Victoria’s Chief Health Officer has warned that some imported traditional Ayuryedic medicines contain lead, other heavy metals and scheduled poisons that pose a danger to human health.
Ayurveda or Ayurvedic medicine is a system of traditional medicine native to India.
The Victorian Department of Health continues to receive notifications of cases of lead poisoning caused by the ingestion of imported Ayurvedic medicines. Some medicines were contaminated with other heavy metals such as mercury and arsenic.
“An ‘AUST R’ or ‘AUST L’ number on the packaging of products indicates that they are safe and can be legally supplied in Australia,” said the Chief Health Officer Dr Tarun Weeramanthri.
“Ayurvedic medicines purchased or imported from overseas or purchased in Victoria where the product does not have this number may risk your health. The Victorian Department of Health recommends that people immediately stop consuming Ayurvedic medicines without an ‘AUST R’ or ‘AUST L’ on the packaging.”
Clinicians should consider testing for elevated blood lead for anyone taking unapproved Ayurvedic medicines