Fwd: Daily News - Tuesday, January 14, 2003

[Guest guest]

I haven't read all the stories, just sharing as usual. I thought the first

article was pretty good though.

 

Marianne

 

> Daily News from Healthypages

> Tuesday, January 14, 2003

> _______________________________

>

> Herbalists criticise kava kava ban

>

> UK herbalists have criticised the ban on the substance kava kava, which

> came into force on Monday (13/01/03).

>

> The National Institute of Medical Herbalists (NIMH) has condemned the

> government’s decision to outlaw kava kava as “folly†and says removing

the

> right of herbalists to use the substance will harm more patients than it

> will protect.

>

> The herb is used to treat anxiety, insomnia and the pain caused by

> long-term illness. According to the NIMH, it is used by eight out of ten

> herbal practitioners.

>

> Kava kava was voluntarily moved from shelves a year ago after being linked

> to 70 cases of liver toxicity worldwide, four of which were in the UK. The

> cases prompted the UK’s Committee on the Safety of Medicines to recommend a

> ban.

>

> The Medicines Control Agency (MCA) is now acting on that advice and the ban

> came into force this week, although it will be reconsidered in two years

> time.

>

> Trudy Norris, president of the NIMH, described the decision to ban kava

> kava as “ridiculousâ€. The institute says the reported cases of liver

> toxicity referred to the use of concentrated extracts rather than the whole

> plant.

>

> “The government has banned the wrong thing,†she said. “They have banned

a

> safe, effective plant that has helped thousands of people for hundreds of

> years.

>

> “I can understand that they want to look at standardised extracts, which

> are often highly concentrated, but they shouldn’t confuse the traditional

> use of the herb with the commercial over-the-counter product.â€

>

> The institute is to launch a letter-writing campaign and petition in a bid

> to persuade the government to reinstate the use of the plant.

>

> Ms Norris added that the use of kava kava and other herbs was influenced by

> the advice of experts who knew little about herbal medicine.

>

> “Members of the NIMH are the key professionals to demonstrate the safety

> and efficacy of kava kava,†she said.

>

> “We submitted evidence to the MCA but they ignored it. If the government

> say they are entering a period of consultation about these things, then

> they should be prepared to listen.â€

>

> Dr Liz Williamson, an expert on herbal medicine from the London School of

> Pharmacy, who advised the MCA, said that, although rare, cases of liver

> damage associated with kava kava were idiosyncratic and it was impossible

> to predict who was at risk before they used the herb.

>

> “In addition, no measures to reduce the risk, or the severity of liver

> reactions are available,†she said. “It is therefore in the best interests

> of patients that the herb be withdrawn at present.â€

>

> All European Union countries have removed kava kava from sale, and it has

> also been withdrawn from the Canadian market. An Australian investigation

> is in progress and the US Food and Drug Administration has taken the

> precaution of warning consumers of the risk of liver damage while it

> conducts its own investigation.

>

> © HMG Worldwide 2002

>

>

> *******************************

>

> Other stories

>

> UK gets Europe’s first high-strength MR scanner

> Europe’s first ultra-strong body scanner is to be installed at the

> University of Nottingham, and experts hope the equipment could unlock the

> secrets of conditions such as schizophrenia.

> Full story: http://www.healthypages.net/news-1.asp?newsid=2642

>

> Meningitis cases fall among pilgrims

> A government campaign to cut meningitis cases among pilgrims travelling to

> Mecca has proved a success, according to health department figures.

> Full story: http://www.healthypages.net/news-1.asp?newsid=2641

>

> Health effects of commuting to be examined

> Researchers are to investigate claims that UK rail conditions are so poor

> that some commuters may be at increased risk of high blood pressure,

> chronic anxiety and even potentially fatal heart conditions.

> Full story: http://www.healthypages.net/news-1.asp?newsid=2640

>

> Public still dependent on GPs

> One-fifth of GP appointments are for complaints that can just as easily be

> dealt with by a pharmacist, according to a UK survey.

> Full story: http://www.healthypages.net/news-1.asp?newsid=2639

>

> Headgear “does little to reduce football impactâ€

> US researchers say protective headgear worn by footballers fails to prevent

> head injuries suffered as a result of heading the ball.

> Full story: http://www.healthypages.net/news-1.asp?newsid=2638

>

> Greater patient awareness of conjunctivitis needed, say experts

> Most cases of conjunctivitis clear up on their own without antibiotics,

> however, many people are unaware of this, according to UK researchers.

> Full story: http://www.healthypages.net/news-1.asp?newsid=2637

>