Benzylpiperazine (PEP) Pills Dangerous And Illegal

The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) has warned today that selling BZP pills, containing benzylpiperazine, is illegal and vendors may face prosecution.

Producers and sellers frequently claim that BZP is a “natural” product, describing it as a “pepper extract” or “legal or herbal high”. However, the drug is entirely synthetic, not occurring naturally in any plants.

BZP can result in agitation, vomiting, abdominal pain, seizures, abnormal heart rhythms, colic, diarrhoea, allergic reactions and fever. In rare cases, users may suffer from serotonin syndrome, which can result in death.

Experimental studies demonstrate that the abuse, dependence potential, pharmacology, and toxicology of BZP are similar to those of amphetamine.

Danny Lee-Frost, Head of Operations at the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency said:
“Producers and sellers must now stop marketing all products containing BENZYLPIPERAZINE and “PIPERAZINE BLEND” in the UK with immediate effect and must cancel all advertising and promotion including internet promotion and sales. People should not take these pills as there are considerable health risks.” There are piperazine containing medicines for human use which must be sold in pharmacies. Any other pills containing piperazine or its salts or derivatives would be classified as unlicensed as there are no safeguards in relation to the safety, quality or efficacy of the pills.

– Benzylpiperazine is marketed under various names depending on the country. These include: BZP, Pep, Pep Love, Pep Twisted, Pep Stoned, A2, Legal E/ Legal X Frenzy, Nemesis, ESP, Cosmic Kelly, Charlie, The Good Stuff, Exodus, Frenzy, Rapture, Charge, Blast and Euphoria.

– BZP pills can come in many shapes or forms. The pills are sometimes encountered as a red, blue, pink, white, off-white, purple, orange, tan, and mottled orange-brown pills. These tablets can bear imprints such as a housefly, crown, heart, butterfly, smiley face or bull’s head logo, and are often sold as “ecstasy”. BZP has also been found in powder or liquid form packaged in small convenient sizes sold on the Internet.

– The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) is the government agency responsible for ensuring that medicines and medical devices work, and are acceptably safe. No product is risk-free. Underpinning all our work lie robust and fact-based judgements to ensure that the benefits to patients and the public justify the risks. We keep watch over medicines and devices, and take any necessary action to protect the public promptly if there is a problem.

– If an individual is convicted of offences under the Medicines Act 1968, they can be sentenced to a maximum of two years imprisonment and/or an unlimited fine. Where appropriate the MHRA will use the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 to determine whether or not benefits were accrued through criminal activity and will recoup illicit earnings if the individual is found guilty.

http://www.mhra.gov.uk

New Campaign Goes ‘Back To Basics’ To Beat Baby Blues

Monday 28th May: a national campaign launches today to bring back the humble coffee morning as a simple and effective way to provide support to new mothers at a time when they’re most susceptible to the baby blues.

Fronted by TV presenter and mother-of-two, Kaye Adams, and backed by the charity Cry-Sis and Colief Infant Drops, the ‘A Problem Shared’ campaign calls on today’s generation of mums to revive the coffee morning. The Campaign also hopes to get health visitors, who provide vital support to new mums, to champion the benefits of coffee mornings during their visits.

A recent survey* found that loneliness, lack of sleep and dealing with a crying baby are the hardest things to cope with for new mums, and that nearly half suffer due to a lack of adult interaction in the first few months following the birth of their child.

Often dismissed as idle chit-chat or time-wasting, the coffee morning is a vital source of support for new mums and an effective and natural alternative to resorting to modern-day medicines such as sleeping pills and anti-depressants.

Elsie Matthewman, Chair of Cry-sis, the charity for parents with excessively crying babies commented:

“Today, many women’s social networks are formed around work so maternity leave can be a barrier to established sources of support – many find themselves living miles away from family and friends because of their job so being part of a community is harder than ever before. A coffee morning provides an ideal opportunity to share problems, such as dealing with a crying baby, feeding difficulties or lack of sleep, and to help relieve tensions.”

