RE: GMO -- NOW -- Patenting drugs (red rice yeast)

[Guest guest]

Doug,

 

 

 

Check this out... This is from The textbook of natural medicine,

 

 

 

" .This traditional Chinese medicine has been used for its health-promoting

effects in China for more than 2000 years. Red yeast rice is the source of a

group of compounds known as monacolins (e.g., lovastatin

<http://www.naturalmedtext.com/content/bookcontent.cfm?ID=HC150024 & searchter

ms=red%20rice%20yeast & framesource=search & RestrictTo=P150050> View drug

information, also known as monacolin K, one of the key monacolins in red

yeast rice extract). The marketing of an extract of red yeast fermented on

rice standardized for monacolin content as a dietary supplement in the

United States caused controversy in 1997 because it contained a natural

source of a prescription drug. The FDA eventually ruled that red yeast rice

products could only be sold if they were free of monacolin content. "

 

 

 

-Jason

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

_____

 

 

On Behalf Of

Tuesday, December 19, 2006 11:27 PM

 

Re: Merck to " pirate " Traditional compounds

to develop new drugs --> GMO

 

 

 

I know that what is happening in India especially is horrific as well as

other places in the

world. Some how I don't see this happening in China to Chinese Herbs. There

are threats

to be sure and we should protest them. I would start with the struggles in

India around

this issue.

 

doug

 

@ <%40>

, " " wrote:

>

> It seems that the idea of patenting natural plant chemicals may not be

that

> far from reality. Meaning large corporations have already patented

specific

> genes from plants. The have claimed ownership of plants that contains

their

> gene! As we speak they are trying to patent as many plant genes as

possible

> to claim ownership, when the time is ripe. Yes at the moment this does not

> affect our herbal prescribing, but it definitely is a larger issue that

may

> creep into our domain if something is not done soon. Below is a post that

I

> sent another group a few days ago. Although most of heard of GMO and how

> " bad " it is, the movie mentioned really explores some of the politics that

> are emerging around the issues of patenting. Being such a major issue with

> large ramifications I am unsure why Americans have rolled over and let

this

> one slide under the rug. I really hear very little anymore about it. With

> the stories conveyed in the movie, I do not see it unreasonable that our

> herbs will some day be owned by the corporations, and to use them will

> potentially cost you. Yes this sounds absurd. Check out the movie, then

get

> back to me.

>

>

>

>

> (POST)

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Guest guest]

Yes,

I remember the scenario. A company here in southern california

sold a red yeast product for lowering cholesterol, and was sued by

Merck pharmaceuticals in supreme court to stop them from selling it.

The original company won, but then Merck won on appeal, forcing the

company out of business and the red yeast product off the shelves.

 

 

On Dec 20, 2006, at 6:19 AM, wrote:

 

> Doug,

>

> Check this out... This is from The textbook of natural medicine,

>

> " .This traditional Chinese medicine has been used for its health-

> promoting

> effects in China for more than 2000 years. Red yeast rice is the

> source of a

> group of compounds known as monacolins (e.g., lovastatin

> <http://www.naturalmedtext.com/content/bookcontent.cfm?

> ID=HC150024 & searchter

> ms=red%20rice%20yeast & framesource=search & RestrictTo=P150050> View drug

> information, also known as monacolin K, one of the key monacolins

> in red

> yeast rice extract). The marketing of an extract of red yeast

> fermented on

> rice standardized for monacolin content as a dietary supplement in the

> United States caused controversy in 1997 because it contained a

> natural

> source of a prescription drug. The FDA eventually ruled that red

> yeast rice

> products could only be sold if they were free of monacolin content. "

>

> -Jason

>

> _____

>

>

> On Behalf Of Douglas

>

> Tuesday, December 19, 2006 11:27 PM

>

> Re: Merck to " pirate " Traditional

> compounds

> to develop new drugs --> GMO

>

> I know that what is happening in India especially is horrific as

> well as

> other places in the

> world. Some how I don't see this happening in China to Chinese

> Herbs. There

> are threats

> to be sure and we should protest them. I would start with the

> struggles in

> India around

> this issue.

>

> doug

>

> @ <%

> 40>

> , " " wrote:

> >

> > It seems that the idea of patenting natural plant chemicals may

> not be

> that

> > far from reality. Meaning large corporations have already patented

> specific

> > genes from plants. The have claimed ownership of plants that

> contains

> their

> > gene! As we speak they are trying to patent as many plant genes as

> possible

> > to claim ownership, when the time is ripe. Yes at the moment this

> does not

> > affect our herbal prescribing, but it definitely is a larger

> issue that

> may

> > creep into our domain if something is not done soon. Below is a

> post that

> I

> > sent another group a few days ago. Although most of heard of GMO

> and how

> > " bad " it is, the movie mentioned really explores some of the

> politics that

> > are emerging around the issues of patenting. Being such a major

> issue with

> > large ramifications I am unsure why Americans have rolled over

> and let

> this

> > one slide under the rug. I really hear very little anymore about

> it. With

> > the stories conveyed in the movie, I do not see it unreasonable

> that our

> > herbs will some day be owned by the corporations, and to use them

> will

> > potentially cost you. Yes this sounds absurd. Check out the

> movie, then

> get

> > back to me.

