A Voice in Favor of Natural Alternatives

Jane E. Allen’s report (“No Minor Mix-Up,” Jan. 10) on side effects of herbs and vitamins is misleading. The fact that herbs like garlic and ginkgo biloba thin the blood, as do prescription blood thinners, is reason to take the patient off the expensive (and problematic) drug, rather than the herbs. Patients on prescription blood thinners require monthly blood tests to guard against over-thinning their blood; the herbs do not require this. Vitamins are essential for life, drugs are not. How long will the public be kept in the dark about the fact that the biological action of virtually every prescription drug can be duplicated with natural remedies at far less cost and little side effect?

BILL SARDI

Diamond Bar