Jane Terry, a Health Visitor added:

“Peer support has been found to be an effective way of helping families, this is why I felt it was important to contribute to the A Problem Shared Campaign leaflet ‘Your Baby’s First Weeks’.”

As with many practical and profound solutions, the idea itself is very simple. A Problem Shared campaign web site, www.problemshared.info, has been set up to help parents set up a coffee morning in their local area.

Mary Buckley, developer of Colief Infant Drops explains. “We wanted to support the campaign after receiving a large number of calls to our helpline from distressed new mothers asking for help and advice on areas from calming crying babies and expressing milk to finding other people to talk to locally.”

Bringing the Campaign to the Nation:

– We have case studies of women who found a way out of being frightened, alone and out-of-their-depth by setting up their own coffee mornings
– We can arrange for press/photography visits to see a coffee morning in action
– We have expert comment from Elsie Matthewman, chair of Cry-sis
– Coffee morning start-up kits and campaign information are available at www.problemshared.info
• A FREE expert ‘Guide To Your Baby’s First Weeks’ can also be ordered or downloaded from the site

The campaign is sponsored by Colief Infant Drops. When babies show symptoms of colic, ruling out milk sensitivity is one of the first recommended steps. Colief Infant Drops contain the naturally-occurring enzyme lactase, which when added to the babies ‘usual milk’ (whether breast fed or formula), breaks down most of the lactose and makes the feed more easily digestible.

General Osteopathic Council Refutes Statement That Spinal Manipulation Does Not Work

Spinal manipulation is but one potential element of the osteopathic treatment package, which also includes guidance on lifestyle, diet and exercise.

A large proportion of patients visit osteopaths for help with back pain including low back pain, neck pain and headaches. All recent scientific research suggests that back pain:

– is rarely a simple problem.
– is influenced by psychological and social factors.
– requires treatment tailored to the patient’s needs.

Research is a high priority within the osteopathic profession and new research is always welcomed by the General Osteopathic Council (GOsC). However, this is a review of research dating back to 2000 and provides no new findings itself. Further, the paper fails to draw on more recent studies. As such, the review is extremely limited, and certainly not helpful to patients or healthcare professionals when making generalisations about osteopathic practice.

Contrary to Professor Ernst’s statement that “� regulation serves as a substitute for research �” the National Council for Osteopathic Research (NCOR) was set up in 2003, following the establishment of the Statutory Register of Osteopaths in 2000. NCOR’s remit is to co-ordinate and develop the evidence-base for osteopathy.

A spokesperson for NCOR said, “A substantial amount of research has been carried out in the last few years, most notably a Medical Research Council (MRC) funded trial on spinal manipulation and exercise therapy for low back pain (UK BEAM trial 2004). This important study provides good evidence to support spinal manipulation for low back pain, particularly when combined with exercise guidance – typical osteopathic management. This suggests that Professor Ernst is out of date with this review.”

In summary, the research design/methodology is not a recognised systematic review, it is limited in terms of scientific value, and the data presented does not support the conclusions made.

This article is in response to:
‘Spinal Manipulation doesn’t work for any condition, new research finds’ Ernst E., Canter P. A systematic review of systematic reviews of spinal manipulation. J R Soc Med 2006;99:189-193

About Osteopathy

– Osteopathy uses many of the diagnostic procedures involved in conventional medical assessment and diagnosis. Its main strength lies in the unique way the patient is assessed holistically from a mechanical, functional and postural standpoint. Treatment is aimed at improving mobility and/or reducing inflammation by using gentle manual osteopathic techniques on joints, muscles and ligaments.

– Patients are given positive advice, related to their lifestyle, about how they use their body. Age is no barrier to osteopathy since each patient is assessed individually and treatment is gentle.

