The Health Canada, the federal health department of Canada, has once again advised the consumers not to use any Ayurvedic medicine without its approval, as some of the products may contain high levels of heavy metals. The reminder comes in the wake of recent reporting of high level metal content in an Ayurvedic products in British Columbia.

The authority refers to a report published in the British Columbia Medical Journal, in March 2008, about a domestic case of adverse reaction on an adult male from consumption of Pushpadhanva Rasa, manufactured by the Shri Dhanwantari Ayurvedic Pharmacy in India. The patient had been taking one tablet of this product to 'increase vigour' for over a number of years and the product was found to contain extremely high levels of lead, mercury and arsenic, according to the Health Canada report.

The authority maintains that heavy metals may be used in a detoxified state in these medicinal products because of their presumed therapeutic properties, according to the principles of Ayurvedic medicine. "However, improper manufacturing processes may result in dangerously high levels of heavy metals in the final product," adds the reminder.

Meanwhile, the case of Pushpadhanva Rasa should not be used by the authority to issue a generalised negative statement on Indian Ayurvedic medicines, according to Ayurveda industry sources. "Pushpadhanva Rasa is a medicine to be taken under the supervision of a qualified Ayurveda physician. If the patient was using it for years without prescription or consulting a doctor, it is not the fault of the manufacturer," said Ranjit Puranik, general secretary, Ayurveda Drug Manufacturers Association (ADMA).

The medicine is designed and prepared to be administered under the supervision of expert and it has metallic content as per the reference books of Ayurveda, added Puranik. The comments from the Amritsar based Shri Dhanwantari Ayurvedic Pharmacy were not available. However, the Health Canada has asked the public to report presence of Pushpadhanva Rasa in Canadian market, for further action.

The Health Canada warns that the high presence of heavy metals, such as lead, mercury, and arsenic in the body pose serious health risks because they may accumulate in vital organs to create serious health problems in a later stage. The toxic effects of lead may include abdominal pain, anaemia, changes in blood pressure, reproductive effects, weakness, concentration problems, weight loss, insomnia, dizziness, kidney and brain damage whereas presence of high level of mercury may lead to irritability, tremors, memory loss, insomnia, and concentration problems. The toxic effects of arsenic may include skin and lung cancers, as well as heart and kidney disease and liver damage.