Buying Ayurvedic Products Safely: Shops, Online Sellers and Labels
Questions to ask and warning signs to watch for when buying Ayurvedic products in shops or online, based on what regulators and contamination studies have found.
Content last updated . This page has not been medically reviewed.
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If someone has already used a product and feels unwell, call US Poison Help at 1-800-222-1222 or seek medical care. [1] This page does not recommend any shop, brand or seller, and it cannot tell you a given product is safe.Questions to ask before buying
| Question | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Is there a full ingredient list with botanical names and plant parts? | Needed for interaction checks. See reading an Ayurvedic label. |
| Does it contain metals, minerals or "bhasma"? | Rasa shastra products had more metals in the online-purchase study (40.6% versus 17.1%). [2] |
| Who makes it, and where? | A named maker with a licence or batch number lets problems be traced. |
| Is there independent testing for lead, mercury, arsenic and microbes? | A seller's own "GMP" claim was made by 75% of the metal-containing products. [2] |
| Does it claim to treat or cure a disease? | In the US, the FDA says such Ayurvedic products are illegally marketed. [1] |
| Is it licensed where you live? | In Canada, a licensed product carries an eight-digit NPN. [5] |
Shops, pharmacies and online
A shop calling itself an "Ayurvedic store" or "Ayurvedic pharmacy" is not a regulated title in the US; NCCIH says there is no significant regulation of Ayurvedic practice or education in the United States. [3] US supplement law does not require FDA approval before sale. [8] In India, Ayurvedic medicines fall under the Drugs and Cosmetics Rules, which require licence and batch details on labels, according to one legal commentary. [9] Buying inside a licensed pharmacy with a pharmacist who will read the label is the simplest safeguard in any country.If you already have a product
Do not stop a prescribed medicine on your own. Bring the product and its box to your doctor or pharmacist, and ask whether a blood lead test is sensible if you have used it regularly or are pregnant or breastfeeding. The FDA notes heavy metals can pass into breast milk. [1] Keep products away from children. Report suspect products to the FDA's MedWatch program. [1]Related
See heavy metals and product quality, Ayurvedic-style supplements versus traditional formulations and interactions, pregnancy and children.Frequently asked questions
Are Ayurvedic products from India safer than those made in the US?
Not in the study that compared them: metals were found in 19.5% of Indian-made and 21.7% of US-made products, a difference that was not statistically significant. [2]
Is buying online riskier than buying in a store?
The studies we read looked at internet purchases, so they cannot compare. [2] Online sellers can be anonymous, which makes the questions above harder to answer.
Can a seller's "lab tested" claim be trusted?
Only if you can see what was tested (metals, microbes), by whom, and for which batch. A general claim is not evidence.
Who should be extra careful?
Children, and people who are pregnant or breastfeeding. The FDA notes both adults and children can become very ill, and metals can pass in breast milk. [1]
How do I report a problem product?
In the US, through the FDA's MedWatch program. [1]
More details: evidence, limits and cautions
The details behind this page: cautions, limits of the evidence and where sources disagree. Open any note to read it.
Why buying is the risky step
Quality varies more than most buyers expect.
- In a study that bought 193 Ayurvedic medicines from websites, 20.7% contained detectable lead, mercury or arsenic. The share was similar for US-made (21.7%) and India-made (19.5%) products, and all metal-containing products exceeded at least one standard for acceptable daily intake. [2] That study bought products in 2005, so it shows a pattern, not today's market.
- NCCIH describes a 2015 survey in which 40 percent of people using Ayurvedic preparations had elevated blood lead, and a 2015 case of raised blood lead in a woman after products bought on the internet. [3]
- The FDA warned of heavy metal poisoning from unapproved Ayurvedic products after testing one product bought online, which had high lead and mercury. It states that the products usually do not declare these metals. [1]
- A review of the Ayurvedic raw drug trade says adulteration and substitution with look-alike species is a recognized problem. [4]
Warning signs
- A promise to cure, or an "FDA approved" claim. The FDA says there are no FDA-approved Ayurvedic products. [1]
- No ingredient list, or only a recipe name.
- Sold by an unnamed overseas website or social-media seller. Health Canada's 2005 warning concerned products that had not been authorized for sale in Canada. [6]
- Bright-colored spice or cosmetic powders sold for cultural use. Oregon health officials found lead in some turmeric brought from abroad and in some religious and cosmetic powders. [7]
- Advice to stop a prescribed medicine. NCCIH advises against using Ayurvedic medicine to postpone seeing a conventional provider. [3]
Education, not medical advice. This page is for general information. It does not diagnose or treat any condition and is not a substitute for care from a qualified health professional. Natural does not automatically mean safe. Ask a clinician or pharmacist before changing your care, especially if you take medication, are pregnant or breastfeeding, or have a health condition.