Yoga & Ayurveda Blog

The December 14, 2004 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association included a report of research done at Harvard by a team led by Robert B. Saper, MD, MPH,(1) that exploded across the U.S. and even overseas. The news resulted in worried patients calling their Ayurvedic practitioners for assurance that their recommended herbal protocols were not those containing toxic metals. In turn, practitioners were turning to their herbal suppliers for confirmation that the herbs they offered were “safe”.

Let’s take a look at this report and discuss some of the issues that have been brought up by the research. Included with this discussion are reports on safety practices supplied by various domestic herbal companies and excerpts from articles published in the Spring 2005 issue of Light on Ayurveda Journal.(2),(3) 
The Harvard study reports: High levels of Lead, Mercury, Arsenic found in Ayurvedic products sold in U.S. (1)

The Harvard based study reported that one in five Ayurvedic medicines that were stocked in Asian groceries for their Indian clientele contain toxic levels of lead, mercury, or arsenic. According to the research team, these products put users at risk for metal poisoning. The researchers collected and analyzed 70 different Ayurvedic medicines produced by 27 companies, mainly from India, one from Thailand, and sold in 30 Boston-area stores. Most of the products, although not the ones containing heavy metals, were targeted for gastrointestinal problems and most cost $2.99 a bottle.

Their findings were that 20% of the examined products contained lead, mercury, and/or arsenic, and that seven were specifically recommended for children. Among the supplements mentioned with high levels of Mercury, Lead, and Arsenic were Mahayograj Guggulu with silver, Makardhwaj, Swama Mahayograj Guggulu with gold, Navratna Rasa, Mahalakshmi Vilas Ras with gold, and Balguti Kesaria. Saper noted that it was not known whether the heavy metals were already present in the plants from which the medications were derived or whether they had been added intentionally or unintentionally during the manufacturing process.

The levels were high enough to result in an intake above published safety standards, even in the quantities recommended.
It was noted that studies in England found similar results, and that traditional medicines from China, Malaysia, Mexico, Africa, and the Middle East have also been shown to contain metals. The researchers called for better regulation of the imported dietary supplements containing toxic metals.

LOAJ Editorial Commentary:

The samples obtained were inexpensive products available in Indian grocery stores and illegally imported. The study did not examine the high quality products produced by domestic Ayurvedic herbal companies.

The investigation did not distinguish between Ayurvedic herbal supplements and bhasmas. The ìsupplementsî with the reported highest heavy metal content fall into the category of bhasma and there is a vast difference between herbal supplements and bhasmas. There is a special branch of Ayurvedic medicine that concerns itself with the creation of medications called Rasa. Rasas are derived primarily from the ashes (bhasmas) of heavy metals, gemstones, and toxic substances. The preparation process is intricate and requires specialized training and education,(4) and the resulting product is quite expensive. The resulting medication would not be available at the low prices offered in the grocery stores.

The products containing these bhasmas were properly identified by their Sanskrit names. However, the Indian population who frequent these markets and purchase these products, may not have understood that the traditional formulation contained heavy metals requiring special care and supervision.(5)

The researchers assumed that the heavy metals they found were toxic, but did not test them for toxicity. They also did not cite any of the research studies or books showing the safety and salutary effects of these bhasmas.(6)

LOAJ feels that the authorsí conclusion that laws should be created to prevent the importation of these dangerous products is inappropriate as there is already DSHEAlegislation prohibiting the importation of heavy metals.(7) Further regulation would only penalize legitimate manufacturers and raise costs for consumers.

Taken from Light on Ayurveda. http://loaj.com/aam_safe.html