The Associated Press is reporting a second tainted pet food ingredient, which has added more pet food products to the recall list.
The connection with CAM is that contamination is not a new or rare event when it comes to food imports from China or traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). Continue reading The pet food recall and the CAM connection
Health Canada is advising consumers not to use this product due to concerns about possible side effects. Continue reading Consumer alert: Lexscl Fat Rapid Loss capsules
V-Max advertises itself as “a totally natural product containing herbal preparations scientifically proven to increase sexual performance and pleasure.”
Apparently, one of the “natural” ingredients is aminotadalafil, similar to tadalafil (Cialis), an FDA-approved drug used to treat erectile dysfunction.
This is relevant because of the importance of animal-assisted therapy, and because I love little kittens and puppies.
Last year, the FDA warned consumers not to buy or use 7 supplements that were sold online to treat impotence and enhance sexual performance.
All but one are still marketed either by the same name or a different name. So, I’ve restated the warning with an update on the new names.
The rest contain vardenafil, the active ingredient in Levitra, another prescription drug used to treat erectile dysfunction or impotence.
You can’t be sure that the “new” products eliminated the Viagra or Levitra from their formualtions.
The problem is that consumers may not know that these ingredients can interact with medications and dangerously lower their blood pressure.
7/13/06 10:25 JR Updated 3/6/07 00:22 JR
Liviro3 is a dietary supplement produced by Ebek, Inc.
If you use it, stop now and read this. Report headaches and flushing to your doctor.
The product is sold only in California. It comes in an opaque plastic container with no lot number or expiration date.
Continue reading Recall of Natural Tan Tan Tofu Panda Flavor Soybean Juice
In February, the Danish Ministry for Family and Consumer Affairs withdrew food supplements containing saw palmetto because of concerns about its effect on the hormone system coupled with a lack of data about its safety in long-term use.
Dr. Kirsten Pilegaard, PhD, senior advisor for the Danish Institute for Food and Veterinary Research stated, “On the basis of the information available, it is not possible to establish a dose that does not give rise to concern.”
Continue reading Saw palmetto withdrawn from the market in Denmark
In 2002, the FDA advised consumers of the potential risk of severe liver injury associated with the use of kava-containing (Piper methysticum) dietary supplements.
In 2003, the U.K.’s medicines regulatory body banned kava when it was linked to a number of deaths and liver damage around the world.
So, where are we today?
A recent post here summarized the risks associated with lead blood levels. It’s more toxic than was previously believed. And if you take Ayurvedic medicine, it’s important to be aware of the risks you are exposed to.
How high is the risk?
Continue reading High risk of heavy metals in Ayurvedic medicines
In addition to Ayurvedic medicines, certain traditional or folk medications used in East Indian, Middle Eastern, West Asian, and Hispanic cultures contain lead. The “logic” supporting the addition of lead to medicine was summarized in an earlier post.
Now it’s reported that lead is more toxic than we thought. People with lead blood levels well below those previously considered safe (less than 10 mcg/dL) are at increased risk for heart attack and stroke.
How great is the risk?
As a Chinese herbal, it was sold over-the-counter as Salt Spring Herbals Sleep Well Dietary Supplement capsules. But, it contained estazolam, a habit-forming sedative, sold by prescription only in the U.S. under the trade name, ProSom.
Now, the distributor’s website says, “Despite assurances from our supplier that the formula was all natural herbs, to our shock, disappointment and concern we have been advised by Health Canada that laboratory testing indicates the presence of ? estazolam.”
The distributor advises, “If you have unused product we ask that you send it back to us no later than October 1st for a full refund of postage, outbound and return, as well as $1.00 per capsule plus GST. Refunds will be issued by October 15th.”
Continue reading Sleep Well Herbals, “shocked” over estazolam recall
Everybody in the west knows that lead is toxic, right? We spend lots of money removing lead paint from the walls of old houses. So, what is the logic that justifies adding lead to ayurvedic medicines?
Dr. Annapoorna Chirra from the Department of Medicine at UCLA has the answer.
The New York Times Magazine published a travelogue by a San Francisco woman who spent time In India as an “ayurveda tourist.” The goal of the trip was to “immerse [herself] in ayurveda, the 3,500-year-old herb-based healing tradition that still flourishes in the daily life of India.”
As might be expected of a San Franciscan writing in NYT, she managed to insert a dig at Dick Cheney, but not once in 2900 words mentions the problem of lead poisoning associated with ayurvedic medicines.
Guess you have to pick your poison. But if she can’t do it, I will.
Continue reading Lead poisoning and ayurvedic medicines
With so many people traveling to China, it’s worthwhile to report drug warnings by the Hong Kong Department of Health. Earlier this week (see “News Bulletin” and click the August 3rd report), the public was advised not to buy or take a Chinese herbal preparation called as Beijing Jiannan Zhongyi Hospital Zhongyao Pei Fang Ke Li.
Continue reading Warning: Avoid Beijing Jiannan Zhongyi Hospital Zhongyao Pei Fang Ke Li
Just got back from vacation? Did you enjoy your trip to Hong Kong? What’s that you say, you found a great diet pill there that you put in your suitcase and took home?
It’s called what? “Conting Qianweisu Slimming Herbs Capsule”?
Hmm, catchy name. Caution!
Continue reading Consumer alert: Conting Qianweisu Slimming Herbs Capsule