Natural Cure #3: Policosanol

Policosanol is a mixture of alcohols isolated and refined from sugar cane. The main ingredient in Policosanol is octacosanol, but as the name implies, Policosanol is actually a mixture of many (hence the prefix "poli") alcohols, including hexacosanol, triacontanol and others. Patients who have taken Policosanol have shown increased levels of high-density lipoprotein or HDL, the "good" cholesterol. HDL actually helps carry cholesterol away from the arteries to the liver, where it is processed and excreted from the body. Policosanol has been used by millions of people in other countries and it appears to normalize cholesterol as well or better than cholesterol lowering drugs, without side effects. Efficacy and safety have been proven in numerous clinical trials. A large patient group of 437 patients in a double-blind, placebo-controlled study received either Policosanol or a placebo once a day for twelve weeks. The patients who had been given Policosanol showed a 25% reduction in LDL cholesterol, a 17% reduction in total cholesterol, and a 28% increase in HDL cholesterol. The placebo group showed no reduction in total cholesterol. Policosanol seems to be effective at lowering cholesterol on both men and women and in all age groups. With so many uses, a wealth of clinical research and a history of safe and effective use in patients, it is easy to see why Policosanol is one of the most exciting nutritional finds in some time.