High levels of toxic metals found in herbal medicines sold online

About one in five Ayurvedic remedies used in traditional Indian medicine contained toxic lead, mercury or arsenic, say researchers who bought the products online.

Ayurvedic medicine originated in India more than 2,000 years ago. Herbal products are a main focus of the practice, which also includes meditation, exercise and dietary principles.

When researchers from Boston University School of Medicine randomly chose to buy and test 193 Ayurvedic medicines online in 2005, they found the prevalence of metal-containing products was 20.7 per cent for those manufactured in the U.S., compared with 19.5 per cent in Indian products.

At least half exceeded established guidelines for acceptable daily intake of toxic metals, the team reported in Wednesday's issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.

"Our first priority must be the safety of the public," said the study's lead author, Dr. Robert Saper, director of integrative medicine at the university's family medicine department.

"Herbs and supplements with high levels of lead, mercury, and arsenic should not be available for sale on the internet or elsewhere."

Regulators in Canada and the U.S. rely on manufacturers to report ingredients in dietary supplements and traditional medicines. Any complaints are then investigated.

"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," the study's authors wrote.

The researchers don't advocate banning the products. Studies show some herbs may help lower blood pressure, cholesterol levels or treat diabetes.

But medicines that are supposed to cure sickness should not promote another illness because of the presence of lead or other metals, said co-author Venkatesh Thuppil, director of the National Referral Centre for Lead Poisoning in India.

In one type of Ayurvedic medicine, called rasa shastra, herbs are deliberately mixed with metals such as mercury, minerals like mica, or gems such as pearls. Practitioners maintain these medicines are safe and therapeutic when properly prepared and administered.

"Several Indian-manufactured rasa shastra medicines could result in lead and/or mercury ingestions 100 to 10,000 times greater than acceptable limits," the researchers wrote.

High amounts of lead can harm the nervous system, kidneys and other major organs. Anemia, a decline in red blood cells, can occur, as well as damage to the nervous system that may impair mental function. At worst, lead poisoning can cause seizures or death.

Last year, more than 18 million Mattel toys, which were manufactured in China, were pulled for high lead levels and magnet safety problems.

In December 2007,Prime Minister Stephen Harper announced plans to beef up product safety laws toempower the federal government to order mandatory recalls of products if companies fail to act on legitimate safety concerns. Importers and manufacturers will also be required to ensure the safety of products, reporting on all defects.