Snake oil supplements and herbal medicines contain drugs, nuts and animal byproducts

Shocking new research reveals widely available supplements, pills and herbal medicines — marketed as pure, healthy and safe — are contaminated with drugs, stimulants and toxins or traces of animal products.

Half of all supposedly natural supplements and herbal remedies for diet and heart health contain drugs like paracetamol and antihistamines, stimulants, toxins, potentially deadly allergens or have animal traces.

Shocking new research reveals widely available supplements, pills and herbal medicines — marketed as pure, healthy and safe — are often contaminated with nuts and wheat, which are not listed on the packaging, and DNA from animals including reindeer, shrew and frog.

Of the 135 ‘natural’ products tested as part of a major research study by three Australian universities, nearly 50 per cent “had contamination issues, in terms of DNA, chemical composition or both”.

Biochemist Dr Garth Maker biochemist says what was found in the supplements and herbal medicines tested was shocking.

DNA testing revealed bird cartilage had been used instead of shark cartilage in some supplements and Neem oil — commonly used as a pesticide — in others.

“Only 21 per cent of the tested products were able to have at least one ingredient corroborated by DNA sequencing,” the report, by Murdoch, Curtin and Adelaide universities, states.

Use of herbal medicines and supplements to prevent or treat disease — particularly chronic conditions — is increasing, the report says.

And contaminated herbal medicines or dietary supplements pose a serious health risk to consumers, including the risk of overdose and dangerous drug-herb interactions.

Murdoch University biochemist Dr Garth Maker said the pills, capsules, powders, medicines and teas tested in the study were purchased mostly from pharmacies and health food shops.

Some were well-known and popular brands.

The latest study was an extension of earlier research by the universities, including one study which showed 49 per cent of herbal sleeping aids did not list all ingredients on the labels and another which showed DNA from endangered species was sometimes present in natural remedies, Dr Maker said.

This study, which had just been released, focused on supplements and other “natural” health products marketed for dietary purposes, weight loss and cardiovascular health.

DNA testing revealed bird cartilage had been used instead of shark cartilage in some supplements and Neem oil — commonly used as a pesticide — in others.

“Here we have the presence of potential pharmaceutical contaminants — things like paracetamol and antihistamines — which we believe are being added to provide a specific effect,” he said. “One of the biggest worries for me is that we found DNA from nuts, so there are obviously allergy concerns there if there are traces of nuts which are not disclosed in the packaging. We also found the presence of wheat, undisclosed, which is a concern for people with coeliac disease. There was also DNA from some rather unusual animal species.”

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Dr Maker said the adulteration and contamination of so many of the tested products with drugs and allergens — and the lack of disclosure of ingredients — showed “a flagrant disregard” for Australian regulations.

“These sort of issues are unfortunately all too common in this (natural medicine and supplements) space,”he said.

The Therapeutic Goods Association (TGA), which is responsible for overseeing the use and safety of herbal as well as mainstream medicines, said it welcomed the new research.

The study would help inform the Government’s ongoing evaluation of laws governing complementary medicines, which included herbal supplements, a spokesman said.

Victorian Health Minister Jenny Mikakos said when it came to health, patients should always listen to trusted medical professionals, and resist self-diagnosis.

“If people want to take a course of herbal medicine, they should always do so in conjunction with their clinician,” she said.

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