– Osteopaths treat a wide range of conditions, including changes to posture in pregnancy; babies with colic or sleeplessness, repetitive strain injury, postural problems caused by driving or work strain, glue ear in children, the pain of arthritis and sports injuries, amongst others.

Second-hand Smoke Linked To Psychological Problems In Kids

Children whose mothers were exposed to second-hand smoke while they were pregnant have more symptoms of serious psychological problems compared to the offspring of women who had no prenatal exposure to smoke, according to a new University of Washington study.

Writing in the current issue of Child Psychiatry and Human Development, UW psychologists Lisa Gatzke-Kopp and Theodore Beauchaine provide the first evidence linking mothers’ second-hand smoke exposure while pregnant to their children’s attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and conduct disorder. Psychologists call these behaviors externalizing psychopathology and their symptoms include aggressive behavior, ADHD, defiance and conduct disorder, which encompasses truancy, fighting, school failure, breaking rules, substance use, stealing and destruction of property.

The research also supports a 2006 report by the U.S. Surgeon General that found passive smoke exposure poses a substantial risk to the general health of those who breathe the smoke, as well as to the fetuses of pregnant women.

Gatzke-Kopp and Beauchaine compared patterns psychopathology among three groups of 7- to 15-year-old children, all of whom had significant behavioral and/or emotional problems. One group experienced no prenatal smoke exposure. The second was made up of children whose mothers smoked during the final two trimesters of pregnancy. The third consisted of children whose mothers were exposed to second-hand smoke at work or in the home in the last two trimesters during pregnancy. A total of 171 children, primarily boys, and 133 women participated in the project.

The UW researchers found that those children whose mothers had been exposed to tobacco smoke either by smoking or by being around smokers when they were pregnant had more symptoms of ADHD and conduct disorder than children whose mothers spent their pregnancies in a smoke-free environment. However, they did not show more symptoms of emotional disorders such as depression or anxiety.

“This is a matter of severity,” said Gatzke-Kopp, a post-doctoral researcher.

“Children with these disorders have a range of behaviors that stretch from problematic to severe. It is a continuum based on the number of symptoms, and children who were exposed to smoke exhibited more symptoms.”

She and Beauchaine controlled for a number of other factors including family income, parents’ substance use, birth weight and parents’ anti-social behavior, but second-hand exposure to smoking persisted as the primary predictor of conduct disorder and ADHD.

Nicotine, an alkaloid compound in tobacco, is believed to be the chemical that causes these behavior problems in children. Animal studies have shown that nicotine affects brain development during the second and third trimesters of pregnancy, causing changes in brain regions critical to the development of externalizing psychopathology in humans.

“Evidence suggests that the dopamine system in the brain gets over stimulated during pregnancy,” Beauchaine said. Dopamine is a brain chemical that plays an important role in behavior and cognition, among other functions. “

“As a consequence, children who were exposed to smoke in utero have colic and are hard to sooth as infants. As toddlers they are overactive and oppositional. Later on they are irritable, inattentive and low on pleasure.”

Gatzke-Kopp and Beauchaine believe a message needs to be distributed widely that regardless of how women are exposed to tobacco smoke, either directly or second-hand smoke, their unborn children’s behavior can be affected.

Gene Discovered Which Increases Risk Of Gallstones

Scientists at the University of Bonn, together with colleagues from Romania, have discovered a gene variant that significantly increases the risk of developing gallstones (Hepatology No. 46, 11 July 2007, DOI 10.1002/hep.21847). It is estimated that one in ten Europeans has this variant in their hereditary disposition. For those affected, the likelihood of developing a gallstone in the course of their life is two to three times higher. The relevant gene contains the instructions for building a molecular pump which transports cholesterol from the liver into the bile ducts — cholesterol being the substance from which most gallstones are formed. The genetic modification appears to cause this pump to work permanently at high speed. Gallstones are a common disorder: in Germany alone more than 170,000 gallbladder operations a year are performed.

