Categories

Study Estimates Millions in US Risk Liver Damage From Herbal Remedies

Posted 06 August 2024

“Conclusions and Relevance In this survey study, an estimated 15.6 million US adults consumed at least 1 botanical product with liver liability within the past 30 days, comparable with the number of people who consumed nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and a commonly prescribed hypolipidemic drug. Given a lack of regulatory oversight on the manufacturing and testing of botanical products, clinicians should be aware of possible adverse events from consumption of these largely unregulated products.”

HEALTH 07 August 2024
By Tessa Koumoundouros
Science Alert

From turmeric to green tea, many botanicals we commonly use as herbal remedies pose a threat to our liver if we indulge too much.

A new survey from the University of Michigan estimates up to 18.6 million people in the US make use of at least one of these herbal remedies with liver-damaging potential.

When used in moderation, herbs like green tea and other … Read the rest

August 7th, 2024 | Tags: , | Category: Herbal Medicines | Leave a comment

FDA warns about tainted arthritis and pain products

Posted 10 Jan 2024

The FDA has identified 25 products promoted for arthritis and pain management that contain drug ingredients not listed on product labels, including some found in prescription drugs. The agency advises these products are only a small fraction of potentially dangerous products marketed online and in stores. Such products may cause serious side effects and may interact with medications or dietary supplements.

Tainted Arthritis | Pain Products

https://www.fda.gov/drugs/medication-health-fraud/tainted-arthritis-pain-products

FDA is notifying consumers of certain products promoted for arthritis and pain management that have been found to contain hidden ingredients and may pose a significant health risk. The public notifications listed below include those products FDA testing found to contain active drug ingredients not listed on the product labels, including some with ingredients found in prescription drugs. These products may cause potentially serious side effects and may interact with medications or dietary supplements a consumer is taking. Consumers … Read the rest

January 10th, 2024 | Tags: , | Category: Herbal Medicines | Leave a comment

DNA testing reveals ‘widespread adulteration’ of herbal products

Posted 09 November 2019

https://www.foodnavigator.com/Article/2019/11/07/DNA-testing-reveals-widespread-adulteration-of-herbal-products

Fresh research utilising DNA testing technology has highlighted ‘widespread’ global adulteration in herbal products, with almost one-third of items tested found to be fake.

The study, published in Frontiers in Pharmacology, analysed the authenticity of almost 6,000 herbal products sold across 37 countries using DNA testing. It concluded the content of a ‘substantial proportion’ – 27% – did not contain what was claimed on the label.

The researchers, led by Dr Mihael Cristin Ichim of the Romanian National Institute of Research and Development for Biological Sciences, stressed that the adulterated herbal products are distributed ‘across all continents and regions’. In Europe, the percentage of adulterated product stood at 47%, higher than North America at 33% and Asia at 23% but lower than Australia where 79% of products were found to be adulterated.

“Our results conrm the large-scale presence of adulterated herbal products throughout the global … Read the rest

November 8th, 2019 | Tags: , | Category: Herbal Medicines | Leave a comment

UK National Health Service drops coverage of homeopathic, herbal, and supplement products

Posted 12 December 2017

NHS England has decided to stop covering 18 “low value” treatments, a move the government believes will generate £141 million in annual savings. The list includes seven that have also also been referred to the Department of Health for blacklisting: homeopathy, herbal treatments, omega-3 fatty acid compounds (fish oil), co-proxamol, rubefacients (excluding topical NSAIDS), lutein and antioxidants, and glucosamine and chondroitin.

[Items which should not be routinely prescribed in primary care: Consultation and Report of Findings. NHS England, Nov 30, 2017] https://www.england.nhs.uk/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/items-which-should-not-be-routinely-precscribed-in-pc-consultation-report.pdf

… Read the rest
December 12th, 2017 | Tags: , , | Category: Herbal Medicines | Leave a comment

Herbal supplements’ illegal ingredients pose health risk, experts warn

Posted 06 February 2016

The Guardian

Friday 3 February 2017

Unlicensed medicines used in obesity or erection remedies could lower blood pressure or raise chances of heart attack

Many herbal supplements, including for obesity and erectile dysfunction, contain hidden unlicensed pharmaceutical ingredients that could endanger people’s health, experts have warned.

The research team, from Queen’s University Belfast, Kingston University in London and the life sciences testing company LGC, concluded that not only do such supplements often make unverified claims as to their benefits but some have illegal ingredients which could pose a threat – potentially causing low blood pressure or an increased risk of heart attacks.

The substances are unlicensed medicines as they are appearing in products classified as food supplements. Among the most common substances identified was sibutramine, according to the study, published in the Journal of the Association of Public Analysts.

Sibutramine was licensed as the medicine Reductil … Read the rest

February 6th, 2017 | Tags: , | Category: Herbal Medicines | Leave a comment

Herbal products need tighter regulation by TGA

Posted 06 February 2017

http://www.doctorportal.com.au/mjainsight/2017/4/herbal-products-need-tighter-regulation-by-tga/

Medical Journal Australia
Issue 4 / 6 February 2017

… Read the rest
February 6th, 2017 | Tags: , , | Category: Herbal Medicines | Leave a comment