Fraser Health issued a warning Monday (July 16) about Ayurvedic medicines and opium products that may contain heavy metals, following two recent cases of lead poisoning.
In a news release Monday, Fraser Health stated the two cases are likely connected with consuming Ayurvedic medicines or opium-containing products.
Fraser Health notes that some Ayurvedic medications may contain high levels of heavy metals, such as lead, mercury, arsenic and other toxins. Some of these products may contain opium and are prepared from the poppy plant — called doda and afeem.
"Doda is a powder and usually dissolved in liquid and consumed orally," reads the Fraser Health release.
Fraser Health suggests that those using these products monitor themselves for symptoms of lead poisoning.
HealthLinkBC describes Ayurvedic as a "healthy-lifestyle system" that people in India have used for more than 5,000 years.
"Ayurveda emphasizes good health and prevention and treatment of illness through lifestyle practices (such as massage, meditation, yoga, and dietary changes) and the use of herbal remedies.
"Ayurvedic medicine is holistic, which means viewing the body and mind as a whole. Ayurveda treats more than a person's physical concerns. It also looks at lifestyle and health behaviours, diet, digestion, stress, and environmental factors," reads healthlinkbc.ca.
In the release, Fraser Health provided a number of tips for individuals consuming opium-containing products that are prepared directly from the poppy plant (including doda and afeem) or other Ayurvedic medicines.
If the product has a label, look at the Natural Product Number (NPN) to find out if it is registered with Health Canada. If there is no label or NPN, Fraser Health suggests talking to your health-care provider and discussing other options.
"Choosing products that are registered with Health Canada under the Natural Health Product Regulation reduces risks because it provides oversight of quality, traceability, and recommended use," reads the release.
Fraser Health stated that symptoms of lead poisoning may be hard to differentiate from other health problems:
• Mild symptoms include fatigue, irritability, headache, muscle pain, abdominal discomfort or pain, constipation, vomiting and tremors.
• Severe symptoms include severe abdominal pain, seizure, reduced consciousness, numbness and very weak muscles.
• Long-term use of products containing high levels of lead can lead to chronic exposure.
Fraser Health notes that if you have used any such products and are experiencing any symptoms of lead poisoning or other unexpected side effects, you should seek medical attention and call the BC Drug and Poison Information Centre at 604-682-5050 or 1-800-567-8911. Your health care provider will assess whether you need blood lead testing. Do not throw out the product. Store it in a secure place in case Public Health needs to submit it for testing.
