HEAVY METALS FOUND IN TOXIC AMOUNT-HERBAL FORMULATION

Introduction

            Samples of 600 Indian medicinal plants collected from the wild as well as various medicinal plant gardens in India by the Council for Scientific Research in Ayurveda and
Siddha were sent to the Indian Institute of Toxicological Research
(CSIR), Lucknow, Sri Ram Institute of Industrial Toxicology, New Delhi and Center for Research in Indian Medicine, Shastra University,Thanjavur. The test reports received from these three laboratories disclose that Lead, Mercury and Arsenic have not been found in these
600 Indian medicinal plants samples above the permissible limits laid down by WHO which is10ppm for Lead, 1ppm for Mercury and 3ppm for Arsenic. This study clearly indicates that Indian medicinal plants collected from the wild or cultivated have been found to be free from
lead, mercury and arsenic contamination(courtesy :news letter from CSIR)

            Some Ayurvedic formulations like Bhasmas may contain metals which are harmful to our body, These Ayurvedic metallic medicines pass through extensive processing before they are declared fit for internal use. The metals and minerals are first purified and then burnt several times and converted to ‘bhasm’ (ash). Each time before burning, the metallic powders are processed with fresh herb juices to neutralize their toxicity. Some of the metals are burnt up to one hundred times to make sure the heaviness or toxic effect of the metal is nullified.   

Last week few samples of some herbal formulation were received from a patient admitted in Alshifa hospital which were subjected to FTIR studies. The result we got was quiet astonishing

.

            Two of the formulations showed presence of Mercury in milligram level and another one showed the presence of Arsenic. One of the formulation was a Capsule which got ‘Very Hard Gelatin’ cover (Fig -1) does not meet any of the standards of a capsule. It was done so as to accommodate these mercuric salt.

CONCLUSION

N number of spiritual gurus, yoga teachers, energy healers and unqualified Ayurvedic practitioners are there in Perinthalmanna, who are engaged in prescribing these Herbal medicine in which they are intentionally adding these Heavy metals as Catalysts to enhance the bioavailability of these herbs to our cells but leaving the Purifying process(mentioned in Ayurveda) for our body Organs. So most of these Heavy metals are ‘Cumulative Toxins’ which will later causes Renal and Hepatic damage.

Prasanth S.S

Associate professor(Mail- nakulprasanth@gmail.com)