Thank you so much for sharing this article and shining light on this issue! As a dietitian who specializes in midlife health and sports nutrition, the misinformation about powders and herbal remedies being natural and safe concerns me. Neither the FDA nor any other federal or state agency routinely tests dietary supplements for contamination with lead or other toxic metals prior to sale. Not only does this affect herbals in ayurvedic medicine, but any concentrated product from a plant source, such as "veggie" powders. In regards to Ashwagandha specifically, it's been acknowledged that adulteration is common due to increasing demand of this product: Singh VK, et al. Adulteration of ashwagandha (Withania somnifera) roots and extracts. Botanical Adulterants Prevention Bulletin. Austin, TX: ABC-AHP-NCNPR Botanical Adulterants Prevention Program; 2018. So yes, buyer beware when it comes to supplements and herbals.
Wow! So glad that I decided to take the specific product used in a controlled trial (I started taking it for a different reason, but it's lowered my A1c).
It’s similar to people thinking things are fine because they’re natural or occur in nature, forgetting lots of toxic, venomous or radioactive things also meet those standards.
Important article on the craziness that is Ayurvedic "medicine". However, I was very disappointed to read this sentence in Dr. Gunther's piece: "Lead exposure in pregnancy can harm the pregnant person and the fetus." "Pregnant person"? Among persons, only women can become pregnant. It saddens me to learn that Dr. Gunther seems to have bought into the absurd notion that people can declare which biological sex they are and have the right to expect everyone else to honor that declaration. Human sex is binary (except in some extremely rare cases of true hermaphroditism) and unalterable. "Gender" is a social construct and can be much more fluid than biological sex: conflating gender and sex serves no one, and diminishes the meaning of "woman".
I checked with Consumer Labs and they say "Supplements and foods sure as whole turmeric root powder, ashwagandha root powder, Echinacea, kelp, and green tea leaves, all have the potential to be contaminated with lead as well as other toxic metals, such as cadmium and arsenic"
Most of the studies didn't break it down. I'm guessing part because the bottles may not have been accurately labeled and some are purchased from practitioners and may not be in labeled bottles at all.
What about St Johns Wort? I was on it for months to help with my mood and I felt it did help. I most recently started on HRT and honestly forgot about it. Not sure (lead aside), if it’s even recommended to be on it with estrogen patch and progesterone (?).
Thank you for this important article. A few years ago my adult son sought help for a skin condition from an acupuncture practitioner. After utilizing her treatments for a few days, he become very ill - nausea, vomiting, extreme weakness. Our regular doctor suspected that it could be from the herbs that the acupuncturist had prescribed, which were imported from China. They were sent to be tested and found to have very high levels of mercury. We need to be careful about herbs and supplements, especially those imported from other countries. My son is ok now, but who knows what hidden, long term effects there could be from that toxic exposure to mercury as a young man?
My question is about tumeric. It seems that there is some research to back up the claims that is helpful for a variety of issues. https://www.mountsinai.org/health-library/herb/turmeric My doctor suggested using it in foods. The problem is I don't like the taste. Instead of buying a supplement, what if I use the tumeric from a spice shop and make my own capsules? Or is the tumeric people buy to use in foods also contaminated? If yes, that is a whole different problem.
Turmeric doesn't work for anything, so you are exposing yourself to risk unnecessarily. The supposedly active ingredient isn't even bioavailable in a meaningful amount.
I think these medicines are as unregulated as any branch of alternative medicine or supplement. Although the fact that more women use alternative medicine in general could be a factor...
I write a lot about how women are neglected by medicine. That is really the point of much of this newsletter and my last three books, to educate so they can be empowered. There are many gaps in medicine, and alternative medicine exploits them
In that same vein i would highly recommend the podcast „The Retrievals“. Yes, it is about drug addiction etc but also about discounting and disregarding women‘s pain. Very painful to listen to.
Interesting facts. Lead was in paint for many years. I seem to remember reading that children are still being impacted/poisoned in some cities from eating paint chips in older buildings. I wonder why Health Canada does not have these products regulated?
I think they are supposed to be regulated, but the system seems to only catch issues after the fact which is problematic. They should enact regulation requiring companies to test for lead and practitioners who sell their own products to do that testing or be criminally responsible.
Why are there so few regulations around natural remedies? I'm sure many of them can be valid/useful/etc. but as you mentioned in a post (or was it an article?) brands are not even being held accountable for ingredients and dosing. It seems irresponsible to not have regulations around health products, even if they're natural.
Thank you so much for sharing this article and shining light on this issue! As a dietitian who specializes in midlife health and sports nutrition, the misinformation about powders and herbal remedies being natural and safe concerns me. Neither the FDA nor any other federal or state agency routinely tests dietary supplements for contamination with lead or other toxic metals prior to sale. Not only does this affect herbals in ayurvedic medicine, but any concentrated product from a plant source, such as "veggie" powders. In regards to Ashwagandha specifically, it's been acknowledged that adulteration is common due to increasing demand of this product: Singh VK, et al. Adulteration of ashwagandha (Withania somnifera) roots and extracts. Botanical Adulterants Prevention Bulletin. Austin, TX: ABC-AHP-NCNPR Botanical Adulterants Prevention Program; 2018. So yes, buyer beware when it comes to supplements and herbals.
Thank you for your comment! Yes, it really is a concern. Turmeric is another one at high risk for contamination with lead.
