In the News – Popular Herbal Remedy Birthwort Causes Cancer
Snippet from the article:
A toxic ingredient in a popular herbal remedy is linked to more than half of all cases of urinary tract cancer in Taiwan where use of traditional medicine is widespread, said a US study Monday.
Aristolochic acid (AA) is a potent human carcinogen that is found naturally in Aristolochia plants, an ingredient common in botanical Asian remedies for aiding weight loss, easing joint pain and improving stomach ailments.
The ancient herb has been touted around the world for thousands of years for everything from gout to childbirth, but scientists now know it carries serious risks of causing kidney disease and urinary cancers.
Read the rest — Herbal remedy blamed for high cancer rate in Taiwan: study
I am posting this because in our search for natural herbs to protect ourselves from disease and to impact our known risks, many of us seek out traditional Chinese medicines. Sometimes the risk from using such herbs, as you can see here, are enormous.
The herb is commonly known as birthwort.
Excellent post. The herb Chinese ephedra (also known as ‘ma huang’) was removed from health food stores by the FDA years ago after numerous fatalities related to cardiac arrhythmias occurred in high school athletes using the herb for performance enhancement. This herb contained a powerful stimulant (ephendrine-like). Although herbs are not regulated by the FDA (and thus one can never be sure about the content of herbs bought in natural food stores or commonly sold over the internet), the FDA does have the power to remove them if they pose a significant safety hazard as with Chinese ephedra What readers might find interesting is that most synthetic drugs manufactured by drug companies are based on chemical structures that are found in natural substances and plants and are pharmacologically active (the chemical structure of the heart medicine digoxin related to the Digitalis purpurea plant extract is a famous example). Conversely, many herbs and “natural substances†outside the purview of regulators contain powerful chemicals that have potential for both benefit and adverse reactions. The prohibition for athletes of certain “natural substances†by sports authorities because of potential for performance enhancement underscores the fine line between “drugs†available by prescription or over-the-counter and some “natural substances/herbs/supplements/neutraceuticals†that are pharmacologically active.