White Mulberry Leaf, A coroner has linked the death of Lori McClintock, the wife of a California Representative, to an herb. But experts say it is generally considered safe.
White Mulberry Leaf, Last December, Loretta McClintock, the wife of Representative Tom McClintock from California, died unexpectedly in her home in California. The cause of death was not released at the time. This week, an investigation by Kaiser Health News revealed that the coroner who performed her autopsy linked her death to white mulberry leaf, a centuries-old herbal remedy which, in recent years, has been marketed as a supplement for weight loss and diabetes management. According to the Sacramento County Coroner’s report, which the Times has since obtained, Ms. McClintock died from dehydration caused by stomach inflammation as a result of “adverse effects of white mulberry leaf ingestion.” It is unclear what form of white mulberry leaf Ms. McClintock was taking, or why. The cause of death was classified as an accident. She was 61. The news has raised questions about white mulberry’s health risks. While supplements derived from the herb are not strictly regulated, as supplements typically are not, doctors generally consider white mulberry leaf to be safe, and there is no clear evidence that it can cause severe adverse reactions. White mulberry leaves grow on trees and shrubs native to Asia. They have been used as an herbal remedy for centuries to treat myriad health concerns, said Dr. Melinda Ring, director of the Osher Center for Integrative Health at Northwestern University.
Small studies have shown that mulberry leaf extract, which is typically taken in pill form, can reduce blood glucose levels. There is some evidence that the herb can suppress appetite and aid in weight loss in mice, but that is less robust, said Dr. Brent Bauer, director of the Mayo Clinic Complementary and Integrative Medicine Program. Some researchers have investigated other uses of the plant. Kaiser Health News reported that a “partially intact” white mulberry leaf was found in Ms. McClintock’s stomach. People sometimes brew white mulberry leaves into a tea, a practice that dates back “many, many years, if not centuries,” Dr. Bauer added. The coroner’s report does not list what form of mulberry leaf Ms. McClintock ingested, or her motivations for taking the herb, but the news provides a reminder that supplements can sometimes pose risks, experts said. “There are studies looking at it for everything from alopecia to high blood pressure to joint pain to osteoporosis,” said Dr. Ring. But, as with appetite and weight loss, there is limited evidence that the herb is an effective treatment for these conditions,
Source: This news is originally published by nytimes