Post by Roadhog on Nov 23, 2009 20:49:31 GMT 12
Saw this on the stuff website
www.stuff.co.nz/national/health/3090267/Regulator-warns-against-cure-all-products
Medicines regulator Medsafe has compiled a list of 65 overseas websites selling unapproved herbal medicines and is warning New Zealanders to steer clear of the potentially dangerous products.
The products had not been tested for quality, safety or efficacy in New Zealand and had not been approved for distribution, Medsafe compliance manager Derek Fitzgerald said.
Medsafe began an investigation into the websites after complaints from New Zealand and overseas.
All 65 sites were run by internet-based company Gordon's Herbal Research Centre (GHRC), which advertised "cure alls" for various illnesses and medical conditions.
One of the products claimed to cure polycystic kidney disease - for which only symptomatic relief is available.
"It (GHRC) claims that the herbal products had undergone clinical trials conducted under the regulations of the Federal Drug Association and the New Zealand Health Authority," Mr Fitzgerald said.
The websites provided details of a New Zealand postal box and misled consumers about the website's origins, he said.
"Our investigations indicate that all 65 websites are operated from overseas and are a money-making scam."
Mr Fitzgerald said the websites were run by someone in Pakistan.
Purchasing medicines over the internet was potentially dangerous and should be avoided, he said.
"The quality of medicines purchased over the internet cannot be guaranteed and consumers may be exposed to poor quality, counterfeit products that carry serious health risks."
All 65 sites are listed on the Ministry of Health website.
After checking Google I found this:
www.greveton.com/ingredients.html
Cinnamonus Tamala 27.62 mg
Aracylus Pyrethrum 27.62 mg
Myristica Fragrans 27.62 mg
Asparagus Racemosus 27.62 mg
Mercuric Sulphide 27.62 mg
Bombax Malabaricum 27.62 mg
Tamarindus Indica 27.62 mg
Trianthema Portulacastrum 27.62 mg
Celastrus Paniculata 27.62 mg
Hygrophilla Spinosa 27.62 mg
Datura Alba 27.62 mg
Acacia Arabica 69.06 mg
Glycyrrhiza Glabra 34.53 mg
Strychnos Nuxvomica 13.81 mg
Argyreia Speciosa 34.53 mg
Hyoscyamus Niger 13.81 mg
Crocus Sativus 2.76 mg
Cinnamonus Tamala is a poor cousin to the Cinnamon plant we all make use of. It is used for making a poor Cinnamon-type powder, and for tea. It has little value as a plant and less as a spice.
Aracylus Pyrethrum Mount Atlas Daisy. Good for relieving toothaches but little else.
Myristica Fragrans Nutmeg. In minor doses, a handy additive for your food. However, Nutmeg contains myristicin, a weak monoamine oxidase inhibitor. Myristicin poisoning can induce convulsions, palpitations, nausea, eventual dehydration, and generalized body pain. It is also reputed to be a strong deliriant.
Asparagus Racemosus A Himalayan plant that is reputed to be an aphrodysiac, although no conclusive proof exists. (Tho why you would want more lead in your pencil if Cancer is the problem is anyone's guess).
Mercuric Sulphide Red Murcury or Mercury ore. DEADLY!!!!
Bombax Malabaricum Cotton tree... usefull scource of cotton-like fibres. Decorative, yet usefull for bugger-all else.
Tamarindus Indica Tamarind trees provide a fruit that can be made into jams, and have been used for all sorts of other stuff (like furniture). The fruit and leaves have been used with some success in fighting off a myriad of bugs and diseases.
Trianthema Portulacastrum A distant cousin to the magnolia. A noxious weed in NSW and Queensland. Non toxic.
Celastrus Paniculata A herb who's berries are reputed to enhance the brain. I'm sure that if they actually did, the plant would be more well know. Seeds need to be boiled or the toxicity will make the user very sick.
Hygrophilla Spinosa A plant which can be used as a diuretic and aphrodisiac (crack a fat whilst shitting). Not sure how that works...
Datura Alba Due to the potent combination of anticholinergic substances it contains, Datura intoxication typically produces effects similar to that of an anticholinergic delirium: a complete inability to differentiate reality from fantasy (delirium, as contrasted to hallucination); hyperthermia; tachycardia; bizarre, and possibly violent behavior; and severe mydriasis with resultant painful photophobia that can last several days. Pronounced amnesia is another commonly reported effect.
Wow! Must be a class A drug, surely!
Acacia Arabica Arabian Gum Tree. Has a record for being a rather handy natural fix-it. Noxious weed in Australia (where its spread is likened to gorse here).
Glycyrrhiza Glabra Licourice. The only use in conventional medicine is as a taste disguiser in pills and liquids.
Strychnos Nuxvomica It is a major source of the highly poisonous alkaloids strychnine and brucine, derived from the seeds inside the tree's round, green to orange fruit. The seeds contain approximately 1.5% strychnine, and the dried blossoms contain 1.023%. However, the tree's bark also contains poisonous compounds, including brucine.
Argyreia Speciosa Hawaiian Baby Woodrose. Also known as Elephant Creeper and Woolly Morning Glory. The only ingestible parts are the seeds and these give off a powerfull hallucinagenic effect as well as symptoms similar to cyanide poisoning.
Hyoscyamus Niger Henbane, also known as Stinking Nightshade. A relative of Deadly Nightshade, it has hallucinogenic and anaesthetic properties. It is also extremely toxic!!
In 1910, an American homeopathic doctor living in London, Hawley Harvey Crippen, allegedly used scopolamine, an alkaloid extracted from Henbane, to poison his wife.
Crocus Sativus Saffron. A herb used as a colouring and flavouring agent. Said to taste a bit like hay.
