A 30-year-old San Diego woman died last month after she received an IV of turmeric solution doled out by a naturopath. <\/p>\n
Jade Erick was rushed to hospital on March 10 where she died six days later, U.S. reports say. A naturopathic doctor, Kim Kelly, had administered a 250-millilitre infusion of turmeric to Erick to treat her eczema. After just five millilitres, she became unresponsive, according to autopsy reports. <\/p>\n
In the ICU, she was diagnosed with severe anoxic brain injury secondary to cardiopulmonary arrest, most likely due to turmeric infusion, the autopsy report read, according to NBC. <\/p>\n
Her death had been ruled an accident. Experts admit its an incredibly rare incident but could it happen in Canada? <\/p>\n
For starters, most provinces dont include turmeric or curcumin, which the Indian spice is extracted from, on their lists of approved substances for intravenous use. <\/p>\n
In Ontario, we have a very limited scope for intravenous treatment vitamins, minerals, amino acids, and thats about it. We dont have access to curcumin, Dr. Eric Marsden, a naturopath and spokesperson for the Ontario Association of Naturopathic Doctors, told Global News. <\/p>\n
READ MORE: Should parents be forced to give their kids conventional medicine? Alberta case raises ethical questions <\/p>\n
Turmeric is used in naturopathy for a handful of reasons, from treating inflammation to addressing neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimers. <\/p>\n
But keep in mind, the IV solution in this case wasnt turmeric, but the extract. <\/p>\n
Its not the stuff you cook with, Marsden said. <\/p>\n
His guess is that Kelly turned to turmeric as an anti-inflammatory to treat Ericks eczema. It can be used for joint pain, or gastrointestinal inflammation, for example. It isnt traditionally relied on to treat skin conditions, though. <\/p>\n
Meanwhile, intravenous therapy has existed since February 2003 in Ontario, Marsden said. Hes one of the first naturopathic doctors that taught IV therapy, he said. <\/p>\n
Since then, its only gained in popularity, according to Dr. Paul Saunders, a naturopathic doctor and spokesman for the Canadian Association of Naturopathic Doctors. <\/p>\n
READ MORE: Heres what works and what doesnt when youre fighting a cough and cold <\/p>\n
Doctors and patients need to focus ondeciphering if IV therapy is the best option. <\/p>\n
We need to be careful, especially if were using a method thats more invasive, that were doing so for a good reason, and weve exhausted other less invasive options, Saunders said. <\/p>\n
Its a great therapeutic modality that can make a major difference in patients but only when its used judiciously, appropriately and in a safe manner, he said. <\/p>\n
Oral medication, and making tweaks to diet and lifestyle, are typically the first line of defence. <\/p>\n
READ MORE: Heres what you need to know about springtime allergies in Canada <\/p>\n
But IV therapy has its advantages: patients absorb much more than they would through oral medication. With vitamin C, for example, you can achieve 200-fold more concentration in the bloodstream than you would with oral medication, Marsden said. <\/p>\n
In other cases, patients could have trouble with absorbing nutrients or they could deal with bouts of nausea, vomiting or inflammatory bowel syndrome from oral medications. <\/p>\n
IV therapy removes those side effects. <\/p>\n
Marsden turns to European mistletoe in IV form to help patients with cancer a complementary measure with their first line of treatment. <\/p>\n
He also turns to vitamin C IV infusions to treat fatigue, cardiovascular issues, and even for pre- and post-surgical support. <\/p>\n
The experts cant talk about Ericks case specifically, but their guess is that the IV may have sparked an allergic reaction. As far as they know, there hasnt been a single death in Ontario tied to IV infusions doled out by a naturopath. <\/p>\n
READ MORE: Did dated recommendations contribute to the spike in food allergies in kids? <\/p>\n
Erick had multiple food allergies to soy protein, lactose and gluten as well as hypothyroidism and pre-diabetes, according to NBC News. <\/p>\n
Erick had never had an infusion of turmeric before her second visit to the clinic. The first was a screening session. <\/p>\n
Canadians worried about the tragedy shouldmake sure they do their homework before visiting a naturopath, the experts say. <\/p>\n
Make sure your ND has licensed credentials from the province and is certified by a provincial college. Regulators make sure naturopaths are inspected, go through rigorous training, and adhere to provincial policies and guidelines, Marsden said. <\/p>\n
Also, decipher if IV therapy is your best bet and if the solution is addressing your needs. <\/p>\n
READ MORE: Can pesticides trigger allergic reactions? They did in a rare Canadian case <\/p>\n
IV therapy is getting a lot of buzz but the question is, Do I need IV therapy? Is there a good rationale for this? Marsden said. <\/p>\n
Patients also need to determine if naturopathic medicine will get them the results theyre looking for. <\/p>\n
It is another thing entirely for these healers to hook a healthy person up to an IV and pump turmeric into their veins, Julianna LeMeiux, a senior fellow in molecular biology at Tufts Universitys School of Medicine, wrote in the American Council On Science and Health. <\/p>\n
Spices do not exactly go through the same checks and balances as drugs that are intended to enter the bloodstream, she said. <\/p>\n
Britt Marie Hermes, an ex-naturopath who covers medicine and medical pseudoscience at Forbes, said that three clinics offer turmeric IV infusions in the San Diego area. They go for about $200 to$400. <\/p>\n
Naturopathic doctors frequently offer treatments that have not been fully vetted for safety or effectiveness, and many therapies used in naturopathic practice have been disproved by rigorous trials, she wrote. <\/p>\n
This is likely the result of naturopathic education blurring the line between treatments backed by good evidence, and practices using natural substances that turn profits, she said. <\/p>\n
carmen.chai@globalnews.ca<\/a><\/p>\n 2017Global News, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc. <\/p>\n <\/p>\n View post: A 30-year-old San Diego woman died last month after she received an IV of turmeric solution doled out by a naturopath. Jade Erick was rushed to hospital on March 10 where she died six days later, U.S. reports say Continue reading
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