Exhibit 99

    [GRAPHIC OMITTED]           Michael Porter, President - Investor Relations
Porter, LeVay & Rose, Inc.      Linda Decker, VP - Investor Relations
    PUBLIC RELATIONS            Jeff Myhre, VP - Editorial
                                Tom Gibson, VP - Media Relations 201-476-0322

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    Seven Penn Plaza o New York, NY 10001 o 212-564-4700 o FAX 212-244-3075
                    www.plrinvest.com o plrmail@plrinvest.com
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   NATURAL HEALTH TRENDS CORP.

   Robert H Hesse, President
   972-241-4080
                                                               FOR CLIENT REVIEW

 NATURAL HEALTH TRENDS CORP. NOTIFIED OF NON-COMPLIANCE WITH NASDAQ INDEPENDENT
                                  DIRECTOR RULE


DALLAS, TX, October 18, 2005 -- Natural Health Trends Corp. (NASDAQ NMS: BHIP),
an international direct-selling company, announced today that it received a
letter from The Nasdaq Stock Market stating that the Company is not in
compliance with Marketplace Rule 4350. Specifically, due to the resignation of
Robert H. Hesse from the Company's Audit Committee (which was previously
disclosed), the Company's Audit Committee is not comprised of three independent
directors. Pursuant to Marketplace Rule 4350(d)(4), the Company has been
provided with the opportunity to cure such non-compliance until the earlier of
its next annual stockholders' meeting or September 28, 2006.

Mr. Hesse, who resigned from the Audit Committee to take on the position of
interim CEO of Natural Health Trends, said, "Our Nominating Committee is in the
process of identifying, reviewing and evaluating appropriate candidates for
appointment to the Board of Directors as independent directors. The Company
intends to appoint one or more of the newly appointed independent directors to
our Audit Committee."

Natural Health Trends Corp. is an international direct-selling company operating
in more than 30 markets throughout Asia, North America, Eastern Europe and Latin
America. The Company markets premium quality personal care products under the
Lexxus brand and markets its nutritional supplement products under the Kaire
brand. Additional information can be found on the Company's website, and
management encourages interested parties to register for updated corporate
information via e-mail on the Company's homepage,
www.naturalhealthtrendscorp.com.

Safe Harbor Statement under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995
- -- Forward-looking statements in this release do not constitute guarantees of
future performance. Such forward-looking statements are subject to risks and
uncertainties that could cause our actual results to differ materially from
those anticipated. Such statements may relate, among other things, to our
relationship with our distributors; our need to continually recruit new
distributors; our internal controls and accounting methods that may require
further modification; regulatory matters governing our products and network
marketing system; our ability to recruit and maintain key management; adverse
publicity associated with our products or direct selling organizations; product
liability claims; our reliance on outside manufacturers; risks associated with
operating internationally, including foreign exchange risks; product
concentration; dependence on increased penetration of existing markets; the
competitive nature of our business; and our ability to generate sufficient cash
to operate and expand our business. For a more detailed discussion of the risks
and uncertainties of our business, please refer to our Annual Report on Form
10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2004 filed with the Securities and
Exchange Commission. We assume no obligation to update any forward-looking
information contained in this press release or with respect to the announcements
described herein.

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