The Toxicity of Ayurvedic Medicine Use - Research Paper Example

THE TOXI OF AYURVEDIC MEDICINE USE Introduction The term Ayurveda is a Sanskrit word which means knowledge (Veda) of life (Ayur) Veda also translates to science. After several oral tests for many years, the ancient Ayurvedic texts were written and stored in Sanskrit which is an ancient Indian language. Ayurveda was founded on the collective wisdom of ancient Hindu saints and healers who developed it into an herbal medicinal science. Ayurvedic medicine, in another name is known as the since of life, is arguably one of the world’s oldest medicinal systems. It was discovered in India where till to date 80% of its citizens still makes use of it. Ayurveric colleges and hospitals can be found in India too. In the USA the medicine is observed as a complimentary and alternative medicine for more than 20,000 adults a number that was posted in the previous year. Thesis Complimentary and alternative medicine (CAM) includes a wide range of curative advances, therapies and philosophies. These are the healthcare practices and treatments not widely taught in medical schools, used in hospitals and not put into consideration by medical insurance companies. CAM is generally used with the aim to prevent illness, avoid or minimize side effects and symptoms, control or cure disease and many others. Everything surrounding us including the air we breathe, the water we drink and the food we consume, is composed of artificial chemicals and pesticides congested in the liver and the entire body system. The toxins have been linked to several disorders in the body that include reproductive disorders, cancer, immune system suppression, hormone disruption and others such as allergies. Nevertheless, Ayurvedic medicines can be harmful and toxic when used. Its combination with harmful metal extracts such as lead and mercury post a dangerous impact to the body which may result to impairing of body functioning or even death. Ayurvedic medical system caters for all this by providing vigilant preventive methods that caters for any toxic build up in the body. One of the methods used is a regular massage, which should be undertaken only under the supervision of a well established Therapist. This prevents further build up of toxic and prepares the body for deeper detoxification. Aromatherapy massage is an effective way of managing stress and the resulting ill health. This type of massage loosens tight muscles, paving way for toxins to be cleared from the body. In de-toxifying the body, an ancient medicine known as the castor oil pack is used as an excellent way to begin a cleansing program. Therefore the nature of these Ayurvedic medicines keeps many patients from seeing the benefits of this complimentary medical system. This medical method uses its natural and ancient ways to prevent and cure diseases in the immune system. Ayurvetic drugs are made through a series of procedures a process known as rasashatra by ancient practitioners, which include mixtures of heavy metals that can be toxic to the body if proper purification is not catered for. It has been observed that most scholars take it for granted that medicine is alarmed with problems of ill health and healing. In that various medical systems have not been adequately studied. Good health in this is regarded as natural, normative position of being by most medical anthropologists. They otherwise take a critical, relativist perspective on the subject of pain disease and illness. In our case of Ayurvedic medicine, looks at a very different way of how health is embodied. This viewpoint is concerned with overall fitness rather than immediate and primarily concerned with either illness or disease. Ayurveda is considered an ethical and ancient way of healing. Being a traditional Asian medicine, medical practitioners in the modern Western Europe and North America have clashed along with Asian philosophers proposing the use of the classical Ayurveda. The west is predominantly dominated by new medical technology which has little application to the non-western countries. The ethical standards which are a process by which patients and practitioners are socialized with gaze at medical ethics are poorly described in non-western medical systems. Religious differences have posted great clash where studies of western medical ethics have not considered cultural differences and moreover ignore the pluralism which exists in the healing systems of non-western societies. Non western societies including India and China consider Ayurveda to have been the main guiding force in drug discovery. They have made use of the ancient methods of prevention and healing of diseases like use of natural herbs and heavy metals like lead and mercury. The modern western on the other hard have increased the research of this medicinal method by making discoveries and improving the function ability of the medicine. However, countries like china and India have brought up traditional systems of medicines, in conjunction with western biomedical science which are considered conventional and mainstream1. They have scientifically introduced a new line of manufacturing and processing of this herbal medicines to increase there efficacy and safety