THE Victorian Department of Health has issued a warning about lead and other heavy metals in Ayurvedic medicines.
The Department continues to receive notifications of lead poisoning resulting from contaminated imported products, with some also containing other heavy metals, such as mercury and arsenic, or other ingredients that are scheduled poisons.
The department said some of these ingredients are prohibited for supply and use in Australia because they pose a danger to human health.
Some groups, including children or pregnant women, may be at higher risk.
An 'AUST R' or 'AUST L' number on the packaging of products indicates that they are safe and can be legally supplied in Australia.
Ayurvedic medicines purchased or imported from overseas, or purchased within Australia where the product does not have this number, may carry a risk to health.
The department recommends that people avoid buying and stop taking Ayurvedic medicines that do not have an 'AUST R' or 'AUST L' on the packaging.
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