What risks do herbal products pose to the Australian community?

de Gooyer, Tanyth; Savage, Rohani; Stephens, Nicola

doi:10.5694/mja17.00195

Topics

The recent review by Byard and colleagues1 highlighted the need for tighter regulation and monitoring of traditional herbal products sold in Australia to minimise the risk of exposure to preparations containing toxic substances, including heavy metals. Use of imported Ayurvedic medicines containing high levels of lead is a concerning exposure source among Victorians and elsewhere in Australia.2

Health Protection Branch, Victorian Department of Health and Human Services, Melbourne, VIC

Correspondence: tanyth.degooyer@dhhs.vic.gov.au

Acknowledgements:

We thank Jason Issa for his contribution in case follow-up and exposure investigation.

Competing interests:

No relevant disclosures.

1. Byard RW, Musgrave I, Maker G, Bunce M. What risks do herbal products pose to the Australian community? Med J Aust 2017; 206: 86-90. <MJA full text>
2. Hochholzer K, Li W, Gunja N. A heavy burden: remaining vigilant with herbal remedies. Aust Fam Physician 2014; 43: 545-546.
3. Wijeratne N, Doery J, Graudins A. Occult lead poisoning from Ayurvedic medicine produced, prescribed and purchased in India. Med J Aust 2011; 194: 205-206. <MJA full text>
4. Therapeutic Goods Administration. Australian regulatory guidelines for complementary medicines (ARGCM). Version 6.0. Canberra: Commonwealth of Australia; 2016. https://www.tga.gov.au/sites/default/files/australian-regulatory-guidelines-complementary-medicines-argcm.pdf (accessed June 2017).
5. National Health and Medical Research Council. Managing individual exposure to lead in Australia — a guide for health practitioners. Canberra: Commonwealth of Australia; 2016. https://www.nhmrc.gov.au/_files_nhmrc/file/publications/16200_nhmrc_managing_individual_exposure_to_lead_in_australia_web.pdf (accessed June 2017).

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