including amalgamating therapies. Due to the toxicity of these medicines, the public put down a plephora of writing on the issues of toxicity. They condemned with serious implications for the credibility in both accusatory and defensive in tone2. Several medications have been used to treat illnesses using the Ayurvedic medical systems. For instances it has been used in conjunctions with other medicines to conduct therapies in cancer treatment, coronary vascular diseases, type-2 diabetes, obesity, autoimmune conditions and disorders of digestion. It also uses massage as a technique to prevent and eliminate accumulation of toxic substances in the body for a long period of time. Toxins in the body may include various chemicals such as pesticides, pollutants and food addictives including heavy metals. Drugs and alcohol have posted toxic effects in the body. Despite its common useful factors, Ayurvedic medicine can be dangerous at some point to the body of the patient. Many of these drugs contain heavy metals, including lead, mercury and arsenic posting a number of reports of clinically significant heavy metal poisoning associated with their use. Clinical toxicologists suggested that recent legislations of the Europeans aimed at improving safety of shop-bought goods, will have little impact on medicines suggested by traditional practitioners, mainly imported from overseas or over the internet3. Natural herbal products are incorporated with heavy metals which are not inadvertent contaminants to them in order to return the body to health by rebalancing essential minerals. Poisoning directly from the ingredients used, for example lead mercury and arsenic, is the most common toxic nature of Ayurvenic medicine. Practitioners have a basic principle of Ayurveda that they can use anything as a drug. Lead has indicated many cases of toxic in Ayurvedic medicines. Many cases have been reported citing the toxic nature of these metals which were considered purified4. For example, a 57 year old Asian female patient suffering from diabetes presented tiredness and lethargy. Examination was contacted and she posted that she was normal but she was anaemic and her blood film revealed basophilic stippling. Her initial blood lead concentration was 5.9 μmol/L (1220 μg/L) and was treated with two 19-day courses of 2, 3-Dimercaptosuccinic Acid (DMSA) (10 mg/kg 8 hourly for 5 days and then 10mg/kg 12 hourly for 14 days). This settled her hemoglobin to 12.6g/Dl and her blood lead concentration fell to 1.2 μmol/L (250μg/L)5. It is indicated that she was using two Ayurvedic medications to treat her condition that was conducted with an Ayurvedic practitioner in India. Analysis of this examination indicated that one contained no significant lead, while the other was contaminated with 6.8% lead. Another incident was recorded when a man aged 34 years was evaluated twice with back pain and abdominal pain. A screen of heavy metals indicated a BLL of 80µg/dL. He was hospitalized for chelation therapy and was disclosed that he had taken Ayurvedic medications prescribed by a medic in India to increase fertility. He had taken one type of tablet once daily for 3 months, samples of one of these tablets contained 78,000 ppm lead. The second variety contained 36 ppm lead. A house investigation revealed no other source of lead. His BLL was 17µg/dL when tested 7.5months after the initial BLL test6. Poisoning is again posted due to interaction with other drugs. Most Ayurvedic medicines are manufactured and imported from Indian subcontinent to UK, USA and other areas of the world. The use of herbal extracts with vegetables, animal and mineral products. This can be toxic to some patients because they are allergic to the products. Some of the products have labels with details of all ingredients and instructions for use, but others are not labeled in English or do not include a list of ingredients. The public therefore have insufficient information about the safe use of the medicine. This is dangerous to the public because one would use the medicine on the thought that he/she is treating a particular disease but instead he/she is increasing toxics and dangerous metals in the body. The other toxic nature of Ayurvenic medicines is issues within production and manufacturing of herbal medication. This includes; Product licensing Labeling Good manufacturing practices Site licensing etc Good manufacturing practices This makes sure that proper standards and practices like testing, manufacturing, storage, handling and distribution of natural health products are adhered to. Good manufacturing practices revolve around product specifications, premises, equipment, personnel, and sanitation program only to name a few. Without proper manufacturing habits for example sanitation program, medicines can be contaminated hence being toxic to the patients. Product licensing There is a great need of licensing your products before they can be sold. To have a license, applicants must give detailed information about the product including, medicinal ingredients, source, dose, potency, non-medicinal ingredients and recommended use(s). For instance, in Canada once a product is assessed and decided it is safe, effective and of high quality, the product