Toxic substances in overseas herbal remedies linked to tourist deaths

“There is a possibility that harmful materials found in herbal medicines are either contributing to, or causing, deaths of overseas travellers,” said Professor Roger Byard from the University of Adelaide.

Studies have found some herbal remedies have been adulterated with approved or banned drugs and even toxic heavy metals. Adulterants have been linked to a range of side effects of varying severity including hypertension, heart problems, psychiatric disorders and in some instances death.

“These factors should be considered in all medical and legal cases involving recent overseas travel, particularly to Asian destinations,” Dr Byard said.

As part of health and wellness tourism, western travellers to Asian countries often visit herbal centres where free health checks are offered. Herbal products are sold offering hope to a growing number of people looking for a cure for their health problems.

“This type of health tourism is based upon learning about and consuming traditional medicinal herbs and is an important part of the worldwide medical tourism industry,” Dr Byard said.

“Patients wrongly believe that they are being treated without using harmful chemicals or drugs.

“The composition of many of these products is uncertain, there may be contaminants and pharmaceutical additives, and their interaction with prescription medications is unpredictable.”

Dr Byard is calling for closer checks during post-mortems for the presence of drugs and adulterants that originate from herbal remedies.

“Forensic facilities may be missing the presence of harmful or toxic substances when carrying out post-mortem assessments, not because the substances aren’t there but because pathologists may not be looking for them,” he said.