Dose Of Danger
"You're told they are safe and they're natural," said Bev Hames, a Portland resident.
But she says the herbal supplements she took nearly killed her.
"The supplements put me in kidney failure," she said.
Her health crisis started 12 years ago when she injured her back doing housework. Instead of surgery, she went to two Portland area acupuncturists. They suggested she take herbal supplements -- 12 different kinds.
She couldn't read the Chinese labels, but she assumed they were safe and would help with pain and heal her muscles.
After taking them for a year, Bev was horribly sick and that's when her kidneys failed.
"I was asking, 'Why? Why did I go into renal failure? Why? I had no reason to lose my kidneys,' " said Bev.
Her doctor's theory: it was Bev's supplements. He sent samples to the FDA and their tests proved his theory: five of 12 contained Aristolochic Acid.
The World Health Organization says it's potentially cancer-causing and known to cause kidney failure, even death. It's banned in 10 countries, but not the U.S.
"Just because a product has been used for a thousand years or more is not necessarily a guarantee of its safety," said Chuck Bell of the Consumers Union which publishes 'Consumer Reports'.
A new study uncovered what the magazine calls 'the dirty dozen' of potentially dangerous supplements. Aristolochic Acid tops the list. Consumer Reports warn: stay away from 12 supplements.
The magazine says the top half, under the 'Definitely Hazardous' and 'Very Likely Hazardous' categories could potentially cause cancer, kidney or liver problems. Five are banned in other countries.
"So where is the U.S. government? Where is the Congress?" said Chuck Bell.
The FDA does require extensive testing of prescription drugs. But not supplements. No safety tests nor special labeling is required, nor is there any requirement to report health problems.
There are 30,000 supplements on the market and some 1,000 new ones pop up every year.
"It takes a while to come up with the evidence to prove the product is unsafe, to get it off the market," said Stephanie McGill of the Seattle FDA office.
The only supplement the FDA bans is Ephedra. But it has warned consumers about these herbs: Comfrey, Kava, and Chaparral, the popular sports supplement Andro, and Aristolochic acid.
The herbs Bev took were manufactured 15 years ago. Subhuti Dharmananda, of Portland's Institute of Traditional Medicine sold Bev her supplements. He says he's stopped buying those herbs containing Aristolochic Acid three years ago.
"Aristolochic acid won't be found in any of the stores; you won't get it from any of the practitioners who prescribe herbs," said Dharmananda.
But you can find them online. We did and it was easy. We found the same supplements Bev took 11 years ago -- the same ones the FDA and Consumer Reports warns about today. They cost $5 a bottle.
We also had no trouble finding other supplements on the 'dirty dozen' at stores right here in our neighborhoods. We went into half a dozen stores undercover and found: Kava, Comfrey, Chaparral.
"It makes me angry it makes me very angry. It's out there," said Bev.
Chuck Bell of the Consumers Union adds, "If you don't know what you're taking in a dietary supplement, put the bottle aside. Don't take it." He says, talk to your doctor first.
Bev wishes she had. After a year of dialysis, Bev got a kidney transplant. She's had no sign of rejection, but her life will never be the same.
For More Information:
The report -- www.consumerreports.org
The Consumers Union -- www.consumersunion.org
The Consumer Reports -- www.consumerreports.org