Toxicity[edit ] Modern medicine finds that mercury is inherently toxic , and that its toxicity is not due to the presence of impurities. While mercury does have anti-microbial properties, and formerly was widely used in Western medicine, its toxicity does not warrant the risk of using it as a health product in most circumstances. [7] [8] The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have also reported a number of cases of lead poisoning associated with Ayurvedic medicine. [9] Other incidents of heavy metal poisoning have been attributed to the use of rasa shastra compounds in the United States, and arsenic has also been found in some of the preparations, which have been marketed in the United States under trade names such as "AyurRelief", "GlucoRite", "Acnenil", "Energize", "Cold Aid", and "Lean Plus". [10] Ayurvedic practitioners claim that these reports of toxicity are due to failure to follow traditional practices in the mass production of these preparations for sale, [11] but modern science finds that not only mercury, but also lead is inherently toxic . The government of India has ordered that Ayurvedic products must specify their metallic content directly on the labels of the product; [12] however, M. S. Valiathan noted that "the absence of post-market surveillance and the paucity of test laboratory facilities [in India] make the quality control of Ayurvedic medicines exceedingly difficult at this time. [12]
Toxicity[edit]Modern medicine finds thatmercury is inherently
toxic, and that its toxicity is not due to the presence of
impurities. While mercury does have anti-microbial properties, and
formerly waswidely usedin Western medicine, its toxicity does not
warrant the risk of using it as a health product in most
circumstances.[7]
HYPERLINK "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rasa_shastra" \l
"cite_note-8" [8]TheCenters for Disease Control and Preventionhave
also reported a number of cases of lead poisoning associated with
Ayurvedic medicine.[9]Other incidents ofheavy metal poisoninghave
been attributed to the use ofrasa shastracompounds in the United
States, andarsenichas also been found in some of the preparations,
which have been marketed in theUnited Statesunder trade names such
as "AyurRelief", "GlucoRite", "Acnenil", "Energize", "Cold Aid",
and "Lean Plus".[10]Ayurvedic practitioners claim that these
reports of toxicity are due to failure to follow traditional
practices in the mass production of these preparations for
sale,[11]but modern science finds that not only mercury, but
alsolead is inherently toxic. Thegovernment of Indiahas ordered
that Ayurvedic products must specify their metallic content
directly on the labels of the product;[12]however, M. S. Valiathan
noted that "the absence of post-market surveillance and the paucity
of test laboratory facilities [in India] make the quality control
of Ayurvedic medicines exceedingly difficult at this time.[12]
