Woman’s death blamed on ointment bought on Facebook
A woman in Northern California died due to severe lead poisoning after using a hemorrhoid cream she purchased on Facebook, prompting a health alert from state officials.
The California Department of Public Health issued an advisory about the Vietnamese ointment, Cao Bôi Tri Cây Thau Dau (Castor Oil Hemorrhoid Extract), noting tests revealed that the product contained a “highly dangerous amount” of lead, at 4% (39,000 parts per million). According to the Environmental Protection Agency, any exposure to lead could be harmful, but concentrations 1/ 100th as strong are considered hazardous.
The potentially toxic cream is identifiable by its small, circular container with a green label.
California health officials issued notices in both English and Vietnamese, stating that the woman had purchased the product in March from an online vendor in Vietnam. It was then shipped to her by a relative.
Authorities are currently uncertain if the product is being sold in California. However, they strongly advise residents to avoid using it. Those who already have the cream at home are urged to stop using it immediately, place it in a sealed container and call 510-620-3620 or email toxoutbreak@cdph.ca. gov.
The notice further advised, “Because other household members could have come into contact with the ointment, all household members should have their blood lead tested. Children are especially vulnerable to lead poisoning.”
According to officials from Calaveras County Public Health, who issued a separate warning, Cao Bôi Tri Cây Thau Dau is primarily marketed on Vietnamese Facebook groups as a “miracle” cure for hemorrhoids. Users are encouraged to spread it inside their rectum.
Lead exposure can cause symptoms such as abdominal pain, anemia, weakness, fatigue and severe neurological problems, including seizures, according to the CDPH. However, signs of exposure may not always be immediately apparent.
While there is no antidote for lead poisoning, individuals who have been seriously exposed may be treated with medications like succimer. This medication chelates the heavy metal from the body, allowing it to be expelled via urine.
Meta, the parent company of Facebook, explicitly prohibits the sale of medical and health care products and supplements on its social media platforms. However, it is unclear how it enforces its commerce policy to block transactions involving these products. The company advises that buyers and sellers are “responsible for complying with all applicable laws and regulations.”