Some Ayurvedic medicines have harmful metals: study

By Andrew Stern

CHICAGO (Reuters) - One in five Ayurvedic medicines commonly used by followers of the ancient Indian health philosophy were found to contain the metallic poisons lead, mercury or arsenic, researchers said on Tuesday.

Ayurveda is an ancient system that includes medicines, meditation, exercise and dietary guidelines practiced by millions of adherents on the Indian subcontinent and increasingly in the West.

Ayurvedic medicines made in the United States and India were ordered from 25 Web sites and tested for the metallic poisons by a team from Boston University School of Medicine and Boston Medical Center.

Nearly 21 percent of 193 Ayurvedic medicines analyzed had detectable levels of one or more of the metals, and at least half of those exceeded established standards for unhealthy exposure levels, Dr. Robert Saper and colleagues reported in the Journal of the American Medical Association.

Saper said the findings raise concerns about the ingredients found in the lightly regulated dietary supplement market that includes vitamins and traditional Chinese medicines.

He said the U.S. Food and Drug Administration relies on manufacturers to report ingredients accurately and then investigates complaints.

"We suggest strictly enforced, government-mandated daily dose limits for toxic metals in all dietary supplements and requirements that all manufacturers demonstrate compliance through independent third-party testing," he wrote.

"There's some studies that show that some herbs have a very promising anti-diabetic effect, anti-high blood pressure effect, a cholesterol-lowering (effect)," Saper said in a telephone interview.