AW: Remedies used long-term with unrecognized side effects

October 3, 2003

Simon,

I think maybe you misread my arguments. I support the banning of

AA-containing ingredients. You'll remember at the time of the original

discovery of AA in herbs that the FDA also banned (temporarily) Chinese

medicinals that didn't have any AA, such as mu xiang (probably because

of similar names). I was concerned with an overreaction, and the

possible withdrawal of safe herbs along with the noxious ones. My own

response was immediate. I personally contacted the herb company for

which I consult to suggest the withdrawal of all ingredients with AA

from their prescriptions, and advising the college where I teach (along

with another instructor) remove the same ingredients from their herbal

pharmacy.

Whatever the outcome of the incident, the indiscriminate use of

aristolochia species in combination with drugs in a weight loss formula

is hardly appropriate use of Chinese medicinals. However, neither is

routine substitution of a toxic species for a more commonly used,

non-toxic one.

We've got a lot of work to do.

On Friday, October 3, 2003, at 05:29 AM, Simon wrote:

> Zev,

>

> I don't see how and why you want to explain away the fact that ALL

> medicinals from the aristolochiacea family should not be used any

> longer

> because they are nephrotoxic. I am also cautious when I see western

> scientists screaming and running to ban medicinals because of

> potential (not

> real-life) toxicities (as is happening in Germany). However, when it

> comes

> to AA, many people have died from it and it is, in my book, beyond any

> doubt

> that medicinals containing AA are toxic, regardless what traditional

> sources

> say.

Recommended Posts