Hazardous Products: Dietary Supplements and Remedies
Certain dietary supplements or traditional health remedies may be harmful because they contain dangerous chemicals or high levels of heavy metals, such as lead, mercury or arsenic. These ingredients are not always listed on the product label, so it can be difficult to tell the difference between safe and dangerous products.
Supplements and Remedies Containing Harmful Metals
You should not use any products known to contain lead, arsenic or mercury. Listed below are some supplements that have been found to contain high levels of harmful metals. These include medications prescribed or purchased over‐the‐counter in the United States or abroad.
If you use or have used these or similar products, ask your doctor to test you for lead and other heavy metals.
Products Made in India
| Name | Manufacturer |
|---|---|
| Abhrak Bhasma | Shree Baidyanath Ayurved Bhawan (P) |
| Agnitundi Bati | Shree Baidyanath Ayurved Bhawan (P) |
| Arogyavardhini Bati | Shree Baidyanath Ayurved Bhawan (P) |
| Arogyawardhini Bati (Enriched with Shilajeet and Kutki) | Shree Baidyanath Ayurved Bhawan (P) |
| Arshoghni Bati | Shree Baidyanath Ayurved Bhawan (P) |
| Ayurvedic mixture (Amruth B.R. Rasayana, Amruth R.C. Ghruta, Amruth Vajikarna powder | Amruth Ayurvedic Centre |
| Brahmi Bati (Buddhi Vardhak) | Shree Baidyanath Ayurved Bhawan (P) |
| Brihadwata Chintamani (Bhi.Ra) | Kumar Ayurvedic Drugs |
| Chandraprabah | Jaihind Pharmacy |
| Chandraprabha Bati (Enriched with Loha and Shilajeet) | Shree Baidyanath Ayurved Bhawan (P) |
| Chandraprabha Vati (B.R.) | Divya Pharmacy |
| Chandraprabha Vati (with Shudh Shilajeet) | Maharishi Ayurveda Products |
| Chitrakadi Bati | Shree Baidyanath Ayurved Bhawan (P) |
| Chitrakadi Bati (Yavachar and Hing) | Shree Baidyanath Ayurved Bhawan (P) |
| Dehshuddhi | Amit Pharmacy |
| Dhanwanthari Gulika | Ashtavaidyan Thaikkattu Mooss Vaidyaratnam Oushad |
| Gaisantak Bati | Shree Baidyanath Ayurved Bhawan (P) |
| Garbha Chintamani Ras (Vrihat) (Swarna Yukt) | Shree Baidyanath Ayurved Bhawan (P) |
| Garbha Dharak Yog | Vyas Pharmaceuticals |
| Garbhapal Ras | Shri Vishwamitra Ayurved Pharmaceuticals |
| Gita Madhumehantak Vati | Gita Bhawan Ayurved Sansthan |
| Jambrulin | Unjha Ayurvedic Pharmacy |
| Kaishore Guggulu | Shree Baidyanath Ayurved Bhawan (P) |
| Kankayan Bati (Gulma) | Shree Baidyanath Ayurved Bhawan (P) |
| Kanyalohadi Vati | Shri Yash Remedies |
| Lakshmivilash Ras (Nardiya) | Shree Baidyanath Ayurved Bhawan (P) |
| Laxmana Louh | Vyas Pharmaceuticals |
| Laxmi Vilas Ras (Nardiya) | Dabur |
| Leaf Care Piloss Cap | Goodcare Pharma Pvt. Ltd./Baidyanath |
| Madhunashini Vati | Divya Pharmacy |
| Maha Sudarshan | Arya Aushadhi Pharmaceutical Works |
| Mahadhanwantaram Gulika (Garbharakshini) | Arya Vaidya Sala |
| Mahashakti Rasayan | Vyas Pharmaceuticals |
| Mahasudarshan | Shree Baidyanath Ayurved Bhawan (P) |
| Mahayogaraj Guggulu (enriched with silver) | Shree Baidyanath Ayurved Bhawan (P) |
| Manasamitra Vatakam | Amrita Drugs |
| Manmath Ras | Shree Baidyanath Ayurved Bhawan (P) |
| Marichyadi Bati | Shree Baidyanath Ayurved Bhawan (P) |
| Ovarin | Ban Labs |
| Pigmento | Charak Pharma |
| Praval Pishti | Rashtriya Ayurvedic Oushadhi Nirmanshala |
| Pregnita | Ajmera Pharmaceuticals |
| Puspadhanwa Ras | Shree Baidyanath Ayurved Bhawan (P) |
| Pylin Capsules | Hindustan Biosynth Limited |
| Rajahpravartini Bati | Shree Baidyanath Ayurved Bhawan (P) |
| Rajahprawartini Bati (Enriched with Hera Bola and Alua) | Shree Baidyanath Ayurved Bhawan (P) |
