Ayurvedic medication causes lead poisoning

The New Zealand Medical Journal has reported what is thought to be the first case in NZ of lead poisoning from Indian herbal medicines.

A 51-year-old woman was treated at Christchurch Hospital for vomiting and abdominal pain after taking traditional Ayurvedic medications acquired in India.

Christchurch physician Anne Roche said she found lead levels in the woman's blood were nearly 10 times higher than normal. Lead was thought to improve the medicines' shelf-life.