is issued a license along with an eight digit Natural Product Number ( NPN) which must appear on the label. This number informs you that the product has been viewed and approved by health Canada. Labeling Tradition medicines needs proper labeling of information required by patients and medical practitioners, outlined properly on the product. Such information like product name, license number, quantity of product, recommended use etc are supposed to be indicated on the bottle to avoid abusing the medicine or making use of the wrong medicine. If this is not taken into account major toxic incidences may occur. Site licensing Manufactures, packagers, importers and labelers of natural products must have site licenses. To acquire this, sites must make sure that proper distribution records is maintained, followed proper procedures for product recalls and for the handling, storage and delivery of their products. Furthermore they should make sure that they meet the requirements of good manufacturing practice. With this procedures followed, less cases of toxins in medicines will be experienced. Scientists and medical practitioners have tried to prepare medicines by making use of herbal medicines. The rapid production of these herbal mixtures has resulted in continuous growth of herbal industry and creation of numerous jobs. Scientists have discussed and came up with new findings in prostate cancer. They discovered that Gugulipid (GL), which was extracted from a medicinal plant Commiphora mukul, has been used effectively in reactive oxygen in treatment of prostate cancer. Licorice root extract, a product of Ayurveda is one the most common herbal ingredient used to supplement most cosmetics used by women to nourish their hair and skin. It works wonders when it is used in combination with other herbs. This root would make one’s skin appear clear and fairer instead of damaging it like most man-made cosmetics do. Arjuna (Terminalia arjuna) another Ayurvedic herb, contain saponin glycosides which accounts for primary activity in improving cardiac muscle function and the overall pumping activity of the heart. Syzygium aromaticun and cinnamomoum zeylanicum products of clove oil and cinnamon leaf oil respectively, contain eugenol as their main constituent which has antibacterial and antifungal activities. (zingiber officinale) commonly known by many as ginger oil, on the other hand contains phenolic compounds (shogaols and gingerols) and sesquiterpenes (bisapolene, zingiberene and zingiberol) which produces analgesic, sedative, antipyretic and antibacterial activities. 24 special herbal extracts including ingredients such as glycerin, rose apple sappan wood and clove oil have been incorporated by scientists to come up with an Auromere’s Licorice Toothpaste to promote optimum care of teeth and gums. In the U.S, passage of Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act (DSHEA) classified dietary supplements of food preventing the FDA from regulating them as drugs with respect to their safety, marketing claims or efficiency. The DSHEA defines this Ayurvedic products as products intended to supplement the diet that contain vitamins, minerals, herbs or other botanicals rather than a medicinal drug. The increasingly extensive use of dietary supplements in U.S has been accompanied by growing concern about the ability of the government to regulate the sale of these products. Product registration as recommended by DSHEA would be required so as to instantly access ingredient listing and distribute information, warnings and recall to the society when an unhelpful event is reported. Manufacturers of dietary supplements would be required to provide warnings on product labeling about drug-dietary supplement relations and other difficult events relating to these products. The FDA could also provide a warning to manufacturers to submit their products for laboratory certification by requesting uncertified supplements to have a statement that warns against certification of the products purity of consistency. In other words, independent labs could be required to register with FDA in order to have their goods inspected and results submitted on product purity, ingredients and levels of contamination to the agency. However, due to limited regulatory imposed by DSHEA, many adverse events occur for months or years before lab tests warn the consumers upon identifying herbal toxins on the exposure to harmful dietary supplement therapies. The toxic nature of Ayurvedic medication has received counter argument from different practitioners and organizations in different ways. In May 2012, a one day symposium was held to discuss the medical, political, legal and economic aspects surrounding the use of mercury in Asian medicine. It received many presentations ranging from medical history of mercury in Europe to its use in form of calomel in Ayurveda, and as a syphilitic treatment in Tokugawa Japan. This led to lively discussion on who defines the toxicity of this medicine and how this politically impacted the use of mercury in medicines. Several symposiums were held up to the conclusion that mercury should not be banned from products used in traditional or religious practices in collaboration with vaccines containing