NewsWhore
06-02-2010, 03:10 PM
The announcement of the ban on the sale of La Flecha has caught Dominicans by surprise. The Chinese medicinal oil was a big seller and known for its effectiveness at curing nasal congestion, headache, toothache, mosquito bites - you name it.
Locally, many suspect it was a ploy by the competition of the product. But the reality is that on 27 May the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) warned consumers not to purchase or use the Arrow Brand Medicated Oil (Aceite Medicinal La Flecha). It contains two substances, methyl salicylate and camphor, which are poisonous when ingested.
The FDA says that methyl salicylate and camphor also may be poisonous when applied to a large area of the skin, or when combined with heat to increase absorption of the active ingredients. Children are particularly susceptible to poisoning from these ingredients.
Symptoms of poisoning from these ingredients could include: abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, headache, visual changes, dizziness and mental confusion. Some cases of accidental overdose of methyl salicylate and camphor have been fatal.
FDA preliminary testing on product samples also revealed a compound that appears to be diethylene glycol (DEG), an ingredient used in antifreeze, which may be toxic if ingested. Further testing is needed to confirm the presence of DEG.
The product is sold primarily over the Internet and in specialty stores that serve Asian and Latino communities. The FDA is asking retailers to remove the product from store shelves. Amazon.com removed the product following the announcement.
www.fda.gov/NewsEvents/Newsroom/PressAnnouncements/ucm213596.htm (http://www.fda.gov/NewsEvents/Newsroom/PressAnnouncements/ucm213596.htm)
More... (http://www.dr1.com/index.html#13)
Locally, many suspect it was a ploy by the competition of the product. But the reality is that on 27 May the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) warned consumers not to purchase or use the Arrow Brand Medicated Oil (Aceite Medicinal La Flecha). It contains two substances, methyl salicylate and camphor, which are poisonous when ingested.
The FDA says that methyl salicylate and camphor also may be poisonous when applied to a large area of the skin, or when combined with heat to increase absorption of the active ingredients. Children are particularly susceptible to poisoning from these ingredients.
Symptoms of poisoning from these ingredients could include: abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, headache, visual changes, dizziness and mental confusion. Some cases of accidental overdose of methyl salicylate and camphor have been fatal.
FDA preliminary testing on product samples also revealed a compound that appears to be diethylene glycol (DEG), an ingredient used in antifreeze, which may be toxic if ingested. Further testing is needed to confirm the presence of DEG.
The product is sold primarily over the Internet and in specialty stores that serve Asian and Latino communities. The FDA is asking retailers to remove the product from store shelves. Amazon.com removed the product following the announcement.
www.fda.gov/NewsEvents/Newsroom/PressAnnouncements/ucm213596.htm (http://www.fda.gov/NewsEvents/Newsroom/PressAnnouncements/ucm213596.htm)
More... (http://www.dr1.com/index.html#13)