Herbal Medicine -- What's this Quality Assurance Thing?

[Gord_in_Toronto]

Well what a surprise. Somewhat understated though.

U of G scientists find labels on herbal products not always trustworthy

ByHelen Branswell

TORONTO — DNA doesn't lie.

And when scientists from the University of Guelph scoured the DNA in a number of herbal products, they found that many times the labels on the merchandise didn't accurately reflect what was in the container.

Some products contained fillers like wheat or rice that were not listed on the label. Some were contaminated with other plant species that could have caused toxicity or triggered allergic reactions. And still others contained no trace of the substance the bottle purported to contain.

"It says ginkgo biloba ... and we didn't find any ginkgo DNA at all in the bottle," said Steve Newmaster, an integrative biology professor at the university who was the first author on the paper.

http://www.therecord.com/news-story...ls-on-herbal-products-not-always-trustworthy/

Next up. Homeopathic medicines don't have any medicine.

 

[Robrob]

The lack of Ginko is what makes it so potent...

 

[Corsair 115]

CBC News articles on subject:

Herbal product contamination 'considerable,' DNA tests find
Natural health products: Do they need tougher regulations?

 

[pakeha]

That's really quite a neat little scam they have going with the fillers!
Celiacs beware.

What's also dangerous is the addition of senna without being labeled.
From the link in the OP

Nearly 60 per cent of the products contained DNA from at least one plant species that wasn't listed on the product label. Some St. John's wort, for instance, contained senna, which can be toxic if taken regularly, Newmaster said, adding senna can cause chronic diarrhea and can damage the colon and the liver.