| Rajbati (Gandhak Bati) (Enriched with Gandhak and Sonth) | Shree Baidyanath Ayurved Bhawan (P) |
| Rasraj Ras (with Gold) | Shree Baidyanath Ayurved Bhawan (P) |
| Sanjeevni Vati | Divya Pharmacy |
| Saptamrit Lauh (Enriched with Mulethi and Lauh) | Shree Baidyanath Ayurved Bhawan (P) |
| Sariwadi Bati | Shree Baidyanath Ayurved Bhawan (P) |
| Shankh Bati | Shree Baidyanath Ayurved Bhawan (P) |
| Shilajeet Rasyan | Divya Pharmacy |
| Shukramatrika Bati | Shree Baidyanath Ayurved Bhawan (P) |
| Sorin | Research Drugs & Pharmaceuticals |
| Sudarshan Churna (Maha) | Dabur India Limited |
| Swarna Malini Vasant | Amrita Drugs |
| Swarnamahayoga | Om Pharmaceuticals |
| Trishun | Zandu |
| Vasant Kusumaker Ras with Gold and Pearl | Dabur India |
| Vatvidhwansan Ras | Shree Baidyanath Ayurved Bhawan (P) |
| Zunda Hazma Pachak Churna | Falcon System of Ayurvedic Products |
Products Made in China
| Name | Manufacturer |
|---|---|
| Wei De An | Mei Feng Pharmaceutical Factory |
| Liu Shen Wan | Shanghai Lei Yun Shang Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd. |
| Uri Tract Care (606 Xian Yan Capsule) | Guangzhoushi Guangxingtang Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. |
| Yunnan Paiyao | Yun Nan Palyao Group Co., Ltd. |
| Tongren Wuji Baifeng Wan | Tongrentang Pharmaceutical Factory of Beijing Tongrentang Co., Ltd. |
| Emperor’s Tea Pill (concentrated) | Lanzhou Traditional Herbs |
| Golden Lily Yinqiao Tablet | Anhui Dongshengyoubang Pharmaceutical Company, Limited |
| Gu E Tom Pearl Powder | Supervise by Yuen Fong Company (HK) |
| Hepatico Extract (concentrated) Lot No. 040804, expiration date August 2009; Lot No. 100105, expiration date January 2010; Lot No. 110604, expiration date June 2009 | Lanzhou Traditional Herbs |
| KGS Safflower and Cassia Combo (Gastric Health Tablets) (Wei Tong Ding) Herbal Supplement | Guangzhou Baiyunshan Guanghua Pharmaceutical Company, Limited |
| Sine Anticancerlin | Shanghai Sine Jiahua Pharmaceutical Company, Limited |
| Women Formula (Jinji Pian) Gynecology Care Dietary Supplement | Guangdong Yihetang Pharmaceutical Company, Limited |
Products Made in Hong Kong
| Name | Manufacturer |
|---|---|
| Yuen Kut Lam’s Kam Wo Char | Product of Hong Kong |
| Bo Ying Compound | Eu Yan Sang (Hong Kong) |
Products Made in Mexico or the Dominican Republic
| Name | Manufacturer |
|---|---|
Litargirio
| N/A |
| Tierra Santa or Panito del Señor | N/A |
Products Made in the United States
| Name | Manufacturer |
|---|---|
| Vita Breath | American Herbal Laboratories |
Products Made in Thailand
| Name | Manufacturer |
|---|---|
| Lee Buan Soa Pill (Fishing Brand) | Lee Buan Soa Dispensary (Hangkao) Co., Ltd. |
Products Made in West Africa
| Name | Manufacturer |
|---|---|
| Nzu/Calabash Chalk (also known as Calabash Clay, Nzu Poto, Calabar Stone, Ndom, Mabele, Argile and La Craie)
| N/A |
Other Hazardous Supplements and Remedies
The following products may contain harmful ingredients other than heavy metals.
Products With Other Harmful Ingredients
| Name | Manufacturer |
|---|---|
Camphor
|
N/A (may vary) |
Cordial de Monell para la Dentición
|
Monell |
| Piedra | N/A |
Additional Resources
- Traditional Chinese Medicine Warning Sign (PDF)
- Lead in Medicine (PDF)
Other Languages: Español | 中文 | 简体中文 | বাংলা | اردو | हिन्दी - Brochure: South Asians and Lead Poisoning (PDF)
Other Languages: বাংলা | हिन्दी | اردو - Harmful Product Images and Frequently Asked Questions (PDF)
- Imported Herbal Medicine Products Known to Contain Lead, Mercury, or Arsenic (PDF)
- Publications and Alerts for Providers About Hazardous Supplements or Remedies (PDF)