Warning: Parameter 2 to wp_hide_post_Public::query_posts_join() expected to be a reference, value given in /home/customer/www/camcheck.co.za/public_html/wp-includes/class-wp-hook.php on line 307
Posted 04 May 2018
By Katharine Child Times Select
Activist puts the blame on SA’s new drugs regulator, which in turn claims it is under-resourced
Desperate to lose weight, a Joburg woman was eager to try a weight-loss pill readily available online – one that promised to be a herbal remedy. But then things took a turn for the worse for her health.
Four days after starting to use Wondernut, she started shaking all over. The woman has severe bipolar disorder but has been stable for years on a range of psychiatric medications.
“We thought she was having a ‘depressive’ episode as she was a wreck and couldn’t talk properly. This was accompanied by gastritis with nausea, vomiting, inability to eat and severe pain. She was in bed for 10 days. She stopped using the product, and is only just getting better now, physically and emotionally,” her daughter explained.
Enter Harris Steinman, a doctor and activist, and a man on a mission against unregulated medicines. Central to this is a delay in registering complementary medicine by the SA Health Products Regulatory Authority (Sahpra).
Formerly the Medicines Control Council, Sahpra’s job is to regulate both actual medicines and complementary medicines that include weight-loss tablets, herbal remedies and vitamins on pharmacy shelves.
In his spare time Steinman has started collecting complaints from people who reportedly fell ill after using the weight-loss remedy.
For months, he has been writing on his website about Wondernut, which goes by various names.
Two weeks ago a person wrote to Steinman saying his niece was in ICU after using it.
“She had had three dialysis treatments for failing kidneys, she is having multiple blood transfusions as we speak and is on morphine for pain.”
This followed use of the herbal product.
Another woman wrote that she started having excruciating stomach pain.
“I literally felt as if I had been poisoned … I was devastated as I had hoped this would help me, but I would rather be healthy and alive at a higher weight than do damage to my body internally.”
Good Day
Just want to ask if u have chronic constipation, spastic colon , this is good cause at least u go at least once a day and not once a month.
Is the WonderNut really so dangerous?
People say Secret Fat burner can cause your death but yet people are buying.
Why is the product on the market if it causes your death.
I think u must just lower the dosage.
@Adri
Both Wondernut AND Secret Fat Burner are high risk products. They remain on the market simply because the authorities are not taking action, that is, they are not acting against anything. These products are not exceptions, it has to do with paralysis of the regulatory authorities to act and protect consumers.
Hi Harris,
I am currently investigating what the real effects are of Wondernut. Is that the same as the Indian Whole Nut? Is there any tests done internationally to show the effects of the Nut? The people who experienced the adverse effects, was it not caused by overdose?
Most nuts taken in large amounts causes bloating, can it be that if you take more than the prescribed dosage that it caused issues with the people who reported negative effects.
I will appreciate some feedback.
@Nadia
According to my information, the Wondernut is the same nut as Indian Whole nut.
These nuts have toxic constituents not present in other tree and ground nuts and hence their toxicity. Some of the symptoms will be very obvious. Others are ‘hidden’ and long term – according to the medical literature.
i have been on the wondernut for a month now… id like to know if they did tests to prove if it was the nut that caused them to get sick
please email me
annesia.l.harmse@gmail.com
Yes, they did
I have a under active thyroid (hypothyroidism). Been on the capsules for a month, and had to go for a checkup on my thyroid. Blood test now show i
have hyperthyroidism (overactive)!! How long does these pills stay in your system as i need to redo my blood tests
@Anne
I cannot find any research to indicate how long they stay in one’s system. Some drugs only stay for a very short time, others like long-acting antihistamines can stay for longer than 24 hours. Therefore we know the toxins in this product can last, but for how long I do not know. Of course, if the toxin damages an organ, then the toxin may be gone but the damage not.
My question why would a plant or nut be dangerous. It comes from the earth just like plants and fruit nd veg. I thinking people are not following instructions.Increasing the actual amount. Why was this report of this lady who suffered from this not on the news. And why is it still being sold? I have a friend who used the nut for a week and it help not only with weight loss but also her health. And Harris why dont you go public with this seeing that it is dangerous. What indegrients in the nut makes it dangerous.
Arsenic, cyanide, toxic mushrooms and many other risky and dangerous stuff come from the earth. Still being sold because the authorities have not been acting at all – not because the consider it to be safe.
People need to use common sense. This product lowers your potassium, if you are on bipolar meds, off course you are going to run into issues. If you manage your potassium levels you should have minimal side effects. Look at the alternative for Obesity, it’s your Duromine, anti epileptic meds, ADHD meds and now diabetic injections that is used to suppress appetite, and quite frankly, those meds are far far worse. Stop with the witch hunt, rather educate people to make better choices and look at the positive reviews too to get a balanced perspective.
I take wondernut ..cramps and nausea…they said its 100% organic and the best product..
Dear Harris, do you have any proof or lab reports that show that the wondernut contains Arsenic, cyanide or any other toxic substance or agents and also proof that it can or does cause cancer? Can you please post this on the website so that everyone can see it? If there is any medical literature from more than one source please would you mind sharing it. There are different packages on the Internet and I see you can even order this almost from anywhere or anyone. I know of one lady who bought the nut and i asked her how she used it she said that she broke it to the prescribed size and just drank it. When I explained to her how I used it, she said that the method on how I was using it, was not explained to her in that way. So it could be incorrect use of the product that could make a person ill.
@Lenise
I have previously posted the links to the documented and published literature: seek and you shall find
Hello..
I also took this wonder nut hoping to lose weight. Within days my joints became so sore and i was so tired i could barely lift my arms or hold my steering wheel while driving. When my GP took blood tests she found my potassium levels were so low thats what was causing this and i was having dizzy and fainting spells. When i told her about the nut she ordered me to stop taking it immediately as it was that that was causing my problems.
A few days after treatment and leaving the nut i was feeling much better and like myself again.
People please DO NOT TAKE THIS NUT IT IS VERY DANGEROUS.
I found that drinking Drinking Yogurt helps to stop the heaviest effect of wondernut.. I found out a year ago that my mother has been giving this to me on a regular basis for nearly 5 years. I thought that I had a terminal disease, my skin was messed up and for me that is bad because Im an actor/model.. I thought that I had a tumor.. I eventually found out that I am being poisoned because she gave me and my friend this at the same time twice.. and everything became clear. if I got this egg taste when I burped then I found out that I have been get that taste for the last 5 years and she still said she did not do this but she for money every time for poor me .. littledid I know that she had a lot of these seeds and that last time she thew everything away and said she would never.. and I have gotten sick ever since.. I dont know I shedid it for the money or to kill me..
I never got sick again, sorry for the spelling mistakes