Some fake herbal practitioners have started packaging ‘Tampico’ orange juice manufactured by Fan Milk Ghana Limited and Turpentine, a toxic-colourless liquid mostly used by carpenters and painters, deceitfully claiming they are herbal concoctions for the treatment of HIV/AIDS and severe headache as well as ear infection.

The Tampico orange juice has been mixed with three allopathic medicines, namely streptomycin, gentamicin and sulphathiozole supposed to be administered through injections. It is in a Voltic mineral water bottle and on sale in Accra and Kumasi metropolis respectively.

In the case of the Turpentine, the highly inflammable liquid with a very sharp smell, has been mixed with a substance which has turned its colour into green. It is sold in thumb-size transparent bottles, and can be found in the two regional capitals.

Food and Drugs Board (FDB) which detected the disturbing situation during its market surveillance, has warned against its use because it is highly toxic and can lead to death if swallowed.

“If inhaled, it can lead to irritation of the respiratory tract and eventually severe health condition like pneumonia which can be fatal,” Dr. Stephen K. Opuni, revealed this to The Herald, and advised the general public to volunteer information to the Board to apprehend those involved in the circulation of the deadly liquid.

Dr. Opuni said that turpentine has no medicinal value, and those who fall for such unscrupulous individuals by purchasing this do so at their own risk.

Also in the custody of the FDB are fake Star Kist Tuna imported into the country. It is believed to be from Togo.

The producers of the original Star-Kist tuna have introduced a new label which is imprinted on the can with the expiry date and Star-Kist embossed on top of the can.

However, the pirates have made photocopies of the phased-out Star-Kist Tuna leaflets and pasted them on the imported fake tuna can and selling it rather cheaply to the public.

The fake herbalist has two facilities: one at Kubease, near Ejisu, in the Ashanti Region and another at Lashibi, near Tema, where he has advertised the treatment for chronic diseases and HIV/AIDS.

He has confessed that the concoction which is ostensibly dispensed as a herbal preparation, contains Tampico drink and three allopathic medicines-streptomycin, gentamicin and sulphathiozole.

These are antibacterial agents for the treatment of various infections, including tuberculosis.

The production facility at Lashibi is not only unlicensed for such an activity but also unsuitable for the preparation of medicines.

The place is unkempt. It is a residential facility, and both domestic and production activities are carried out together.

The post-market surveillance by the FDB also revealed that some charlatan herbal practitioners are also offering for sale medicines with fake FDB registration numbers although the medicines have not been tested or given any approval by the Board.

Two such unregistered herbal medicines currently in circulation on the Ghanaian market are Adnaab Fast Herbal Mixture and Adnaab Fast Herbal Bitters, both manufactured by Adams Kofi Kyei of New Suame Kropo on Plot 25, in Kumasi in the Ashanti Region.

They are being offered for sale for the treatment of sexual weakness, diabetes, waist pains, typhoid fever, menstrual pains, Asthma, white, piles, rheumatism among other ailments.

An unsuspecting consumer who took one of the products, developed some skin rashes and diarrhea and, therefore, reported the case to the FDB.

Though Adnaab Fast Herbal Mixture and Adnaab Fast Herbal Bitters have not been registered by the Food and Drugs Board, the manufacturer has forged FDB registration number on the products to give the impression that the Board has approved of its efficacy.

Also in the custody of the FDB is Buffalo Garlic Bitters, produced in Accra and said to be for the treatment of Asthma, Blood Pressure, stroke, diabetes, body pains, sexual weakness and menstrual pains. It is also unregistered with the Board. Some of the concoction bears no name at all.

The Board has also seized some cartons of Capital 02 drugs.They include

Super veneral powder, Capi- Foid, Capi Pile (tonic), Capi Sima, Capi F-tube, Capi B-tonic, Cir-Q, Capi –cough, Pile- off, Super Veneral Capsule and Honey Soap.

Most of these cases are currently before the Police CID for investigation.

Also discovered by the FDB are various unregistered medical devices, including detoxifying machine, life prolongation machine and others.

These have been seized

The machines, mostly of Chinese origin, have not received any certification from their country of origin, and are being used by some herbal practitioners for the treatment of conditions such as hypertension, tetanus, cancer, diabetes, fibroid, among others.

Another activity by the FDB has led to the seizure of some herbal medicines, including “Me De Gye Wo Kunu”, “Sign a Cheque”, “Virgin powder” which are to be applied in the female genital organ.

These ‘herbal’ products, after laboratory analysis, have been found to contain high levels of lead and aluminum.

It must be noted that high doses of aluminum can cause the erosion of the epithelial cells of the vagina, which can lead to cervical cancers.

Lead poisoning can lead to chronic nephritis i.e. irreversible nephritis (inflammation) of the kidney cells, leading to kidney damage and failure and Neuromuscular (lead palsy), which is characterized by wrist drop, foot drop and muscular weakness.

In view of the important role that herbal medicine plays, FDB is entreating all herbal practitioners to make available their medicines for testing, approval and certification.

This is to assist genuine traditional herbal practitioners to enhance the quality of their products and bring them to acceptable standards.

Since active pharmaceutical ingredients of some orthodox medicines are extracted from plants, the Food and Drugs Board acknowledges the potential role traditional medicine can play in the health delivery system in Ghana.

However the Board wishes to assure Ghanaians that charlatan herbal practitioners shall be pursued and flushed out so that consumers can benefit from the activities of genuine traditional medicine practitioners