This message is from Trishia at The Old Schoolhouse Homeschool Leaders Network. 

Hi all,

Below are two links, one for suport of a federal bill and another for opposing.? Both concern our right to access of natural substances, which the FDA continues to try to limit.? Here's an example.

 Recently the FDA, under the influence of MERCK, began shutting down companies that sell?a natural substance called red rice yeast.? This has been a LONG battle, starting back in the late 90's.? Why would they do this?? Because Merck is profiting from their?chemical version of this natural product.??Some history - red rice yeast is an ALL NATURAL statin type supplement which naturally lowers cholesterol.? When MERCK and other drug companies wanted to make cholesterol lowering drugs they modeled their drugs after this natural and effective?substance, since they couldn't make money off of something that is already natural and available for low cost.??Red rice yeast has been used as a spice and dietary supplement for centuries by the Chinese and for decades in the US, prior to lovastatin's approval as a new drug in 1987. Now they have shut out our access to this natural substance,?removing their competition.? In the balance is our right to choose natural substances over drugs!!!? This is totally wrong and if you are someone who likes choosing the natural option I urge you to respond to the enclosed links.??

 They have been successful in this attempt and I'm concerned that if we just sit back we are going to lose additional access to many other natural products that do the same things as the high priced drugs, but without the side effects.???Here's some additional links:

 http://www.iahf.com/usa/fda.html?(this is an older link that explains the above clearly, as this battle over red rice yeast?has been going on for quite some time) http://supplementquality.com/news/goodbye_cholestin.html

 Please respond to these petitions:

http://www.democracyinaction.org/dia/organizationsORG/wtg/campaign.jsp?campaign_KEY=5148

http://www.democracyinaction.org/dia/organizations/wtg/campaign.jsp?campaign_KEY=22258

Thanks for reading.

Blessings,

Tricia McQ