GO! Smell the herbal toxins
August 27th, 2008 by JimAnyone buy herbal supplements online? If so which ones?
Flowers have learnt via this U.S.A today article that some sold online frequently contain dangerous levels of lead, arsenic and mercury. In a recent a study, led by Dr Robert Saper from the Boston University School of Medicine, 193 Ayurvedic products bought from 25 websites made by 37 manufacturers in India and the U.S. were examined.
A fifth of Ayurvedic treatments - a traditional Indian medicine - contained doses of toxic metals and chemicals up to 10,000 times higher than acceptable limits, researchers found. The U.S.A today article also contains a table of the dangerous chemicals for those of you interested.
Ayurveda has been practised in India for thousands of years and is used by 80 per cent of the country’s population. It combines herbal medicine with oils, massage, yoga and meditation and is increasingly popular as an alternative to western medicines for a huge range of illnesses. Fans include Madonna, Naomi Campbell and Cherie Blair.
The dangers found in the study included Arsenic which can cause cancer, Lead and mercury which can damage the kidneys and brain, especially in children. More than 80 people have developed lead poisoning worldwide from Ayurvedic medicines since 1978, the study notes. Symptoms include fatigue, anemia and abdominal pain.
Should so called ‘health’ products with such high levels of dangerous metals be banned from sale or is it just time to regulate the manufacture and distribution of herbal supplements. Is this media hype setting out to proove a point as let’s face it what is really produced by man that isn’t toxic?
Do tell but keep on rubbing please, that’s it, right there!
are people buying from dubious sources because they are cheaper? Surely if they come from a recognised company then they can be sued or shut down?
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Not if the FDA stamp it and approve it - some will just have a wanring sign on, even if toxic in excess - think *contains nuts…
*contains lead
I think that these are becoming more popular as the baby boomer generation ages and wants “more natural” alternatives. However, I worry because they are not regulated and they can cause unhealthy interactions with prescribed medications. I find that most often people do not tell their doctor that they are taking such supplements. I had two clients who almost ended up in the hospital due to such interactions. As much as is wrong with the FDA, I think that they need to become involved because there needs to be some type of regulations. I view them just the same as a prescribed medication except without the regulations they can be toxic or lethal. I also check with my pharmacist before taking an “natural” herb or supplement.
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Sound advice but buying online -is it worth the risk if no online pharmacist is around to ask but has FDA stamped all over the lid?
I wouldn’t take that risk.
I would not buy online. Can’t take the risk when it is something you are going to eat for health *supposedly..
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once again the new age brigade get proved wrong!! by science
for years I have had people preach to me about the benefits of ayuvredic supplements- a completely untried untested branch of supplementatuion that was apportioned ‘mystical’ qualities because it was
1) used to thousands of years
2) was natural
3) indians swore by it
turns out its a load of nonsense. you see I am all for proven nutritional supplementation that serves a purpose but again if you questioned the new age lot about this you were looked on as if you had missed the secret of their enlightenment. bottom line- untried, untested, unproven, unregulated. DANGEROUS
good article!!
Vitamin and herbal supplements are bull crap. Eat the actual vegetable or fruit or herb that the “essential nutrient” comes from.
I’ve been abiding in an apartment with no internet for the past few days. Nothing new for me, but the internet should be on within a week or two. Until then my comments will be rare.
I’d say ‘priceless’ actually.
No probs Zack - we’ll hold your spot till ya get connected!
Most things that are deemed as being healthy have a dodgy side effect. Drinking water out of a plastic bottle, over strenuous gym work outs, salads with not so healthy dressings and so on.
And the dangers found in the study are ‘dangers’ found in cigarettes which are legally sold.
I’m with Zack, there is nothing that can’t be found in fresh produce and I’m betting that the fresh produce is a darn sight cheaper than buying supplements online.
I do hate to say it……
Oh no I dont…
I TOLD YOU SO…
ages ago… I remember posting about the toxins contained in Health Supplements.. Arsenic and cyanide being added as filler.. etc.. and they were the nice ones….
OH GOD IT FEELS GREAT TO BE ME……!!!!!!!!!!!
once again ALL TOGETHER …..
AUSSIE AUSSIE AUSSIE OI OI OI….
Yup - as the man in the orthopaedic shoes once said:
We stand corrected!
hehehehe,…
I really couldnt help myself….
sorry
Those 80 cases reported for the past 30 years apparently were not lethal side effects with maximum of vomiting. There are no death/fatal cases. Chances are those peeps use meds that are not prescribed for them or expired ones. Hundreds and thousands of death cases from people using mainstream meds were reported in the past 30 years. Compare that!
The lead and mercury might come from the cheap containers, or the tools to make them… The article seems to scare people from using alternative meds.
Any postive examples are welcomed Borzack and thanks for bringing this to the table…
Any evidence / paper arre welcomed here to counterbalance this claim of poison!
Interesting read: http://www.lef.org/magazine/mag2004/mar2004_awsi_death_01.htm
Great - thanks for sharing Borzack.
Feel free to work your magic over at the health section at Forums here at GSTF!
erm Borzack who has the knowledge, license or right to ‘prescribe alternative therapies?
Answer- nobody as they are largely unregulated and not tried to any reasonable scientific level.
You say it ’scares’ people- facts are facts- they contain what they contain. far more worrying is people being scared into using unproven ‘medicines’ by unqualified quacks.
Pharmaceutical industry started since what? Probably 60years? 80 years? How do you think people heal themselves prior to the creation of pharmaceutical/medical industry? The aborigines and their ancestors has survived for over thousands of years, I’m sure they didn’t use pharmaceuticals
You really have to know your supplier. Read the ingredients, and faqs. Find out what quality controls are used. A reputable distributor will tell you exactly what you’re buying.
Convsersely, there have been analyses of fish oil supplements sold online and in pharmacies. Everyone worries about mercury and PCB’s, but surpirsingly there really were no detectable levels found in most of the products sold to consumers. Not all sources of supplements are bad, but this is a shame.
Borzack has a point - Nature has given us what we need for good health - in it’s natural state of course.
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