Guest guest Posted January 20, 2001 Report Share Posted January 20, 2001 OMJournal wrote: Herb Recalled For Harmful Chemical January 20, 2001 WASHINGTON (AP) - A Massachusetts company is issuing a voluntary recall of a Chinese herb formula after federal testing found some of the product contained a chemical that can harm the kidneys. BMK International of Wellesley, Mass., said Friday it was recalling Neo Concept Aller Relief after being informed by the Food and Drug Administration that the product contained trace amounts of aristolochic acid. The product is sold as an herbal supplement used to support general health and well-being. The chemical is toxic to the kidneys and can increase the risk of kidney cancer. The FDA stopped imports of the herb family Aristolochia after reports of kidney failure from Britain and Belgium. Other Chinese herbal products also have been recalled by other companies. No illnesses have been attributed to the products in the United States. BMK International said Neo Concept Aller Relief was distributed nationwide to retail sellers and licensed health-care professionals. Its packages contain 30 or 90 capsules with lot numbers 003480 and 006480. Customers should return the product to the place of purchase for a refund. People with questions can contact the company at 1-781-235-9999. The company said it is reformulating the product to ensure that is does not include any herbs containing aristolochic acid. Copyright 2000 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. -- Chinese Herbal Medicine Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 21, 2001 Report Share Posted January 21, 2001 Dear Todd and All, this press release was written under duress. I have just returned from a summit meeting in LA w/ the AAOM, herb vendors, scientists, educators, NNFA, lawyers, PR and more. the topic was how to go forward in response to the FDA's zero tolerance policy on aristolochic acid. there will be a report written. also- there is a press release being written right now- to be realesed tomorrow. On Tues the Washington post will have an article on AA. It was the groups decisioni to issue the PR in advance of this. I'll fill everyone in a little later. I took the red eye and only got in this morning. Cara Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 21, 2001 Report Share Posted January 21, 2001 , Cara Frank <herbbabe@e...> wrote: the topic was how to go forward in response to the > FDA's zero tolerance policy on aristolochic acid. To restate my oft-stated position, as long as chinese herb products are being made available OTC with names that suggest their use to the layperson, I support the FDA's zero tolerance policy on AA 100%. The OTC sales of such products is inherently dangerous and the only way to safeguard the public is to ban them. It is no coincidence that the main impetus behind overturning the FDA policy is led by product manufacturers. I urge all ethical healthcare providers to distance themselves from alliances with herb companies that sell directly to the consumer. For a detailed article on this subject, see my recent piece from the Blue Poppy online journal, which includes numerous abstracts about the dangers of AA and the harm being done to our field by such herb companies. It is now posted at Blue Poppy's website at http://bluepoppy.com/press/download/articles/chin_herb_reg_oct.html Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 21, 2001 Report Share Posted January 21, 2001 >I urge all ethical healthcare providers to distance themselves from alliances with herb companies that sell directly to the consumer.< I'm not sure I understand what you mean. Can you elaborate? Ken Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 21, 2001 Report Share Posted January 21, 2001 , yulong@m... wrote: > > > >I urge all ethical healthcare providers to distance > themselves from alliances with herb companies that sell directly to the > consumer.< > > I'm not sure I understand what you mean. > Can you elaborate? > > Ken when a product is called alleraid or digestease or livercleanse, it is suggested to the consumer that they can safely self medicate for the implied uses. this leads to a few problems. It runs a high risk that consumers will injur themselves with incorrect medications. these injuries reflect poorly on the professional practice of chinese herbology. It is lose-lose situation for professional practitioners. Our professional practice is reduced in importance and equated with the advice of healthfood store clerks and we are nevertheless blamed for every adverse effect casued by this usage. Thus we should not support the legislative activities of such companies. There is much greater potential for sales revenues by these companies if they subtly induce consumers to save money on " unnecessary " office visits and instead purchase medicine without consultation. A very high number of patients in my practice are experiencing iatrogenic effects of self medication with herbs and dietary regimens based upon the advice of people who are neither trained nor licensed to practice medicine. Every few months, a scare is raised about professionals losing their right to pescribe certain substances, but these are typically no more than thinly veiled attempts by manufacturers and their allies to preserve their unfettered access to gullible laypeople. The risk in this tactic is that consumers will inevitably be injured by this tactic and then we will truly experience professional repercussions. I don't buy the slippery slope theory that by allowing reasonable regulation, we will lose access entirely. By supporting reasonable public safety legislation, we will actually enhance our professional credibility and portect our longterm interests. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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