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Natural Causes:
Death, Lies and Politics
in America's Vitamin and
Herbal Supplement Industry
by Dan Hurley
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In his lively debut, health and medical journalist Hurley takes aim at the $21 billion supplement industry and its potentially injurious "natural" products. Hurley maintains that the Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act of 1994 is one of the worst laws on the books. Shielding vitamins and herbal concoctions from FDA testing, it requires only that no curative claims be made for such "dietary supplements." If you think that "herbal" weight loss products are all safe, think again. Hurley targets the scam artists who sold billions of dollars of adulterated pills to make a buck, and left many people dead or permanently ill for the rest of their lives. The Chinese herbal products for weight-loss are especially dangerous.
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Warning!!!
Your money may be funding terrorists
Diet scams could be part of an international terrorist organization. If your credit card has been billed for products like Algoxyll, Plant Macerat, or Befosan, there's a good chance that your credit card statement was billed to Geneva Bioscience Ltd. Isle Of Man Gb. Just look at your credit card, and if you notice this company, or any other foreign transactions that you can't explain, please let us know.
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Herbal News from DietFraud.com | | |
Poison Pill
- Forbes Magazine - April 19, 2004
The men and money pushing dangerous diet supplements.
The new ban on ephedra will protect us from harm, right? Don't count on it: The same hucksters are still around, pushing the next multibillion-dollar miracles in diet capsules.
For full text just fill in the Forbes survey and then download the article. It was their cover story.
Dangerous supplements: Still at large
- Consumer Reports
If you can buy it at a clean, well-lighted store, if it's "all natural," it's not going to do you serious harm, right? That's what many Americans assume about dietary supplements. But while most supplements are probably fairly benign, Consumer Reports has identified a dozen that according to government warnings, adverse-event reports, and top experts are too dangerous to be on the market. Yet they are. We easily purchased all 12 in Feburary in a few days of shopping online and in retail stores.
Grobust loses free speech appeal
Canada bans all kava kava sales including internet
Health Canada issues a stop-sale order for all products containing Kava Kava - Aug 21, 2002
Santé Canada interdit la vente de tous les produits contenant du Kava -
Kava kava products ordered off the shelves over liver concerns - August 21, 2002 Stores ordered to remove them. Also, all internet sales from other countries will be subject to seizure at the border by Canadian Customs. I wonder why a naturopathic doctor objected to this action.
FDA warns against Chinese diet pills
Chasu (Jianfei) Diet Capsules and Chasu Gempi, because they pose a potential public health risk. - August 13, 2002 "FDA is taking this action as a precautionary measure to help assure that people are not exposed to this potentially dangerous product," said Dr. Lester M. Crawford, FDA Deputy Commissioner.
Products of this type are often sold in small urban markets as alternatives to Western medicine. In 2001, FDA issued a nationwide alert on the recall of thirteen "Treasure of the East" herbal products because of a dangerous ingredient, aristolochic acid, which is toxic to the kidney.
Wild yams make Wild claims
Wild yam cream a threat to women's health - Quackwatch - July 19, 2002
Many women are being encouraged to purchase and use "Wild Yam Cream" said to offer relief from premenstrual and menopausal symptoms.
The preparation is made by a company called "NATURAL efx" and is promoted with materials that include testimonials, the recommendation of
a "Dr. Betty Kamen," and citations of medical literature purported to support the claims being made.
Britain may take action over herbal remedies
Fears over herbal remedy tests in U.K. - BBC - July 21. 2002 - Health food shops could face closure if tighter EU laws
on herbal remedies come into force in the UK,
opponents have warned. The proposed directive on traditional herbal medicines
aims to standardise regulations across Europe.
Ban proposed for herbal medicine KAVA KAVA - BBC - July 18, 2002 U.K. government watchdog is considering banning the
use of Kava-kava as a herbal supplement after
patients reported liver problems.
Slim 10 linked to deaths in Asia July 2002 - One Japanese woman died and 11 other people
suffered liver problems after taking Chinese-made diet pills, some of which
were similar to a brand banned in Singapore.
The "Slim 10" diet pill was yanked from Singapore store shelves earlier this
year after being linked to the death of one woman and the illnesses of at
least 20 more, including a top television host who nearly died of liver failure.
Deadly Diets from China - July 19, 2002
A popular brand of diet pills from China promised a quick path to a slimmer figure. Instead, at least six women died in three Asian countries.
Dozens have been hospitalized, their internal organs damaged and digestive systems poisoned by substances not listed on its label. Some have sought liver transplants. With its long history of producing herbal remedies, China has become one of the world's largest producers of fake medicines, which are believed to be responsible for thousands of Chinese deaths every year.
Last year, authorities closed 1,300 factories while investigating 480,000 cases of counterfeit drugs, according to the state-run newspaper China Daily.
