Warning over use of fraud turmeric in back pains

Staff
A report issued by the drugs control laboratory in the Ministry of Health stated that some herbal products are manufactured or packed in unqualified places and with unhealthy devices or tools. Such unofficial drugs contain chemical substances that are harmful to human health.

Dr. Amin Hussein Al Amiri, Assistant Undersecretary for Medical Practices and Licensing at the Ministry of Health, emphasised that these chemical additives come from unknown sources and do not carry any quality resources or validity dates. They are also added with other herbal substances; packed in very primitive devices and under uncontrolled humid conditions and temperatures that can lead to their decay into more toxic and harmful materials.

Dr. Al Amiri emphasised that some herbal products contain undeclared packaging materials that could lead to the interference of other drugs that are used to treat other diseases.

"The drugs control laboratory in the Ministry of Health checked a sample of turmeric powder, which is used by some individuals for the treatment of knee and back pain, brought from Asian countries. The laboratory discovered that the fraudulent product contains piroxicam and paracetamol as well as other unknown substances that are harmful to the human health," he elaborated.

Dr. Al Amiri added that such anti-inflammatory and non-steroid substances such as piroxicam may lead to myocardial infarction and strokes in addition to high blood pressure. Therefore, patients who suffer from high blood pressure must be very careful when using such products.

"Patients who suffer from asthma or allergic to aspirin should not use this kind of medicine. Additionally, products containing piroxicam should not be used as a pain killer for patients who conducted coronary arteries transplants. Such medicines must not be traded or distributed without unauthorised medical prescriptions, he concluded.