature Made. It's usually found in the vitamin isle at grocery and drugstores.

I have extremely high cholesterol (652) and have actively searched for OTC, natural medications that might help me get it into the lower digits. I also have serious allergies to mold, dust, pet dander, nuts, bananas, mushrooms, most flowers, anything outside that's green or brown, any medications containing penicillin, large doses of niacin and trees that are in the spruce, pine and cedar families. If I'm exposed to or ingest any of these things it can get pretty ugly as well as down right scary. They either try to stop my breathing or swell my tongue and throat.

For anyone that is or may be allergic to pine trees, sap or tar, please consult your physician before taking this medication. As indicated on their website, this medication contains Plant sterols/stanols (pine tree). When I contacted the manufacturer and asked about any studies done on persons with allergies to pine trees, they told me to consult my attending physician.

Since they wouldn't or couldn't answer my allergy related questions, I would caution anyone with similar allergies who considers taking CholestOff before talking to their doctor.

So far the only natural products or vitamins I've been able to take are garlic capsules.

It seems usually to be an easy "pass the buck" thing for these corporations to advise speaking to your physician before use of their product, and of course we should. Sometimes, however, they are wrong, despite their skills. After all, wereally do know our own bodies best. Perhaps your doctor can suggest another alternative, as taking a product with pine tree essence seems dangerous.

Wow, that is a scary thought. I would think that they should have some of these ingredients listed on the label or a warning.

I have heard that Omega (fish oil) tablets will help reduce cholesterol naturally.

That sounds like less of a pass-the-buck than a honest we don't know. They are not required to do studies on every possible interaction/reaction to their product, especially as it is a "supplement" and does not make any direct claims (at least I can reasonably assume-most of these things fall under these general rules). Therefore its on the consumer to look for possible interactions, allergies, and gimmick products (such as Sobe tea with minuscule amounts of ginseng, lol). I'm glad you caught it before you took it.

When you have as many allergies as I do, it becomes habit to read all food, drug and supplement labels. Often times when people see the word "Natural" associated with supplements they fail to take into consideration the natural substances could be ones they may be allergic.

I've heard of a controlled medication that's made from the new growth of a particular type of pine. The substance is extremely toxic to humans but is a necessary ingredient in the treatment of breast cancer. This is the first over-the-counter substance I've run across made up of plant sterols/stanols (pine trees) which I have to avoid unless under close observation in a medical facility equipped to handle this type of allergic reaction.