Researchers Say Herbal Medicines Contain Toxins

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Posted: 7:40 PM Aug 27, 2008 Researchers Say Herbal Medicines Contain Toxins More Americans are turning to herbal supplements to cure what ails them but a new study says they may contain dangerous toxins. Reporter: Margo Spann Email Address: margo.spann@wsaw.com

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More Americans are turning to herbal supplements to cure what ails them but a new study says they may contain dangerous toxins.

A study in the Journal of the American Medical Association, says 21% of plant-based medications contain lead, mercury and arsenic.

Doctor Betty Ann Peters of the Wausau Wellness Center says all medications, including prescriptions contain toxins, but most are flushed out of the body through the liver.

Peters, has a PhD in the study of Naturopathic medicine, and says most toxins are present at very low levels in herbal medications.

"It's a possibility because of ground water contaminants, air contaminants, that you can find these substances in herbal medicines, but they are more concentrated in other things you would use. "

Peters recommends buying herbal supplements from reputable companies.

"We screen the companies we order from to make sure they are using third party testing on their products to make sure toxic levels are low and there are no contaminants to harm people. "

Peters says if you think you may have been exposed to toxins talk to your doctor about having a hair test to measure the amount in your body.

For more information on the study click on the link to the Journal of the American Medical Association.

For more information on the Wausau Wellness Center call (715) 842-7237.

Latest Comments

Posted by: Dr James Ivory Location: NewYork on Aug 31, 2008 at 07:49 PM

The report just says 20% of samples from non-reputed "online" non-prescription sources contain toxic materials. It does not make a statement for whole of Ayurveda. It turns a blind eye to popular Ayurvedic brands like Himalaya. Hence the study is based on biased sample and not completely scientific. If they had studied effectiveness and toxicity of weight loss, hair growth and performance enhancing drugs from online sources with questionable reputation, they would have found more dangerous results! The report may be factually true. I'll claim that 100% of paper rolls containing herbal ingredients such as tobacco (aka cigarettes) acquired from on-line sources are carcinogenic and injurious to public health.

Posted by: jacob schor Location: Denver CO on Aug 28, 2008 at 10:10 PM

Curious. There isn't an accredited educational institution in the United States that awards a PhD in naturopathy. Accredited school award doctorates in naturopathy. There are several unaccredited mail correspondence programs that pretend to offer PhDs but no real accrediting agency recognizes these degrees.

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