Last year, 192,000 people in China died after using bogus or poor quality drugs, according to the state newspaper Shenzhen Evening News
Four more deaths in Japan - July 21, 2002
Imported slimming pills from China are being blamed for at least four
deaths and over 150 cases of illness in Japan, with health authorities bracing for a further
increase in the number of casualties.
Chinese shut down alleged source of deadly diet pill operation
Chinese diet pills kill one, sicken 11 in Japan
Nature's Way Products, Inc. Recalls Nettle Because of Possible Health Risk
SPRINGVILLE, UT - July 2, 2002
Alarm bells went off at Nature's Way when it was found that 4 lots of their Nettle products were contaminated with lead. The company, located in Springville, Utah has thus far not placed this warning on their web site. The company stated the problem has
been traced to a single batch of raw material used to manufacture the
currently recalled products. A further story on NPI's web site may help.
Health Canada - Herbal supplement warning
OTTAWA - June 19, 2002
Canadians warned not to use seven herbal products manufactured in the United States by BotanicLab because they contain undeclared prescription drugs that could cause serious health effects if not taken under medical supervision.
Health Canada warns about another aristolochia threat
OTTAWA - May 17, 2002
Health Canada is warning people not to consume any Longdan or Lung Tan Xie Gan herbal
medicine products. They may contain aristolochic
acid.
Chinese herbal scammers Hua Fo
OTTAWA - Health Canada is warning consumers not to use Hua Fo tablets bearing the
(Drug Identification Number) DIN 02243366, after they were found to contain an unauthorized
substance similar, but not identical to, sildenafil. Sildenafil is a prescription drug approved for
male erectile dysfunction, sold under the brand name "Viagra". Inappropriate use of sildenafil
could cause severe adverse reactions.
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Toxic Heavy Metals and Undeclared Drugs in Asian Herbal Medicines
by Edzard Ernst
Asian herbal medicines are currently used by large sections of the
population. - HMS Beagle - April 2002 - Because they are not regulated as medicines and are freely
available to everyone, serious safety concerns might be associated with
these herbal medicines. In this article, evidence suggesting that some Asian
herbal medicines contain toxic heavy metals or undeclared prescription drugs
is reviewed. In particular, Indian and Chinese preparations have been
implicated. Although adulteration with drugs is by definition fraudulent,
the inclusion of heavy metals could be either intentional for alleged
medicinal purposes or accidental. Evidence from various countries implies
that toxic heavy metals and undeclared prescription drugs in Asian herbal
medicines might constitute a serious health problem. However, the majority
of the data is anecdotal and insufficient to define prevalence figures. Ways
ought to be found to maximize consumer safety.
St John's Wort and Cancer drugs
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Kava can cause severe liver injury - March 25, 2002 - The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is advising consumers of the potential risk of severe liver injury associated with the use of kava-containing dietary
supplements. Kava (Piper methysticum) is a plant indigenous to the islands in the South Pacific where it is commonly used to prepare a traditional beverage.
Supplements containing the herbal ingredient kava are promoted for relaxation (e.g., to relieve stress, anxiety, and tension), sleeplessness, menopausal
symptoms and other uses. FDA has not made a determination about the ability of kava dietary supplements to provide such benefits.
FDA Issues Consumer Advisory on Kava - Natural Products Insider - March 26, 2002
The American Herbal Products Association (AHPA) noted that the precautionary
information in the advisory is consistent with its position statement issued in December
last year.
Kava May Be Linked to Liver Damage - By Lauran Neergaard
WASHINGTON POST
The popular herbal supplement kava may be linked to serious liver injury, the Food
and Drug Administration warned Monday, urging consumers to see a doctor at the first sign of symptoms.
Safety Alert sent to doctors - FDA - December 21, 2001
American College of Cardiology Warnings
Heart patients warned against garlic, ginseng supplements
Patients who take herbal supplements risk death because those so-called natural products could interfere with their regular medications. Who is reponsible when someone walks into drug store, and buys a product that they saw in an advertisement, and then bleeds to death? Will Shoppers Drug Mart be sued because their pharmacists failed to discuss those risks with the customer. The real problem is with the companies and their partners, the pharmacists, who market unregulated herbs, drops, extracts and patches on the unsuspecting public. Our recommendation is that you pass by the herbal aisle and head straight out of the store. Don't believe the hype, go home and open up your fridge and grab a nice big tub of Häagen-Dazs and smother it with hot fudge, and then some whipped cream, and enjoy. You'll probably live just as long, and be much happier. Why not join NAAFA.
Stringent regulation of traditional medicines is urgently needed
Herbal slimming teas contain banned drug
Traditional Chinese medicines for slimming still cause health problems and stringent regulation is urgently needed, according to a letter in
this week’s BMJ. High concentration of banned weight loss drug fenfluramine were found in tablets supplied to patients and also in the patients’ urine.
