Without the White Coat
By Florentino P. Alerta II, M.D.

Herbal alert!... knowing the facts

You have heard it from almost all the local radio stations in Metro Iloilo and all the way to Metro Manila and thru national tabloids and dailies, a herbal medicine that promises to cure all ailments in these world. The herbal industry is a billion dollar a year business not just in the Philippines, but worldwide. Its products and derivatives had been used by some multi-level marketing (the herbal products are the only things that separate them from the other business venture presented in front of your face …the pyramid scam) syndicate. May it be a direct selling strategy to mass media advertising in form of individual testimonies of the users. (Please remember that testimonies may stand in the court of law, but in the medical field it is the evidence coming from scientific research and results from medical trials where medical judgment is based upon.) Hearing testimonies from patients that a breast lump disappeared after taking a herbal medication and was later endorsed by the radio commentator adding enough the illusion of a cure-all medications from rheumatism to the deadly cancer.

The latest encounter I have on herbal medicine was the launching of a herbal concoction(drink) that is said to contain 214 different kinds of herbs what really touched me was the showmanship done by a practicing doctor who called himself a “naturolopath” or someone that practiced the “alternative type” of medicine. Backed by a questionable company you could see how they enticed an association with a large membership in distributing their herbal product. (to mind, since some need the badly cash they will fall prey to this scam.) So the question that still lies ahead how safe is herbal medicines to those that make a big killing out of it? Is it really safe 100%? (you believe them?, watch out for the days to come because it is your kidney that will fail.)

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) had issued a strong warning to consumers to avoid herbs containing the chemical ‘ Aristolochic Acid” (aristolochia franqchi) , the “herb” had the potential to cause “cancer” of the urinary tract system and “permanent kidney failure”.

Herbal preparation are cheap and within the financial reach of the patient, aside from being labeled as a “food supplement” or “no therapeutic benefits or value” are all deceiving enough to cause what is uttered out from the mouth of the broadcaster is totally a different tune of music. Why can be straight forward or simply be honest enough to let the consumer know. (is this a violation of consumer right? a deception in their part? Or is it another marketing strategy on the part of the herbal company? Always look at the results, cases of kidney failure may not have been documented yet, but this is just a tip of the iceberg.)

Another alert coming from the FDA is about a Chinese weight-loss product (Chaso-Jianfei Diet Capsules, Chaso Genpi) that pose a potential health risk. The alert is about some patients in Japan that have become ill and some have died after consuming the products. These medicine are sold as “alternatives” to western medicine, in 2001 the FDA issued a national alert to recall herbal products (Treasure of the East Herbal Products) because of a very dangerous ingredient that they have “aristolochic acid” which is toxic to the kidney. The deaths in Japan may be linked to a Chinese weight-loss products may have resulted in the presence of an active ingredient known as “fenfluramine” ( combined with a diet drug- phentermine , it causes valvulopathy, a serious fatal heart disease, removed from the market in the year 1997) in the capsule of this products.

Remember that aristolochic acid is found in a number of botanical products sold as “traditional medicines” in the form of dietary supplements (sounds familiar?) or some weight-loss remedies.

According to the FDA (May 2000 report) it alerted all health care professionals and dietary supplement industry about the death of two patients in the United Kingdom who have experienced serious, permanent kidney damage following the use of botanical products containing aristolochic acid. FDA seeing potential public health risk, the agency has further advised consumers to stop using any products that may likely contain aristolochic acid, products that have names or words as “Aristolochic” , “Bragantia” or “Asarum” listed in the ingredients on the label or any of the products.

The writer would like to thank Dr. Louie Montero for this valuable information, some medical journals and write-ups and his unselfishness to share for the betterment of people of Iloilo City, and to warn them of the unforeseen dangers of “herbs”.