Herbal Safety News: Further safety issues

Advice to manufacturers, suppliers and practitioners of herbal medicine
It would be helpful if you could note information about each safety issue and follow any advice or requests which are made to protect public safety.

Advice to consumers
On any issue where no specific advice is given to consumers please follow this general advice if you are currently taking the product:

• you are advised to discontinue use and consult your pharmacist or doctor;
• when speaking to your doctor of pharmacist you may find it helpful to take a copy of this MHRA advice about the product with you;
• you should continue to take any medication prescribed by your doctor.

• 01 Feb 2005| Burns from Psoralea corylifolia fruit in traditional herbal medicines

  Reports of severe burning have been received in connection with traditional Chinese medicine preparations containing Psoralea fruit, used both internally and externally.

• 31 Jan 2005| Kava-Kava

  Following cases of liver damage suspected to be associated with the herb, Kava-kava was prohibited from sale in unlicensed herbal medicines in January 2003.

• 16 Aug 2004| St John's wort

  Concerns were raised in 2000 about potential interactions of St. John’s wort (Hypericum perforatum) with various prescription drugs.

• 21 Jan 2004| Xiaoke/ Xiaoke-wan

  In August 2003 this traditional Chinese medicine containing a prescription only medicine was found in a TCM outlet in Essex.

• 15 Oct 2003| Ephedra

  Following a number of adverse drug reactions (ADRs) associated with this herb, including deaths in the United States, the MHRA contacted the UK sector about this restricted herb.

• 26 Sep 2003| Aristolochia - Xie Gan Wan, Long Dan Xie Gan Wan, Guan Xin Su He, Longdan Qiegan Wan (Lung Tan Xie Gan)

  This was prohibited from sale in unlicensed herbal medicines in July 1999, as it contains toxic and carcinogenic aristolochic acids associated with kidney failure and cancer. However, various products containing Aristolochia are periodically found on the UK market.

• 14 Jul 2003| Cnidium monnieri

  A product containing this ingredient has, on application to the skin, resulted in severe inflammation and blistering.
  

• 14 Feb 2003| Hua Fo tablets

  This traditional Chinese medicine was found to contain a prescription only medicine.

• 17 Jan 2003| Niu Huang Jie Du Pian

  The New Zealand government issued warnings that this product was found to contain arsenic.