Gallstones occur very frequently, affecting 15 to 20 per cent of all Germans, usually without noticeable symptoms. But in around a quarter of cases the stones will announce their presence at some time in the form of a painful colic. In the end they often have to be operated. “Gallstones are among the gastrointestinal problems that incur the highest treatment costs,” says Professor Dr. Frank Lammert, the Bonn-based specialist for internal medicine.

Gallstones tend to be found at high levels within certain families. In particular, studies of twins provide evidence of a genetic component that boosts risk levels. “We reckon that environmental influences, like the wrong diet, are 70 to 80 per cent responsible for the disorder,” explains Lammert who works in the university hospital’s Department I headed by Professor Dr. Tilman Sauerbruch. “The rest is caused by genes.”

Professor Lammert — working together with his colleagues Dr. Frank Gruenhage, Maja Walier and Professor Dr. Thomas Wienker as well as scientists at the University Clinic of Cluj-Napoca in Romania — has been searching for the specific genes involved. And he has succeeded, thanks to a study covering 178 women and men from 84 families. They all suffer from gallstones. In 21.4 per cent of cases the subjects were found to be carrying a particular gene variant. In healthy individuals studied as a control group, this variant also occurred, but only at a frequency of 8.6 per cent.

Cholesterol pump at full speed

“The mutation concerns what is known as the ABCG8-gene,” Dr. Gruenhage explains. “It contains the instructions for building a pump responsible for transporting the blood lipid cholesterol from the liver into the bile ducts.” Most of the gallstones consist to a high degree of crystallised cholesterol. The medical researcher concludes that, “The genetic alteration probably makes the pump run permanently at high speed.”

The researchers now hope that their finding will have positive consequences for prevention and therapy. Professor Lammert thinks that, “It may be possible for certain patients to be helped with drug treatments in future, thus avoiding the need for an operation.” However, the genetic contribution to the common problem of gallstones has not been fully explained by this study: “We believe there are at least three or four other gene variants that increase gallstone risk,” says the medical scientist.

8 Plants From South Africa May Hold Potential For Treating High Blood Pressure

Medicinal plants are an integral part of African culture, one of the oldest and most diverse in the world. In South Africa, 21st century drug therapy is used side-by-side with traditional African medicines to heal the sick. While plants have been used in African medicine to treat fever, asthma, constipation, esophageal cancer and hypertension, scientific analyses of the purported benefits of many plants is still scant. A team of researchers has now examined the effectiveness of 16 plants growing in the country’s Kwa-Zulu Natal region and concluded that eight plant extracts may hold value for treating high blood pressure (hypertension).

The study, entitled ACE Inhibitor Activity of Nutritive Plants in Kwa-Zulu Natal, was conducted by Irene Mackraj and S. Ramesar, both of the Department of Physiology and Physiological Chemistry; and H. Baijnath, Department of Biological and Conservation Sciences; University of Kwa-Zulu Natal, Durban, South Africa. Dr. Mackraj presented the team’s findings at the 120th annual meeting of the American Physiological Society (APS; http://www.the-aps.org/), held as part of the Experimental Biology (EB ‘07) conference. More than 12,000 scientific researchers attended the gathering held at the Washington, DC Convention Center.

Background and Methodology

Hypertension is treated with medication, including drugs such as angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEI) and angiotensin II receptor blockers (ARB). These drugs not only lower blood pressure but offer additional protection to the brain and heart. ACEI, in particular, provide beneficial properties to patients with type 1 diabetes.

In an effort to identify indigenous plants consumed by the local population in Kwa-Zulu Natal that hold potential antihypertensive properties, the researchers examined 16 plants to identify ACE inhibitor activity. The plants were:

* Amaranthus dubius, a flowering plant also known as spleen amaranth

* Amaranthus hybridus, commonly known as smooth pigweed or slim amaranth

* Amaranthus spinosus, also known as spiny amaranth

* Asystasia gangetica, an ornamental, ground cover known as Chinese violet. Also used in Nigerian folk medicine for the management of asthma.