Wow! So glad that I decided to take the specific product used in a controlled trial (I started taking it for a different reason, but it's lowered my A1c).
Yup - so much better to just cook with the real thing.
I didn’t know but I wouldn’t trust medicine just because it is “old”. I trust scientific proof or well-run scientific studies.
This is so important I’d share it to Facebook if I could
Yeah, the whole "But it's ancient" is such a weird gambit
It’s similar to people thinking things are fine because they’re natural or occur in nature, forgetting lots of toxic, venomous or radioactive things also meet those standards.
Yeah; once a patient said to be that something was 'all natural,' & I said 'so is arsenic.' I think it made an impression...
It's the logical fallacy known as appeal to antiquity.
Important article on the craziness that is Ayurvedic "medicine". However, I was very disappointed to read this sentence in Dr. Gunther's piece: "Lead exposure in pregnancy can harm the pregnant person and the fetus." "Pregnant person"? Among persons, only women can become pregnant. It saddens me to learn that Dr. Gunther seems to have bought into the absurd notion that people can declare which biological sex they are and have the right to expect everyone else to honor that declaration. Human sex is binary (except in some extremely rare cases of true hermaphroditism) and unalterable. "Gender" is a social construct and can be much more fluid than biological sex: conflating gender and sex serves no one, and diminishes the meaning of "woman".
Thank you Dr Jen for this article since I read it I’ve been reflecting on it. It answered most of questions regarding some herbs. Kudos to you 🍁
wondering what ayurvedic medicines...i take ashwaganda
I checked with Consumer Labs and they say "Supplements and foods sure as whole turmeric root powder, ashwagandha root powder, Echinacea, kelp, and green tea leaves, all have the potential to be contaminated with lead as well as other toxic metals, such as cadmium and arsenic"
Most of the studies didn't break it down. I'm guessing part because the bottles may not have been accurately labeled and some are purchased from practitioners and may not be in labeled bottles at all.
What about St Johns Wort? I was on it for months to help with my mood and I felt it did help. I most recently started on HRT and honestly forgot about it. Not sure (lead aside), if it’s even recommended to be on it with estrogen patch and progesterone (?).
I pre-ordered your book from Amazon--
Thank you for this important article. A few years ago my adult son sought help for a skin condition from an acupuncture practitioner. After utilizing her treatments for a few days, he become very ill - nausea, vomiting, extreme weakness. Our regular doctor suspected that it could be from the herbs that the acupuncturist had prescribed, which were imported from China. They were sent to be tested and found to have very high levels of mercury. We need to be careful about herbs and supplements, especially those imported from other countries. My son is ok now, but who knows what hidden, long term effects there could be from that toxic exposure to mercury as a young man?
That is really scary, and yes, these kinds of herbs are often also contaminated. So glad he is ok.
My question is about tumeric. It seems that there is some research to back up the claims that is helpful for a variety of issues. https://www.mountsinai.org/health-library/herb/turmeric My doctor suggested using it in foods. The problem is I don't like the taste. Instead of buying a supplement, what if I use the tumeric from a spice shop and make my own capsules? Or is the tumeric people buy to use in foods also contaminated? If yes, that is a whole different problem.
Turmeric doesn't work for anything, so you are exposing yourself to risk unnecessarily. The supposedly active ingredient isn't even bioavailable in a meaningful amount.
Nevermind, the google just answered. It seems that even eating foods with tumeric isn't the best idea. Sigh.
Wondering if Ayurveda is not better regulated etc because it‘s mistly women who take it…i have no evidence that this is so, just conjecture…
I think these medicines are as unregulated as any branch of alternative medicine or supplement. Although the fact that more women use alternative medicine in general could be a factor...
I posit that this could be that women have experienced neglect by medical profession. I am not going into a lot of details but here's an article about this throughout history. https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/western-medicines-woman-problem-180977925/
I also posit that African-Americans and others have also have issues and are mistrustful as well.
I write a lot about how women are neglected by medicine. That is really the point of much of this newsletter and my last three books, to educate so they can be empowered. There are many gaps in medicine, and alternative medicine exploits them
In that same vein i would highly recommend the podcast „The Retrievals“. Yes, it is about drug addiction etc but also about discounting and disregarding women‘s pain. Very painful to listen to.
Interesting facts. Lead was in paint for many years. I seem to remember reading that children are still being impacted/poisoned in some cities from eating paint chips in older buildings. I wonder why Health Canada does not have these products regulated?
I think they are supposed to be regulated, but the system seems to only catch issues after the fact which is problematic. They should enact regulation requiring companies to test for lead and practitioners who sell their own products to do that testing or be criminally responsible.
Why are there so few regulations around natural remedies? I'm sure many of them can be valid/useful/etc. but as you mentioned in a post (or was it an article?) brands are not even being held accountable for ingredients and dosing. It seems irresponsible to not have regulations around health products, even if they're natural.
Here's a good review https://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2016/06/supplements-make-tobacco-look-easy/488798/
Thank you!
Marketing FTW. Sigh.... Also Dr. Jen, have you heard about the Retrievals podcast about what happened at Yale?
Yes, I heard about it, but haven't listened. Been swamped finishing my book! Hopefully I'll get to it at some point.
I stay away from all that woo bullshit--it's a bunch of lead-contaminated unregulated hooey!