I think I'll stick to Asprin...
www.stuff.co.nz/national/health/3090267/Regulator-warns-against-cure-all-products
Medicines regulator Medsafe has compiled a list of 65 overseas websites selling unapproved herbal medicines and is warning New Zealanders to steer clear of the potentially dangerous products.
The products had not been tested for quality, safety or efficacy in New Zealand and had not been approved for distribution, Medsafe compliance manager Derek Fitzgerald said.
Medsafe began an investigation into the websites after complaints from New Zealand and overseas.
All 65 sites were run by internet-based company Gordon's Herbal Research Centre (GHRC), which advertised "cure alls" for various illnesses and medical conditions.
One of the products claimed to cure polycystic kidney disease - for which only symptomatic relief is available.
"It (GHRC) claims that the herbal products had undergone clinical trials conducted under the regulations of the Federal Drug Association and the New Zealand Health Authority," Mr Fitzgerald said.
The websites provided details of a New Zealand postal box and misled consumers about the website's origins, he said.
"Our investigations indicate that all 65 websites are operated from overseas and are a money-making scam."
Mr Fitzgerald said the websites were run by someone in Pakistan.
Purchasing medicines over the internet was potentially dangerous and should be avoided, he said.
"The quality of medicines purchased over the internet cannot be guaranteed and consumers may be exposed to poor quality, counterfeit products that carry serious health risks."
All 65 sites are listed on the Ministry of Health website.
After checking Google I found this:
www.greveton.com/ingredients.html
Cinnamonus Tamala 27.62 mg
Aracylus Pyrethrum 27.62 mg
Myristica Fragrans 27.62 mg
Asparagus Racemosus 27.62 mg
Mercuric Sulphide 27.62 mg
Bombax Malabaricum 27.62 mg
Tamarindus Indica 27.62 mg
Trianthema Portulacastrum 27.62 mg
Celastrus Paniculata 27.62 mg
Hygrophilla Spinosa 27.62 mg
Datura Alba 27.62 mg
Acacia Arabica 69.06 mg
Glycyrrhiza Glabra 34.53 mg
Strychnos Nuxvomica 13.81 mg
Argyreia Speciosa 34.53 mg
Hyoscyamus Niger 13.81 mg
Crocus Sativus 2.76 mg
Cinnamonus Tamala is a poor cousin to the Cinnamon plant we all make use of. It is used for making a poor Cinnamon-type powder, and for tea. It has little value as a plant and less as a spice.
Aracylus Pyrethrum Mount Atlas Daisy. Good for relieving toothaches but little else.
Myristica Fragrans Nutmeg. In minor doses, a handy additive for your food. However, Nutmeg contains myristicin, a weak monoamine oxidase inhibitor. Myristicin poisoning can induce convulsions, palpitations, nausea, eventual dehydration, and generalized body pain. It is also reputed to be a strong deliriant.
Asparagus Racemosus A Himalayan plant that is reputed to be an aphrodysiac, although no conclusive proof exists. (Tho why you would want more lead in your pencil if Cancer is the problem is anyone's guess).
Mercuric Sulphide Red Murcury or Mercury ore. DEADLY!!!!
Bombax Malabaricum Cotton tree... usefull scource of cotton-like fibres. Decorative, yet usefull for bugger-all else.
Tamarindus Indica Tamarind trees provide a fruit that can be made into jams, and have been used for all sorts of other stuff (like furniture). The fruit and leaves have been used with some success in fighting off a myriad of bugs and diseases.
Trianthema Portulacastrum A distant cousin to the magnolia. A noxious weed in NSW and Queensland. Non toxic.
Celastrus Paniculata A herb who's berries are reputed to enhance the brain. I'm sure that if they actually did, the plant would be more well know. Seeds need to be boiled or the toxicity will make the user very sick.
Hygrophilla Spinosa A plant which can be used as a diuretic and aphrodisiac (crack a fat whilst shitting). Not sure how that works...
Datura Alba Due to the potent combination of anticholinergic substances it contains, Datura intoxication typically produces effects similar to that of an anticholinergic delirium: a complete inability to differentiate reality from fantasy (delirium, as contrasted to hallucination); hyperthermia; tachycardia; bizarre, and possibly violent behavior; and severe mydriasis with resultant painful photophobia that can last several days. Pronounced amnesia is another commonly reported effect.
Wow! Must be a class A drug, surely!
Acacia Arabica Arabian Gum Tree. Has a record for being a rather handy natural fix-it. Noxious weed in Australia (where its spread is likened to gorse here).
Glycyrrhiza Glabra Licourice. The only use in conventional medicine is as a taste disguiser in pills and liquids.
Strychnos Nuxvomica It is a major source of the highly poisonous alkaloids strychnine and brucine, derived from the seeds inside the tree's round, green to orange fruit. The seeds contain approximately 1.5% strychnine, and the dried blossoms contain 1.023%. However, the tree's bark also contains poisonous compounds, including brucine.
Argyreia Speciosa Hawaiian Baby Woodrose. Also known as Elephant Creeper and Woolly Morning Glory. The only ingestible parts are the seeds and these give off a powerfull hallucinagenic effect as well as symptoms similar to cyanide poisoning.
Hyoscyamus Niger Henbane, also known as Stinking Nightshade. A relative of Deadly Nightshade, it has hallucinogenic and anaesthetic properties. It is also extremely toxic!!
In 1910, an American homeopathic doctor living in London, Hawley Harvey Crippen, allegedly used scopolamine, an alkaloid extracted from Henbane, to poison his wife.
Crocus Sativus Saffron. A herb used as a colouring and flavouring agent. Said to taste a bit like hay.
I think I'll stick to Asprin...