* Centella asiatica, a small herbaceous annual plant commonly referred to as Asiatic pennywort

* Ceratotheca triloba, a tall annual plant that flowers in summer sometimes referred to as poppy sue

* Chenopodium album, also called lamb’s quarters, this is a weedy annual plant

* Emex australis, commonly known as southern three corner jack

* Galinsoga parviflora, commonly referred to as gallant soldier

* Justicia flava, also known as yellow justicia and taken for coughs and treatment of fevers

* Momordica balsamina, an African herbal traditional medicine also known as the balsam apple

* Oxygonum sinuatum, an invasive weed with no common name

* Physalis viscosa, known as starhair ground cherry

* Senna occidentalis, a very leafy tropical shrub whose seeds have been used in coffee; called septic weed

* Solanum nodiflorum, also known as white nightshade

* Tulbaghia violacea, a bulbous plant with hairless leaves often referred to as society or wild garlic

Dried leaves from the plants were ground and used to prepare organic and acqueous extracts. Ten grams of ground plant material was suspended in either a methanol or distilled water solution for 48 hours. Each solution was subsequently filtered and the filtrate was left to air dry resulting in the specific test compound. ACE activity was determined using a flourimetric method with Hip-His-Leu as a substrate. The fluorescence of the o-phthaldialdehyde was measured to determine the effect of the plant on ACE activity.

Plasma ACE activity was determined using rat plasma. The IC50 of the conventional ACEI, captopril was determined to test the sensitivity of the assay. At least three separate determinations were conducted for each test compound. A tannin test was only conducted on those plant extracts that exhibited over 50 percent ACE inhibition in the initial analysis. The data was subjected to GraphPad Instat (GraphPad Software Inc, San Diego, CA, USA). All values were expressed as mean ± SEM. A probability where p<0.05 was considered significant.

Results: Eight of Sixteen Plants Showed ACEI

Eight of the 16 plants demonstrated ACE inhibition activity. The plants were then subjected to a gelatin salt block test for tannins to eliminate any false positive results. None of the plants tested positive for tannins, hence eliminating any false positive results.

Ultimately, the eight plants that showed significant ACEI activity in both extract forms were: Amaranthus dubius, Amaranthus hybridus, Asystasia gangetica, Galinsoga parviflora, Justicia flava, Oxygonum sinuatum, Physalis viscosa, and Tulbaghia violacea.

The Stand Out “Wild Garlic” (Tulbaghia violacea) Plant

Only one plant — Tulbaghia violacea — showed more than 50 percent inhibition in both extract preparations. These findings are in keeping with those of another group (1999). Further testing has revealed that the plant has promising hypotensive affects. The plant is commonly associated with onions and garlic and highly concentrated in Southern Africa. It is best known as “wild garlic.”

Researchers have recorded (1962) that the plant was pounded into formulations and used by native South Africans to relieve stomach ailments, rheumatism and high fevers. Other researchers found (1966) that native South Africans rubbed the leaves of the plant on the head for sinus headaches and used plant infusions for colic and restlessness in young children. The most direct discovery is the 1993 finding that large doses of popular garlic preparations significantly decreased the diastolic blood pressure in human patients 5-14 hours after the dose with no significant side effects. In addition, wild and cultivated garlic preparations were shown to decrease systolic blood pressure in rats.

Conclusions

In this study Tulbaghia violacea has shown properties related to lowering blood pressure. Since the number of hypertensive individuals around the world is on the rise, it is worthwhile to pursue further studies involving this extract. Yesterday’s folk remedies may one day be just what the 21st century doctor orders.

Colicky Babies And Postpartum Depression

A compelling connection exists between colicky babies and postpartum depression, according to a study conducted by a Brown Medical School professor and Rhode Island Department of Health family health experts.

