Using data from a study of pregnant women from an inland area in the US South, researchers at Duke University, in Durham, North Carolina, sought to understand the fish consumption habits and associated mercury levels. Continue reading Demographics and the risk for high mercury levels?
Category Archives: Heavy Metals
A review of Spirulina in clinical medicine
Spirulina has been promoted as “the food of the future” with “exceptional constituents” that contribute to high energy levels.
In 2008, researchers from the UK and Greece reviewed the evidence, and it’s still relevant. Continue reading A review of Spirulina in clinical medicine
NCCAM reviews reiki and ayurvedic
 The National Center for Contemporary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM) has updated their introductory reviews.
Here’s what’s important. Continue reading NCCAM reviews reiki and ayurvedic
Arsenic, cadmium and lead in medicinal herbs
This study was conducted at the University of Sofia in Bulgaria using local herbals.
I don’t know the relevance to herbals in other parts of the world, but the results are disturbing. Continue reading Arsenic, cadmium and lead in medicinal herbs
Worried about copper in your supplements?
The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has ruled that within limits, copper oxide can be safely used in food supplements. Continue reading Worried about copper in your supplements?
Making ayurveda an international medical system
Dr. Raghunath Anant Mashelkar is the former Director General of the Council of Scientific & Industrial Research in India.
During the Second World Ayurveda Congress he shared his thoughts about bhasmas — the Ayurvedic “supplements” with the highest reported heavy metal (lead, tin, iron, arsenic) content. Continue reading Making ayurveda an international medical system
Arsenic in modern medicine
HemOnc Today has reviewed the historic and current role of arsenic in the mainstream treatment of cancer today.
Here’s a brief summary of its current use. Continue reading Arsenic in modern medicine
CAM and diabetes: An update of recent studies
The World Health Organization has predicted a 39% rise in the worldwide prevalence of diabetes by 2030. And an article in The Lancet indicates this might be an underestimation.
Since November is Diabetes Month, here’s a round-up of CAM options for people with diabetes from 2006 through March 2007.
Continue reading CAM and diabetes: An update of recent studies
Unforeseen consequences of drinking wine
The aim of this study was to review the literature in order to determine the levels of potentially harmful metals in table wines.
We know red wine is healthy, but is it safe? Continue reading Unforeseen consequences of drinking wine
Ayurvedic and the risk of heavy metal poisoning
What’s been published recently suggests there’s likely to be a problem.
Have we reached a tipping point? Continue reading Ayurvedic and the risk of heavy metal poisoning
A critical review of traditional Chinese and Indian medicine
I was shocked by a recent Cochrane Review that concluded, “There was no evidence that the Chinese medicinal herbal treatment caused harm” in women with breast cancer.
Anyone who has followed the pet food recalls or reviewed the safety literature on traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) and traditional Indian medicine (TIM) would come to a different conclusion. Continue reading A critical review of traditional Chinese and Indian medicine
Toxins in Ayurvedic meds on the web
Researchers from Boston and Bangalore, India ask, what’s the risk of getting lead, mercury, and arsenic in the Ayurvedic medicines purchased on the Internet? Continue reading Toxins in Ayurvedic meds on the web
Arsenic toxicity from Ayurvedic
Lead, mercury, and (oh yeah) arsenic intoxication have been associated with Ayurvedic herbal medicines.
Here’s an account of one patent’s experience. Continue reading Arsenic toxicity from Ayurvedic
Going to court over the lead content in Ayurvedic meds
A woman from Iowa has filed a lawsuit claiming she contracted lead poisoning from a Maharishi herbal product.
She apparently got it from a physician at a clinic in India.
A reader treated by the same doctor at the same clinic had a different experience and shares it in his comment.
Continue reading Going to court over the lead content in Ayurvedic meds
Arsenic poisoning from an herbal kelp supplement
It’s only one patient (not the one in the photo), but it might reflect a bigger problem.
Here’s what happened.
Continue reading Arsenic poisoning from an herbal kelp supplement
Toxic metals and pesticides in the ayurvedic formulation, Dashmoola
Dashmoola is a popular herbal formulation in ayurvedic medicine. It’s used to reduce fever and modify the immune response.
In this study, scientists from the National Botanical Research Institute in Lucknow, India tested the roots and stems from 10 herbs used to prepare Dashmoola. Continue reading Toxic metals and pesticides in the ayurvedic formulation, Dashmoola
Summarizing seafood recommendations during pregnancy
The National Healthy Mothers, Healthy Babies Coalition has summarized the recommendations from official groups, worldwide. Their website should be essential reading for pregnant, breastfeeding, and postpartum women, and women thinking of becoming pregnant.
Let’s summarize their summary recommendations. Continue reading Summarizing seafood recommendations during pregnancy
Magnesium and the metabolic syndrome
Fifteen years after enrollment of more than 600 people between 18 and 30 years of age, researchers from the Department of Preventive Medicine at the Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago report that higher magnesium intake is associated with a lower risk of the metabolic syndrome.
The results are interesting, but what’s the action plan for the average person?
Ayurvedic lead poisoning results in greater toxicity than lead paint intoxication
Researchers from Harvard School of Public Health in Boston believe, “the United States Food and Drug Administration and corresponding agencies in other countries should require heavy metal testing for all imported dietary supplements.”
The recommendation is based on what they found among people taking Ayurvedic medicines. Continue reading Ayurvedic lead poisoning results in greater toxicity than lead paint intoxication
The pet food recall and the CAM connection
The Associated Press is reporting a second tainted pet food ingredient, which has added more pet food products to the recall list.
The connection with CAM is that contamination is not a new or rare event when it comes to food imports from China or traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). Continue reading The pet food recall and the CAM connection