Hua Fo

[Guest guest]

another case of a herbal formula possibly " enhanced " with a western drug.

 

rene

 

 

2002-09

February

15, 2002

Warning

 

Health Canada warns public not to use Hua Fo

 

OTTAWA - Health Canada is warning consumers not

to use Hua Fo tablets, an

unapproved herbal product that claims to

enhance sexual function. Health Canada

analyzed samples of Hua Fo tablets and found

that they contained sildenafil. Sildenafil is

a drug approved as prescription only for male

erectile dysfunction, sold under the brand

name Viagra. Use of sildenafil without medical

supervision could cause severe adverse

reactions.

 

Sildenafil should not be used by individuals

who are taking any nitrate medication sold by

perscription or over the counter. Nitrate

medications are commonly used for angina.

 

Concurrent use could result in the development

of potentially life-threatening low blood

pressure. In extremely rare instances, use of

sildenafil could result in penile tissue

damage and permanent loss of potency.

 

To date, there have been no adverse drug

reactions reported to Health Canada, involving

the use of Hua Fo. However, consumers who have

used Hua Fo should contact their

physicians.

 

Hua Fo is manufactured in China by Guizhou

Ribulo Medical Industry Inc. and sold in

Canada by Shenlong Company. The product is

packaged in white plastic bottles

containing red, round tablets. The bottles have

a red label with the following directions

for use: " 300 mg. 50 tablets, Dosage: For

adults only, take 2 tablets twice daily. "

 

Health Canada is issuing this warning to advise

consumers, health care professionals,

and the provincial Ministries of Health of the

safety issues related to the use of Hua Fo.

Health Canada is also working with the importer

of the product to ensure its removal

from the market.

 

- 30 -

[Guest guest]

, Rene Leiva <rene@c...> wrote:

> another case of a herbal formula possibly " enhanced " with a western drug.

>

> rene

 

the criminals doing these things for short term gain are damaging our

field in a big way. I am aware that several herb stores in my town are

selling drug containing products. being a libertarian in spirit, I

have looked the other way. but I am thinking of making a complaint.

or do people think I just bury my head in the sand?

 

[Guest guest]

Todd:

 

If you do make a complaint, you should make sure that the

authorities and the media know that you are doing so as a watch dog

and a concerned professional who monitors products in his field for

public safety. Otherwise, it's just another complaint and another

episode of infamy with herbs.

 

If we make this " neighborhood watch " a more formal proposition, we

should have better relation to the media and the authorities.

 

Jim Ramholz

 

 

 

 

 

, " 1 " <@i...> wrote:

> , Rene Leiva <rene@c...> wrote:

> > another case of a herbal formula possibly " enhanced " with a

western drug.

> >

> > rene

>

> the criminals doing these things for short term gain are damaging

our

> field in a big way. I am aware that several herb stores in my town

are

> selling drug containing products. being a libertarian in spirit,

I

> have looked the other way. but I am thinking of making a

complaint.

> or do people think I just bury my head in the sand?

>

 

[Guest guest]

being a libertarian in spirit, I have looked the other way. but I am thinking of making a complaint. or do people think I just bury my head in the sand?>>>>I have a patient that was giver a potent antibiotic at an herb store in SF. Did not even try hide it

Alon

[Guest guest]

 

>

> the criminals doing these things for short term gain are damaging

our

> field in a big way. I am aware that several herb stores in my town

are

> selling drug containing products. being a libertarian in spirit, I

> have looked the other way. but I am thinking of making a

complaint.

> or do people think I just bury my head in the sand?

 

I don't see anything libertarian in

turning a blind eye to potentially

life-threatening contaminated products

or to a situation that if and when

discovered by the media threatens

the entire profession.

 

I don't think that you need to deal

with the issue of intent in order

to respond to the presence of a

menace of this nature in the environment.

But with the current environment in

the media and public sensitivity to

contamination of all sorts, the

situation you describe is potentially

explosive.

 

Several years ago there was a brief

media firestorm over the discovery

of unacceptably high levels of

lead in various calcium supplements.

The major manufacturer of calcium

supplements, sold under several brands,

who could have been identified as the

chief culprit, turned the whole affair

to his advantage. This fellow responded

so proactively to the media reports that

he came off as the hero in the story.

He set up guidelines for product quality,

procedures to sample and assay products;

and he let the media in on all aspects

and phases of the clean-up operation.

The last story I read about it in the

LA Times had him positioned as the

whistle-blower, and he was, in fact

the one in charge of remedying the

whole situation.

 

Anyone concerned with short term gain

should certainly be able to recognize the

near term liability of public revelations

concerning drug-laced herbs. There are

many pressure points that could be

addressed in order to remedy the situation.

Have you spoken to the shop owners who

sell such products?

 

As Jim points out, the developing crisis

with respect to contaminants and adulterated

herbal products consists of both dangers

and opportunities. In order to take advantage

of the oppostunities, I think one would need

to advance to a somewhat more sophisticated

level of operation. Certainly if you intend

to get involved in watchdog activities, you

need to put various safeguards into place

as you risk exposure to all manner of

blowback from the dogs you're watching.

 

Meanwhile, you have to deal with the possession

of knowledge of crimes according to the

responsibilities of all citizens. We tend

to take such things for granted, but

in the end these things only have the

value that we assign to them and that

we are willing to protect.

 

Ken