The study is the first to establish a link between colic and depression using a large sample of demographically diverse women. Results will be presented in May at the Pediatric Academic Societies’ 2006 Annual Meeting in San Francisco. The meeting is the largest academic pediatric gathering in the world.

Pamela High, M.D., served as lead. High is a clinical professor of pediatrics at Brown Medical School and director of developmental-behavioral pediatrics at Hasbro Children’s Hospital. She is also head of the Infant Behavior, Cry and Sleep Program run by the Brown Center for the Study of Children at Risk, which is supported by Women & Infants Hospital of Rhode Island.

The research team also included staff from the Rhode Island Department of Health’s Division of Family Health, who provided data and analytical support. They are Hannah Kim, senior epidemiologist; Samara Viner-Brown, chief of data and evaluation and director of the Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System, or PRAMS; and Rachel Cain, PRAMS coordinator.

High warned that the work does not show a direct cause-and-effect relationship between a fussy baby and a depressed mom. “We can’t say that inconsolability causes depression or that depression causes inconsolability,” High said. “However, we did find a link between the two. And this won’t surprise anyone who knows a mother coping with a fussy baby.”

High directs the Infant Behavior, Cry and Sleep Program – known locally as the Colic Clinic – in Providence. High and other Colic Clinic staff have helped hundreds of families having trouble with their infants’ crying. After conducting an exam and taking a medical history, clinic staffers help new mothers and fathers console their babies, pinpoint the cause of the crying, and take care of their own needs.

A 2005 Brown Medical School study of 93 mothers seen at the Colic Clinic showed that 45 percent reported moderate to severe depressive symptoms. Barry Lester, head of the Brown Center for the Study of Children at Risk, led the study.

“At the clinic, it is not unusual to see mothers who are very tired and sometimes very anxious and depressed,” High said. “Moms are trying hard to understand their child’s needs and meet those needs. Sometimes they feel inadequate when they can’t console their baby.”

The study is based on responses to the Rhode Island PRAMS, an ongoing, confidential survey of women who have recently given birth. The state is one of 32 participating in PRAMS, which is funded by the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and aims to improve the health of new mothers and their babies. Each month, women are randomly chosen to receive the survey, which covers topics such as prenatal care, smoking, and nutrition and breast-feeding.

High is a member of the Rhode Island PRAMS steering committee. The committee was able to choose a few state-specific questions that would be added to the standard survey. The survey already asked about depression. Wondering if there was a connection to colic, High suggested another: “How inconsolable is your baby?”

The new question appeared on Rhode Island’s first PRAMS survey, administered in 2002, and again in 2003. A total of 4,214 new mothers got the questionnaire and 2,927 responded. The majority of mothers were white, married, had household incomes of more than $40,000 per year and had health insurance. Most of their babies were between two and four months of age.

The results: 19 percent of mothers reported moderate to severe symptoms of postpartum depression, and 8 percent reported that their babies were difficult to console. Responses showed a strong connection between the two. Mothers reporting depression were more than twice as likely to report infant inconsolability, and women with inconsolable babies were more than two times as likely to report depression. Even when other variables were controlled – such as age, race and income – the two were closely related.

“Depression and inconsolability are strong predictors of one another,” High said. “One in three women with fussy infants acknowledged that they were depressed.”

Researchers say the study sends a clear message to pediatricians: If you are treating a colicky baby, check on the moms, too. Ask them how they are feeling and if they have support from family and friends. When appropriate, refer women to mental health providers.

“This study is a terrific example of the use of survey data to further our understanding of maternal and child health issues and develop recommendations for improving public health practices,” Viner-Brown said. “It also shows the benefits of partnerships between state governments, universities and hospitals.”

Medicinal Herbs are a Popular Choice in WIC Clinics

Nearly half of the low income, nutritionally-vulnerable Latino children surveyed by Penn State researchers in WIC clinics were treated with herbs by their caregivers for common ills such as diaper rash, colic, teething symptoms, stomachaches, coughs and colds.

