Are Ayurvedic Supplements Dangerous?

I heard about heavy metals contaminating some ayurvedic supplements. What's the story? And how can consumers protect themselves against tainted supplements?

The story about contamination of ayurvedic supplements concerns an analysis of products bought online. Researchers from Boston University School of Medicine found that nearly 21 percent of the ayurvedic herbal supplements they purchased via the internet contained lead, mercury or arsenic that exceeded acceptable standards. The supplements were produced in India and the United States and sold through U.S. Web sites.

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Unfortunately, no one knows if anyone has been harmed by ayurvedic supplements. The study's authors noted more than 80 known cases of poisoning had been reported worldwide since 1978, but the lead investigator, Robert B. Saper, M.D., was quoted as saying that number may be just the tip of the iceberg. In 2005 alone, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported 12 cases of lead poisoning associated with ayurvedic products. Read more...