Get the lead out of yer herbs

[30A Skunkape]

A clever way to get consumers to buy into chelation or colon cleanses? Who knows. All you herbivores and vitaphiles out there better be careful with your 'safe' stuff. Don't kill the messenger, this article is courtesy of the Old Gray Lady. I am just sorry to see verification of what I have long suspected.

Nearly all of the herbal dietary supplements tested in a Congressional investigation contained trace amounts of lead and other contaminants, and some supplement sellers made illegal claims that their products can cure cancer and other diseases, investigators found.

Herbal Supplements Often Have Contaminants, Study Finds - NYTimes.com

 

[scooterbug44]

Didn't we have a huge thread full of outrage that the FDA would even consider regulating these products? ;-)

 

[30A Skunkape]

Didn't we have a huge thread full of outrage that the FDA would even consider regulating these products? ;-)

http://www.sowal.com/bb/politics-current-events/45409-mccains-freedom-destroying-bill.html

 

[Gidget]

A clever way to get consumers to buy into chelation or colon cleanses? Who knows. All you herbivores and vitaphiles out there better be careful with your 'safe' stuff. Don't kill the messenger, this article is courtesy of the Old Gray Lady. I am just sorry to see verification of what I have long suspected.

Nearly all of the herbal dietary supplements tested in a Congressional investigation contained trace amounts of lead and other contaminants, and some supplement sellers made illegal claims that their products can cure cancer and other diseases, investigators found.

Herbal Supplements Often Have Contaminants, Study Finds - NYTimes.com

Dude, I grow my own herbs

I've never done a colon cleanse or chelation or taken St John's Wort, but I have taken other herbs - but not many. (menopause progesterone cream did wonders for me) Also, I take zero zilch nada when it comes to otc or prescription drugs. I rely on my food and exercise program.

I still don't trust any study done by those who put Vioxx on the market ;-) But it is worth noting that we should all be careful with what we put in our bodies - whether it is from the pharmacy or the health counter.

Thanks for the article.

G

 

[Mango]

The study was probably conducted by the same goons who ran clinical trials on children with mercury amalgams and stated there was no difference in toxicity between the children with composite fillings over a 5 year period; just about every European Country and Japan have banned mercury amalgams due to their toxicity. Also, probably the same goons who have banned certain pesticides for use at home due to toxicity, especially to young children, but allowed them to be used in our fruit and vegetable supply and now it's being linked to ADHD. :roll:

You are exposed to higher levels daily to metals like arsenic, mercury, lead, aluminum and cadmium, which are prevalent in many parts of environment from the fish you eat, drinking water, antiperspirant, building materials........

Tell me Skunky, if a patient came in to you who is in constant pain but gets major relief from a supplement with Turmeric, Boswellia, Devil's Claw, Ginger and Yucca, along with Bromelain and Quercetin sold by a company like this one, (whose major purchasers and referrers are Physicians) would tell them how unsafe it might be and write them a prescription for addictive pain killers instead?

Thanks for reminding me I need to take my Chlorella.

Cheers...Signed,
One herbivoric vitaphilia who could give a rat's toot what our government has to say about what I consume.

Metals like arsenic, mercury, lead, aluminum and cadmium, which are prevalent in many areas of ou

 

[LuciferSam]

When science clashes with beliefs? Make science impotent

 

[30A Skunkape]

The study was probably conducted by the same goons who ran clinical trials on children with mercury amalgams and stated there was no difference in toxicity between the children with composite fillings over a 5 year period; just about every European Country and Japan have banned mercury amalgams due to their toxicity. Also, probably the same goons who have banned certain pesticides for use at home due to toxicity, especially to young children, but allowed them to be used in our fruit and vegetable supply and now it's being linked to ADHD. :roll:

You are exposed to higher levels daily to metals like arsenic, mercury, lead, aluminum and cadmium, which are prevalent in many parts of environment from the fish you eat, drinking water, antiperspirant, building materials........

Tell me Skunky, if a patient came in to you who is in constant pain but gets major relief from a supplement with Turmeric, Boswellia, Devil's Claw, Ginger and Yucca, along with Bromelain and Quercetin sold by a company like this one, (whose major purchasers and referrers are Physicians) would tell them how unsafe it might be and write them a prescription for addictive pain killers instead?

Thanks for reminding me I need to take my Chlorella.

Cheers...Signed,
One herbivoric vitaphilia who could give a rat's toot what our government has to say about what I consume.

Metals like arsenic, mercury, lead, aluminum and cadmium, which are prevalent in many areas of ou

I'd tell them pain is subjective, the placebo effect is real and caveat emptor, as always. The herbal/vitamin thing is a bunch of crap, sorry. Furthermore, it is apparently dangerous. Believe who you wish, big pharma, big herb or big brother.

 

[LuciferSam]

 

[Alicia Leonard]

That's why you go to consumerlab.com before you buy anything.

 

[Mango]

I'd tell them pain is subjective, the placebo effect is real and caveat emptor, as always. The herbal/vitamin thing is a bunch of crap, sorry. Furthermore, it is apparently dangerous. Believe who you wish, big pharma, big herb or big brother.

Sloan Kettering Cancer Center didn't scientifically find that that the herb Turmeric could cause a placebo effect at all, but I am guessing you do not believe them either. From their web site shown below!

Clinical Summary

Derived from the rhizome and root, turmeric is used as a spice and coloring agent, and in traditional medicine in Asia. The active constituents are thought to be turmerone oil and water soluble curcuminoids, including curcumin. Turmeric may help alleviate symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome (9) as well as quiescent ulcerative colitis (10). Data from an epidemiological study are suggestive of improved cognitive performance in elderly Asians who consume turmeric in the form of curry powder (11); however, no benefits of curcumin supplementation were detected in patients with Alzheimer's (12). In another study, turmeric extract was found to be safe and equally effective as a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug for the treatment of osteoarthritis of knee (34).
In vitro and animal studies suggest antiproliferative and preventative effects of turmeric against cancer (3) (4) (5) (6) (7) (8) (35). Furthermore, curcumin was shown to induce apoptosis in human colon cancer (14) and promyelocytic leukemia cells (15). Curcumin potentiated gemcitabine action in both in vitro and in vivo studies of pancreatic cancer (17). In a phase II trial in pancreatic cancer patients, down-regulation of NF-kappa B and cyclooxygenase-2 were observed (29).
Oral administration is well tolerated, but bioavailability is relatively low (1) (2) (29). Following absorption, curcuminoids are rapidly metabolized.

Animal studies indicate that curcumin may inhibit cyclophosphamide in treating breast cancer (16), but results from a recent, phase I trial found a combination of curcumin and docetaxel to be safe (36). More research is necessary, but it is advisable for cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy to limit intake of turmeric. Patients with gastrointestinal disorders or those predisposed to kidney stone formation (13) should use this supplement with caution.