Although herb use was higher among the Latinos (48.4 percent), over one-third (31.4 percent) of the non-Latino WIC clients surveyed also used medicinal herbs for childhood illness. The herbs most commonly used were those with relatively low risk for adverse effects, including aloe vera, chamomile, garlic, peppermint, lavender, cranberry, ginger, Echinacea and lemon.

The study is the first to report on herbal use by participants in the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC). WIC helps low-income women, infants and children up to age five by providing vouchers to purchase food, education about healthful eating and referrals to health-care providers.

Dr. Barbara Lohse, associate professor of nutritional sciences who led the study, says, “Nutrition professionals and WIC educators have hesitated to talk about herbs for children because they feared that it would encourage acceptance and, perhaps, cause people to start using them. Our study has shown that more WIC clients than we thought are already using them, mostly in moderate and appropriate ways. However, because some herbal use has the potential to do harm, we urge herbal education in WIC clinics.”

The study is detailed in the current (February) issue of the Journal of the American Dietetic Association in a paper, “Survey of Herbal Use by Kansas and Wisconsin WIC Participants Reveals Moderate, Appropriate Use and Identifies Herbal Education Needs.”

Lohse began the study when she was an associate professor of food and nutrition at the University of Wisconsin-Stout and continued it when she joined the faculty at Kansas State University. Her co-authors are Jodi L. Stotts, Penn State research assistant and former instructor at Kansas State, and Jennifer R. Priebe, a clinical dietitian with San Luis Medical and Rehabilitation, Green Bay, Wis. At the time of the study, Priebe was a graduate student at the University of Wisconsin-Stout, Menomonie, Wis.

The researchers surveyed 2,562 caregivers with children living in Kansas and Wisconsin who were attending a WIC clinic. Child herbal use was reported for 1,363 of the children ranging in age from 1 week to 17 years. The majority of the children treated with herbs were younger than age 5.

The caregivers who participated in the survey consulted a variety of sources about the use of herbs to treat their children including family and friends, the news media, the Internet, medical doctors and other allied health professionals. However, family was, by far, the most popular source of information and was the only source for 46.9 percent of non-Latinos and 73.2 percent of Latinos.

The reasons cited by the caregivers for use of specific herbs varied. For example, aloe vera was used for burns, cuts, and rashes as well as gastrointestinal problems, asthma, colds, ear infections, fatigue and urinary symptoms.

Although most of the herbs that the participants reported giving to children were those with relatively low risk, the effects of long term use and interactions with prescription and over-the-counter medications are unknown. In addition, ten herbs with known safety issues, including St John’s wort, kava and red clover, were also given to children and taken by the caregivers themselves.

The researchers write, “Although it may be tempting to say that, ‘because little data exist on the safety of herbals during pregnancy, when breastfeeding, and in children, use of these products should be discouraged,’ the reality is that herbals are widely used in these populations. Likewise, recent findings such as the inefficacy and adverse reactions from Echinacea use illustrate the need to provide an educational venue and to conduct educational research to formalize herbal education within the WIC clinic culture.”

Warning about ingesting teas and health products containing Star Anise

As a precautionary measure, Health Canada is advising Canadian consumers not to ingest herbal teas or health products containing the herb “star anise” unless they are confident that it is Chinese star anise (Illicium verum Hook. f).

Consumers should verify that their product contains Chinese star anise. Otherwise, consumers should avoid using the following products:

– blended herbal teas containing the herb “star anise”

– bulk star anise for the purpose of brewing teas

– therapeutic and natural health products (such as medicinal herbal teas or homeopathic medicines) containing star anise

There have been reports in the U.S. and Europe of adverse reactions associated with consumption of blended teas containing “star anise” and with the consumption of teas brewed solely from “star anise.” In some of the cases, herbal tea was being used as a treatment for infant colic. Adverse reactions ranged from mild nausea to convulsions and seizures, and in all cases, symptoms were temporary. To date, there have been no reports of adverse reactions in Canada associated with products containing star anise, nor evidence that any foods or health products sold in Canada, contain toxic varieties of star anise.