thiomersal as preservatives despite its toxic nature. Rasashaastra structure This is the science of metal and mineral medicine mainly practiced in the Hindu origin. Rasashaastra deals with the medicines of mineral origin, their varieties, characteristics, processing techniques, properties and their therapeutic uses. According to Ayurveda, mercury and sulfur in domain of ‘prad’ and ‘gandhak’ are the most important minerals which represent Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati. These metals can be toxic if used separately but when blended; they form a black amalgam known as kajjali. This metal is safe and makes most of the preparations. Procedures are confined together in a step by step preparation of minerals, by dipping solvents such as sesame oil, cow’s urine and herb decoctions and then ground to the finest powders which are then subjected to high temperatures repeatedly to obtain bhasma. These metallic materials are transformed from their raw state to potential medicines. Rasashastra is understood as a part of a secondary branch alchemy which was developed in the tantric domain for anonymity required to perform the complex and hazardous actions of metals and minerals ultimately to better the life of human beings. In the article, ‘growing up with mercury’ in the Ayurvedic family ritual in India, Vaidya Balendu Prakash tells the account of how he grew up in Indian family ancestry specialized in rasashastra. He was confronted by his father’ medical knowledge via a personal illness and accepted to the challenge by following the lineage. He documented his research based on observation combining modern research methodology and traditional knowledge in a unique way7. In this, he came up with various metal-based formulations and processing of mercury with the aim of ascertaining reproducibility. He also developed Ayurvedic treatment protocols for certain forms of chronic diseases and cancer. His first memory of mercury dates back to (1919-84) when his late father Vaidya Chandra Prakash was preparing a medicine from mercury sulphide ore called hingul. He made this by grounding the metal with lemon juice. These pieces of cinnabar are then dried in the sun and cut into pieces. They were then wrapped in old cotton garment. He later kept that ball over a large iron plate and covered it with an oval-shaped clay pot, allowing space for ventilation he put around four small wooden sticks of finger sized width beneath the clay pot that was stationed on a big iron plate8. How toxicity is viewed by Ayurvedic practitioners Ayurveda which is deeply rooted in India have made the people there to have faith in the system. They have recorded miraculous effects of mercury and metal preparations in treatment of fatal diseases. They have faith that the government will adhere to their demands and will support the continuation of bhasmas which can only be prepared with the combination of mercury in Ayurvedic practice. Traditional Ayurvedic medicine uses a variety of modern treatment from massage to herbal remedial. Heavy metals added to Ayurvedic medicines are considered by practitioners to contribute to the healing process9. They claim that after thorough purification of the metals through a mixture of herbal extracts and the metals followed by multiple cooling and heating cycles and addition herbal minerals, the medicine is ready to go. However this is not the case because the concentration of heavy metals maybe in excess form due to poor quality control allowing for contamination, adulteration or improper purification. They claim that this medicine reduces toxicity whereas surveys of Ayurvedic medicines have consistently shown toxic levels of heavy metals. Though they knew the toxicity of mercury, they successfully developed methodologies to convert toxic materials into usable therapeutic forms. They also claim that they have seen there safety and efficiency through treating patients suffering from acute leukemia and other types of cancer as well as chronic pancreatitis, rhinitis and many more10. Importance of purification/perfecting the ingredients Medical practitioners and scholars in Asia often express the necessity to detoxify and purify mercury before it is used in medicines. Purification on its own is an important factor in any company to ensure that the rate of toxicity is essentially looked at. Ayurvedic medicine contain heavy metals such as mercury and lead which can post harmful toxins that can cause serious complications or even death if they are not purified11. The importance of purifying these metals is that during purification the metal is mixed with herbal extract and undergoes various stages. The metal pieces are then confined into fine powder therefore unwanted elements are removed during subsequent treatment. Mixing the metal with herbal drugs and slow heating, converts nontoxic metallic compound into inorganic or organometallic forms. This also helps in the formation of nontoxic metal powder12. Another way of purifying metals is known as Mardan. During this treatment the compound is mixed with more herbal drugs or elements such as mercury or sulphur. Sometimes the process is associated with slow chemical reaction of S to convert Hg into HgS to enhance the