Teens who take herbs at serious risk for drug abuse
CAM use goes hand in hand with drug abuse
Boston - Reuter's Health - High school students who use herbal products may also
be more likely to use cigarettes, alcohol and illicit drugs, researchers reported at the Society
for Adolescent Medicine annual meeting here.
"Kids who used an herbal product were almost six times as likely to use cocaine, almost seven
times as likely to use methamphetamine, almost nine times as likely to use heroin, and about
eight items as likely to use other illegal drugs," according to Dr. Susan Yussman.
Health Canada takes the heat on Ephedra
"It's addictive, just like speed," Birmingham said. "People get used to it, they may have to steal for it. It ruins
their life and it also changes their behaviour."
He said ephedra, also known as ma huang, can cause strokes, seizures, hypertension, psychosis and depression.
Voluntary recall of ephedra products not enough, MD says
Royal Numico writes off $350 million
blames their Rexall Sundowne affiliate |
SHOPPERS DRUG MART STILL SELLS
EPHEDRA FOR WEIGHT LOSS
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A high potency stimulant that contains 135 mg. of ma huang is still
being sold by one of the three Shoppers Drug Marts in Dundas, Ontario.
One of our associates found it on their shelves on January 21, 2002.
I am very upset that this stuff is still on the market.
The label reads:
It burns fat, boosts energy, controls appetite and tones muscles.
It FIGHTs fat, stress, fatigue and depression.
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Who are the idiots at Health Canada that allowed this product on the
market in the first place, and who allowed the packaging to state this?
The government of Canada has failed again to remove dangerous herbs from
the largest drug store chain in Canada. How in the world do they hope to
remove this stuff from under the counter at gyms, health food stores,
and other places?
This type of product is dangerous, it is abused, and how it found itself
on the shelves of a Shoppers Drug Mart store in the first place is beyond belief.
Health Canada - DPD Company Search
INTEGRITY MARKETING INC.
12 - 111 FOURTH AVE - Suite 386
ST. CATHARINES, ONTARIO
L2S 3P5
DIN: 02240218
FORMULA GL-100
Health Canada - DPD Product Search
HERBS AND NATURAL PRODUCTS ATC
Packaging: 90
Ingredient: EPHEDRA
Strength: 133.5 MG / CAP
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More Ontario Ephedra Distributors
Google search for "GL-100 Ephedra"
Healthwise - Another Ontario based vendor of numerous ephedra containing products is, registered by Mike BelCastro who is from Welland. It's really amazing what you can uncover when you look at the mixtures of herbs on his site. Some of these products contain herbs that are on the Health Canada restricted list. Many items on this site contain ephedra, and are clearly pitched weight loss. Some that have been hawked for years as a quick weight loss item seem to somehow be placed on their web site as a decongestant. This site provides almost no information about the products, and when they do, they are deceptive, especially the ones that claim to treat cancer.
Greencanyon - another Ontario marketer of ephedra products, at least has one of those sites that provides detailed information about its products, especially ephedra.
GL-100 sold as a weight loss product - The label says "Go from Fat to firm in just a few weeks. Each Capsule contains: Ephedra (Ma Huang Extract 6% - 133.5 mg)(133.5 mg yielding ephedrine) - 8 mg.ma huang. In a propietary blend of -
412.5 mg. White willow bark (salix alba), reishi mushroom (ganoderma lucidum),
licorce root DGL (glycyrrhiza glabra), kola nut (cola nitida), gymnema sylvestre),
ginseng root (panax ginseng), ginger root(zingiber officinale), kelp powder(fucus
vesiculosis), guarana seed (paullinia cuppana), yerba mate leaves(ilex
paraguariensis), black pepper fruit ext.1:1 (pipernigrum), bee pollen, nutritional
yeast, polyphenolics.
(I don't know about you, but this is not exactly what someone with a plugged nose would need. It is intended and labeled as a weight loss product. Does the stuff on the shelf of the Shoppers Drug Mart say that, too)
Shoppers Drug Mart sale of more bogus diet products
The sale of ephedra is still out of control. When is the government, and
when is Shoppers Drug Mart going to do something about it?
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Ephedra and ma huang recalled by Health Canada - January 8, 2002
Health Canada is requesting a recall from the market of certain products
containing Ephedra/ephedrine after a risk assessment concluded that these products pose a
serious risk to health. Adverse events including stroke, heart attacks, heart rate irregularities,
seizures, psychoses and deaths have been reported in association with the use of some
products containing Ephedra/ephedrine. Ephedra refers to several related species of herbs.
Ephedrine is one of many chemical derivatives of this herb.
More on ephedra
Herbal remedy linked to liver disease - Kava bans multiply
Joseph Brean - National Post - January 10, 2002
A popular herbal relaxant available off the shelf in Canada was banned in France yesterday
as reports tied it to severe liver damage.
Health Minister announces regulation of natural health products.
If you have an article about herbal products that
deserves a place on this web site, please feel free to: E-mail us:
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