Root of the Problem

For all of you groovy kids out there that would rather hit the homeopathic counter than take FDA tested medications for your ills and owies, listen up. The New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene has released a press statement warning against certain herbal meds from India which have dangerously high levels of lead and mercury. The following products have been flagged:

Jambrulin – used for diabetes
Lakshmivilash Ras (Nardiya) – used for fevers, colds, and coughs
Maha Sudarshan – used for flus and body aches

These products are easily found in the South Indian stores which pepper Flushing and Jackson Heights and three herbal medicine related cases of adult lead poisoning from these medications have been confirmed in the past year. The DOHMH advises anyone regularly taking these products to contact their physician and getting blood lead level and urine mercury level tests. Folks are even encouraged to call 311 or 212-POISONS if you know of particular stores that peddle these products.

More product photos (with English labels) are available here.

Has any Gothamist reader had a bad experience with any (non-recreational) herbal medicine?