Heavy Metal Content in Ayurvedic Medicines.

[Guest guest]

From Synergytimes

 

Circulated after taking due written permission of Dr Chittranjan Andrade at

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A fifth of Ayurvedic medicines available from Internet sources

contain lead, mercury, and/or arsenic at levels that exceed

safety limits. Two-fifths of rasa shastra products contain these

heavy metals. Heavy metal content in Ayurvedic medicines is no

more likely in products manufactured in the USA than in those

manufactured in India; however, specifically, Indian-manufactured

rasa shastra products contain the highest levels of lead and

mercury, and ingestion of these medicines could result in heavy

metal exposure that would be 100 to 10,000 times the acceptable

limit. These finding suggest that testing of Ayurvedic medicines

for toxic heavy metals should become mandatory.

 

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THE SYNERGY TIMES

 

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Aug 29, 2008; Vol 8 No 112

HEAVY METAL CONTENT IN AYURVEDIC MEDICINES

In a narrative review, Ernst (2004) observed that herbal

medicines have been known to induce liver, kidney, and other

organ damage; a possible reason is that these medicines may

contain unsafe levels of heavy metals. In an important study on

the subject, Saper et al (2004) found that 20% of South Asian-

origin Ayurvedic formulations marketed in and around Boston, USA,

contained lead, mercury, and/or arsenic in potentially harmful

concentrations.

 

More recently, Saper et al (2008) examined the heavy metal

content in Ayurvedic medicines marketed through the Internet.

These authors used five Internet search engines and the search

terms 'Ayurveda' and 'Ayurvedic medicine' to identify 25 Web

sites which offered traditional Ayurvedic herbs, formulae, or

ingredients commonly used in Ayurveda, intended for oral use, and

available for sale. They randomly selected 230 medicines from 673

identified products and received and analyzed 193 medicines from

37 manufacturers. Metal concentrations in these medicines were

measured using x-ray fluorescence spectroscopy.

 

IMPORTANT FINDINGS WERE:

1. Twenty-one percent (95% CI, 15-27%) of the 193 medicines

contained heavy metals; products manufactured in India (n=77) and

those manufactured in the USA (n=115) or Canada (n=1) did not

differ significantly in this regard (20% vs 22%, respectively,

for India vs USA).

 

2. More rasa shastra than non-rasa shastra medicines contained

heavy metals (41% vs 17%, respectively) . Median concentrations of

lead and mercury were significantly higher in the rasa shastra

medicines. Indian-manufactured rasa shastra medicines had the

highest lead and mercury content; it was estimated that ingestion

of these medicines could result in heavy metal exposure that

would be 100 to 10,000 times the acceptable limit.

 

3. Lead was the most commonly found metal, followed by mercury,

and then by arsenic. Indian products contained more mercury but

less arsenic than USA products.

 

4. Among the metal-containing products, 95% were sold by US

websites and 75% claimed Good Manufacturing Practices.

 

5. All metal-containing products exceeded one or more standards

for acceptable daily intake of toxic metals.

 

CONCLUSIONS

A fifth of Ayurvedic medicines available from Internet sources

contain lead, mercury, and/or arsenic at levels that exceed

safety limits. Two-fifths of rasa shastra products contain these

heavy metals. Heavy metal content in Ayurvedic medicines is no

more likely in products manufactured in the USA than in those

manufactured in India; however, specifically, Indian-manufactured

rasa shastra products contain the highest levels of lead and

mercury, and ingestion of these medicines could result in heavy

metal exposure that would be 100 to 10,000 times the acceptable

limit.

 

COMMENTS

1. The authors did not receive 37 out of the 230 medicines

ordered. The commonest reason was that the product was no longer

available or was out of stock (n=21); however, one unnamed source

refused to supply the medicines (n=14) after recognizing that the

order had come from a team which had previously published a study

on Ayurvedic medicines.

 

2. Heavy metal content in Ayurvedic medicines may be deliberate;

rasa shastra prescribes the combination of herbs with metals,

minerals, and gems. The safety of this practice is questionable,

and the findings of Saper et al (2004, 2008) indicate that

testing of Ayurvedic medicines for toxic heavy metals should

become mandatory.

 

REFERENCES

Ernst E. Risks of herbal medicinal products. Pharmacoepidemiol

Drug Saf 2004; 13: 767-771.

 

Saper RB, Kales SN, Paquin J, Burns MJ, Eisenberg DM, Davis RB et

al. Heavy metal content of ayurvedic herbal medicine products.

JAMA 2004; 292: 2868-2873.

 

Saper RB, Phillips RS, Sehgal A, Khouri N, Davis RB, Paquin J et

al. Lead, mercury, and arsenic in US- and Indian-manufactured

ayurvedic medicines sold via the internet. JAMA 2008; 300: 915-

923.

 

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[Guest guest]

thank you for pointing out that in the shastras heavy metals are an

integral point in the making of these preparations. so we cannot judge

immediately that these medicines are a danger. furthermore with my

chemistry background i would like to mention that heavy metals are an

integral part of chemical pathways in the Human body therefore

suggesting that heavy metals place some role in the homeostasis of the

body. your information is greatly appreciated as safety is always of

the highest importance.

 

_____________________________

Raja Gursahani

Cell 559.474.8576

Sent from my iPhone

[Guest guest]

revered vaidyas

its always a problem, and question is arisen regarding the metal content in

ayurvedic medicines.

 

i always find such reports showing alarming amount of lead or arsenic.

 

yes, we vaidyas do know that we r using the drugs, the claims say that there

are toxic levels of metals, yes may be the ppm level might be higher than

prescribed international standards, but toxic levels doesnt always produce

toxicity, if properly taken and administered in right dose i hope they dont

produce toxic symptoms. toxic levels and toxicity are different phenomenon.

regards

suneel

[Guest guest]

I think the whole heavy metals propaganda by FDA is to suppress the growth of

Ayurveda outside India and also to put like an embargo to Indian Ayurvedic

medicine suppliers.I don't think Ayurveda will ever become mainstream inside or

outside India. Allopathics will never acknowledge Ayurvedic priniciples but

cleverly borrow from the same and claim as though it was from their own

research.

 

My 2 paisa on this

 

-Pradeep

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thank you for pointing out that in the shastras heavy metals are an

integral point in the making of these preparations. so we cannot judge

immediately that these medicines are a danger.

[Guest guest]

Namaste Pradeep:

 

FDA has set some thresholds for heavy metals and why should the

exporters from India object to that?

 

If the exporters want to make money in US then they must abide by the

regulations in US.

 

I have personally visited many Ayurvedic manufacturers in India they

claim to be GMP standards but believe me the state of affairs is

extremely shocking. They just want to know from me what documentation

would satisfy the customer. Getting signed copies of CoA has no

meaning because that is an absolute joke.

 

Any time I get any raw materials from India, I always have to get it

analyzed using ICP-MS as mandated by the California Prop-65. Atomic

Absorption and ICP are not sensitives enough for this evaluation.

 

Dr. Yadu

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I think the whole heavy metals propaganda by FDA is to suppress the

growth of Ayurveda outside India and also to put like an embargo to

Indian Ayurvedic medicine suppliers.

[Guest guest]

Response from NAMA

Read full response at:

 

http://www.ayurveda-nama.org/NAMA%20APA%20VEAT%20Joint%20Response%20-\

%20Final.pdf

 

 

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A fifth of Ayurvedic medicines available from Internet sources

contain lead, mercury, and/or arsenic at levels that exceed

safety limits. Two-fifths of rasa shastra products contain these

heavy metals.