New European rules will not put an end to the hazards associated with traditional south Asian medicines, a British expert has warned.
The use of heavy metals, such as mercury and lead, is part of Ayurvedic medicine – and it may be harming many patients, according to toxicologist Dr Paul Dargan, of Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Trust, London.
Dr Dargan has been working with Dr Indika Gawarammana, of the University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka, on a study of the medicines.
Writing in the International Journal of Environment and Health, they say that several cases of patients being poisoned by the heavy metals have been reported – but there has been no systematic study of how common this is.
European rules have banned the manufacture of therapies containing heavy metals – but practitioners may still be importing medicines and patients may be buying them over the internet.
India has more than 12,000 Ayurvedic colleges and hospitals.
According to the two researchers, the practice calls for a balance of metals such as lead, copper, gold, iron, mercury, silver, tin and zinc.
They write: "There is an urgent need for studies to quantify the frequency and potential risk of heavy metal poisoning from Ayurvedic medicines."
They call for "culturally appropriate education" to inform the public of the risks.
"Heavy metal poisoning from Ayurvedic traditional medicines: an emerging problem?" by Paul I. Dargan, Indika B. Gawarammana, Ivan M. House, Debbie Shaw, David M. Wood in International Journal of Environment and Health, 2008, 2, 463-474
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