Health Canada, December 21, 2005
2005-135
December 21, 2005
Warning
Health Canada warns consumers not to take products containing chaparral
OTTAWA - Health Canada is warning consumers not
to ingest the herb chaparral in the form of loose leaves, teas,
capsules or bulk herbal products because of the risk of liver and
kidney problems.
Health Canada is currently aware of several products on the
Canadian market (see table below) intended for oral consumption that contain
chaparral, including leaves in bulk packages. The
manufacturers/importers are asking retailers to remove the listed
products from their shelves.
Health Canada has also sent a letter to food and natural health
product associations asking them to disseminate information on the
safety, availability and use of chaparral to their members.
A Customs Alert has been issued by Health Canada to prevent the
importation of the natural health products listed in this
advisory.
It is possible that other chaparral-containing oral products are
on the market, therefore consumers are urged to check food and
natural health product labels carefully. Health Canada will update
the list of products as required.
Consumers should stop ingesting retail products containing
chaparral and seek medical attention if they have experienced
symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, abdominal cramps, fever, fatigue
or jaundice (e.g. dark urine, yellow discolouration of the eyes). To
date, Health Canada has received one report of acute hepatitis
associated with chaparral ingestion.
Chaparral-containing topical products - such as ointments, creams
and lotions - have not been associated with the adverse effects
described above.
Chaparral refers to three plant species: Larrea
tridentata, Larrea divaricata and Larrea
mexicana, which may also be called creosote bush, greasewood,
or hediondilla. The shrub grows in the western United States and
parts of Mexico, and is used traditionally by the indigenous people
of these regions to treat such conditions as arthritis, cancer,
tuberculosis, bowel cramps, diarrhea, venereal disease, colds and
bronchitis. No chaparral-containing products are currently approved
by Health Canada for any use.
Canadians should only use drugs and natural health products that
have been authorized for sale by Health Canada. Authorized drugs and
natural health products will bear either an eight-digit Drug
Identification Number (DIN), a Natural Product Number (NPN) or a
Homeopathic Medicine Number (DIN-HM).
Table: Health Canada identified the following
Chaparral-containing
products on the Canadian
market*:
| Chaparral sold as food in bulk and in
any size package under any brand |
| Hanna's Herbal Special Teas- LYM™
(Formerly Lymph Tea) |
| Kroeger Herb Products Co., Inc. |
Boulder, Colorado |
| Strauss Healthy Cell Tea |
| Strauss Herb Co. |
Kamloops, British Columbia |
| Strauss Lymphatic Capsules |
| Strauss Herb Co. |
Kamloops, British Columbia |
| Strauss Lymphatic Tea |
| Strauss Herb Co. |
Kamloops, British Columbia |
* Chaparral leaves sold in bulk have also been identified on the
Canadian market, and should not be purchased for oral use.
The text in this article was prepared by Health Canada.