> >

> >

> >

> >

> > (POST)

>

>

[Guest guest]

It's the parallel situation with our current status: Can we treat high

cholesterol with CM? We better not! Should someone sell red yeast for that

purpose? Merck'll sue 'em. Yet Can we not prescribe as part of a formula hong

qu (red Yeast) to strengthen the spleen, promote digestion and invigorate the

blood? It's the old story of calling a skunk a pole cat. It looks like a

skunk, it smells like a skunk, but as long as we call it a pole cat, it's not a

skunk. I hate the way it is, but we're just too weak at present to do anything

different.

 

<zrosenbe wrote: Yes,

I remember the scenario. A company here in southern california

sold a red yeast product for lowering cholesterol, and was sued by

Merck pharmaceuticals in supreme court to stop them from selling it.

The original company won, but then Merck won on appeal, forcing the

company out of business and the red yeast product off the shelves.

 

 

On Dec 20, 2006, at 6:19 AM, wrote:

 

> Doug,

>

> Check this out... This is from The textbook of natural medicine,

>

> " .This traditional Chinese medicine has been used for its health-

> promoting

> effects in China for more than 2000 years. Red yeast rice is the

> source of a

> group of compounds known as monacolins (e.g., lovastatin

> <http://www.naturalmedtext.com/content/bookcontent.cfm?

> ID=HC150024 & searchter

> ms=red%20rice%20yeast & framesource=search & RestrictTo=P150050> View drug

> information, also known as monacolin K, one of the key monacolins

> in red

> yeast rice extract). The marketing of an extract of red yeast

> fermented on

> rice standardized for monacolin content as a dietary supplement in the

> United States caused controversy in 1997 because it contained a

> natural

> source of a prescription drug. The FDA eventually ruled that red

> yeast rice

> products could only be sold if they were free of monacolin content. "

>

> -Jason

>

> _____

>

>

> On Behalf Of Douglas

>

> Tuesday, December 19, 2006 11:27 PM

>

> Re: Merck to " pirate " Traditional

> compounds

> to develop new drugs --> GMO

>

> I know that what is happening in India especially is horrific as

> well as

> other places in the

> world. Some how I don't see this happening in China to Chinese

> Herbs. There

> are threats

> to be sure and we should protest them. I would start with the

> struggles in

> India around

> this issue.

>

> doug

>

> @ <%

> 40>

> , " " wrote:

> >

> > It seems that the idea of patenting natural plant chemicals may

> not be

> that

> > far from reality. Meaning large corporations have already patented

> specific

> > genes from plants. The have claimed ownership of plants that

> contains

> their

> > gene! As we speak they are trying to patent as many plant genes as

> possible

> > to claim ownership, when the time is ripe. Yes at the moment this

> does not

> > affect our herbal prescribing, but it definitely is a larger

> issue that

> may

> > creep into our domain if something is not done soon. Below is a

> post that

> I

> > sent another group a few days ago. Although most of heard of GMO

> and how

> > " bad " it is, the movie mentioned really explores some of the

> politics that

> > are emerging around the issues of patenting. Being such a major

> issue with

> > large ramifications I am unsure why Americans have rolled over

> and let

> this

> > one slide under the rug. I really hear very little anymore about

> it. With

> > the stories conveyed in the movie, I do not see it unreasonable

> that our

> > herbs will some day be owned by the corporations, and to use them

> will

> > potentially cost you. Yes this sounds absurd. Check out the

> movie, then

> get

> > back to me.

> >

> >

> >

> >

> > (POST)

>

>

[Guest guest]

Red yeast rice is still on the shelves. As long as a manufacturer doesn't

claim that the product is standardized to lovastatin, Merck leaves them

alone.

 

There have been incidents of muscle weakness with red yeast rice, which is a

side effect of statins. If somebody is using red yeast rice, they should

also be taking coenzyme q10 to help prevent the muscle weakness, which is

partly due to co q10 depletion.

 

- Bill

.............................................

Bill Schoenbart, L.Ac.

P.O. Box 8099

Santa Cruz, CA 95061

 

office phone: 831-335-3165

email: plantmed

.............................................

 

 

>>>>Yes,

I remember the scenario. A company here in southern california

sold a red yeast product for lowering cholesterol, and was sued by

Merck pharmaceuticals in supreme court to stop them from selling it.

The original company won, but then Merck won on appeal, forcing the

company out of business and the red yeast product off the shelves.

>>>>