[escepticos] RV: loose weigth and more with Chinese herbs

[planetario@...>]

-----Original Message-----
De: W. Betz <wbetzhome en skynet.be>

Fecha: domingo 31 de mayo de 1998 0:24
Asunto: loose weigth and more with Chinese herbs


>To all international readers:
>The following message I sent to the USA healthfraud forum, asking for
>observations in other countries.
>I am asking you to use channels in your country, preferably nephrologists,
>to find out if more cases of "unexplained kidney faulure" exist.
>Thanks for your help
>Wim
>
>In Belgium a trial is starting against doctors, pharmacists and importers
>of chinese herbs.
>In 1990-91, some 100 women were diagnosed with total destruction of their
>kidneys through irreversible interstitial fibrosis.
>They were all traced to a group practice of "alternative" doctors who had
>prescribed them medicinal cocktails containing Chinese herbs. The
>prescriptions contained Stephania Tetranda, Magnolia Officinalis and also
>phen-fen (not confirmed).
>St Tetranda is called in Chinese: Fan Ji.
>In some batches the Chinese had replaced Fan-Ji by Fangchi = Aristolochia,
>that belongs to the same pharmacological family (to be verified by someone
>more skilled in the herbs field)
>Aristolochia (=Calico Flower ?) contains aristolochic acid that is very
>nefrotoxic and also very cancerogen.
>Some 2000 people got similar prescriptions, 5% of them got destroyed
kidneys.
>The first dialysis started in 1991, some 80 still are in dialysis or got
>transplants.
>The problem does not end there. Several were later diagnosed with cancers
>of the urinary tract, even though their kidneys were removed. More will
>follow, several diagnoses were made of precancerous cells in the urine.
>Transplants had to be removed for this reason. How many more cancers will
>follow.
>Also 1/3 was diagnosed with aortic insufficiency (due to phen-fen? Now
>forbidden)
>Who will be declared guilty?
>The doctors who presribed the herbs for weight loss, although this is not
>a recognized indication here nor in China
>The national pharmaceutical inspection that failed in the registration of
>the basic products imported.
>The importer who failed to do the registration and consistency controls
>required by law, and made their clients believe they were done.
>The farmacists who failed to check that the consistency controls and
>registration were done.
>All of them are trying to shove the blame on the others.
>I heard that in France too there are now some cases detected.
>
>Any cases in the USA ?
>
>Advice of the day: Live healthy, take only natural products.
>Willem Betz
>Private: Kanadezenlaan, 75
>B-2920 Kalmthout, Belgium
>phone/fax:++32/3/666.52.61
>email home: wbetzhome en skynet.be
>Office:
>Laarbeeklaan, 103
>B-1090 Brussels, Belgium
>tel: +32/2/477.43.11
>fax:+32/2/477.43.01
>email office: wbetz en huis.vub.ac.be
>