Consumers who ingest one of the potentially toxic varieties of star anise may suffer an adverse reaction and should consult a physician if this occurs.

There is more than one type of star anise. Chinese star anise does not represent a health and safety concern and has a long history of safe use in foods. The dried seed pods of Chinese star anise can be found in certain spice mixtures and cooking pastes used in foods, in some herbal tea blends, and in certain therapeutic and natural health products. Other species of star anise, such as Japanese star anise, are used for decorative and aromatic purposes but are not considered safe for human consumption and can be toxic if enough is ingested.

It is important to note that this advisory does not apply to an unrelated herb commonly known as ‘anise’ (Pimpinella anisum). Anise does not represent a health and safety concern in foods and has a long history of safe use.

With respect to health products containing star anise, Health Canada is requesting evidence from the manufacturers of these products to show that the star anise ingredient is the correct variety (Chinese star anise) and that it does not pose a risk to health. Health Canada will keep Canadians informed of any developments related to this issue.

For natural health products, consumers and health care professionals may report any adverse reactions by contacting Health Canada toll-free by telephone (866) 234-2345 or fax (866) 678-6789.

For foods, any adverse reactions suspected as being associated with star anise may be reported to the Canadian Food Inspection Agency’s Food Safety Concern Line. Call the Canadian Food Inspection Agency’s general toll-free number 1-800-442-2342 to obtain the Concern Line number for your province.

Consumers who identify that they have the toxic species of star anise should return the product to the point of purchase. Retailers should contact the Health Products and Food Branch Inspectorate at 1-800-267-9675 if they have any questions about disposal of the product.

New Childhood Development Book

The first five years of a child’s life are filled with a wide range of psychological, emotional, and physical changes that can be exciting but overwhelming. But this doesn’t have to be a time of confusion or uncertainty. In its new book, “The Wonder Years”, The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) offers the information parents need to help their children flourish during these formative years.

“The Wonder Years” features more than 500 full-color photographs, diagrams, illustrations, and timelines. The book is uniquely arranged by developmental milestones and the related skills that children learn in each area-instead of just chronologically by child’s age-to give caregivers the bigger picture of what to expect, how to foster their child’s progress, and how to make the most of this amazing time. It includes the most up-to-date findings on child development in the following chapters:

- Movement – Everything from the early stages of head movement to sitting, crawling and eventually, walking are covered, complete with activities to foster your child’s athletic abilities.

- Fine motor skills – When will you know if your child is right or left handed? When do they first start to reach for objects? These and other topics-as well as how to encourage the artist in your child are explained in-depth.

- Sensory development – The five senses and the development at all stages-responding to one’s own name, developing taste preferences, and distinguishing between colors to name a few-are discussed.

- Mental growth – Here’s a “behind the scenes look” at your child’s brain and how this important organ affects everything.

- Social and emotional growth – From bonding and colic, to playing make-believe and developing attachments with other children, caregivers are given a comprehensive overview of their child’s emotional health.

- Bowel and bladder development – Parents are given the answers to tell when their child is ready to toilet train and how to help them in this physical-and emotional-milestone.

“The Wonder Years” also includes fun parent-child activities to boost emotional and mental growth-such as how to foster the artist in your child and games beyond peek-a-boo. The book indicates to caregivers when help may be needed in a certain area of development, along with advice on how to consult a specialist when concerns do arise. From heredity, gender, and environmental surroundings, “The Wonder Years” details the multitude of factors that can affect all aspects of a child’s development.

The book is edited by Tanya Remer Altmann, MD, FAAP, a pediatrician in private practice and clinical instructor at the University of California, Los Angeles. It is available on http://www.aap.org and in bookstores.

American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP)
141 Northwest Point Blvd, PO Box 927
Elk Grove Village, IL 60009-0927
United States
http://www.aap.org/