process of formation of red HgS compound. The process is many a times repeated after mixing some organic extracts, tribulation and formation pellets13. After all this the metal compound is at some percentage pure for medication purposes. For a treatment to be made in maharishi Ayurveda, whether it’s for purification for treating imbalance a rule of balance is always followed. This principal was stated by one of the healers in the ancient times known as charaka. He stated that, the physician should never create a new imbalance to repair or fix an imbalance. Furthermore the herbs used in whatsoever purification methods deployed, risking the disturbing of doshas (mind/body operating principles) should never be risked nor create an imbalance in the quality and quantity of the body tissues or the quality, quantity and flow of body wastes. Purification of these medicines is important to provide paths for toxins to be flushed out of the body completely and quickly if a purification program is developed14. Conclusion The use and search for drugs and dietary supplements derived from plants have accelerated in the recent years. Many people in India for example Vaidya Balendu Prakash who bought an idea of making medicines from his father used the rasashatra, a clinical specialty of Ayurveda that deals with the intricate processing mercury and metals converting them to therapeutic forms from toxic materials. Ayurvedic medicines have posted positive and negative aspects in the medical sector. Its natural way of healing without the use of any medication has encouraged many people to go for it. For instance massages performed by classical therapists, e.g. Aromatherapy massage is an effective way of managing stress and the resulting ill health. This type of massage loosens tight muscles, paving way for toxins to be cleared from the body. Again, its toxic nature brought about by combination of herbal extracts and harmful metals like lead and mercury posts a threat in the preventing and healing of ailments in a patient. Several incidences have been posted in U.S.A where large amounts of lead was found in patients who used Ayurvedic medicines to treat a particular disease that seem to be perfect before examinations by practitioners. Mercury and lead would be dangerous if purification and perfection of its ingredients is not taken into consideration. Many organizations such as the World Health Organizations (W.H.O) have come up with methods of metal purification which pass through thorough examinations before the medicines are introduced to the market. Its toxicity nature has received counter arguments from medical practitioners who discussed the importance of purifying the medicine. In addition, enacted laws that govern the labeling of these products, listing of ingredients and licensing to ensure that the products are genuine and post fewer dangers to the respective patient. Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act (DSHEA) in the U.S, request the need for product registration as would be required so as to instantly access ingredient listing and distribute information, warnings and recall to the society when an unhelpful event is reported. When this is not taken into consideration poisonous elements would attack the immune of the patient involved in the treatment. Posting a threat to the medical practitioners by killing their careers. Marketing of their products too would be in danger since customers would go for medicines which post threats to their immune system. Bibliography Chopra A, Doiphode VV. Ayurvedic medicine. Core concept, therapeutic principles, and current relevance:Medical Clinics of North America. 2002 Wolfgram, Matthew S. Ayurveda in the age of biomedicine. University of Michigan: Discursive asymmetries and counter-strategies, 2009. Matthew S Wolgram, Ayurveda in the age of biomedicine (University of Michigan: Discursive asymmetries and counter-strategies, 2009), 20-27. Mukherjee, Ambarish. Modernization of Ayurveda. A brief overview of Indian initiatives. Natural Product Communications, 2014. Gogtay, Bhatt, Dalvi SS and et al. The use and safety of non-allopathic. Indian medicines and Drug Safety, 2002. Paul I. Dargan, Indika B. Gawarammana, Ivan M. House, Debbie Shaw and David M. Wood. Heavy metal poisoning from Ayurvedic traditional medicines: an emerging problem? International Journal of Environment and Health, 2008. Dargan paul I, Gawarammana, ivan M. House, Debbie Shaw and David M, Wood, Heavy metal poisoning from Ayurvedic traditional medicines: an emerging problem? (International Journal of Environment and Health, 2008), 463-474. Gunturu, Krishna S. Ayurvedic herbal medicine and lead poisoning. Journal of Hematology and Oncology. 2011. Dagmar, Wujastyk. Perfect Medicine. Asian Medicine: Mercury in Sanskrit medical Literature. 2013. Madhulika, Banerjee. Politics of Knowledge in the Debates on Toxicity in Ayurvedic Medicines: Recent Controversies over Bhasmas. Asian Medicine. 2013. Vaidya, Balendu P. Growing up with Mercury in an Ayurvedic Family in Northern India. Asian Medicine: Central Council of Research, 2013. Wolfgram, Matthew S. Ayurveda in the age of biomedicine. University of Michigan: Discursive asymmetries and counter-strategies, 2009. Read More