‘Herbalist’ fined for selling unlicensed creams containing steroids

A court in the Irish Republic has fined a self-styled herbalist who escaped justice in Britain, for allegedly selling unlicensed creams containing steroids for the treatment of eczema. He had operated his business in Britain and Ireland through hotels and by mail order, claiming that the cream was a natural, herbal remedy. The instruction given with the cream, which he sold at IR£30 per tub, was to apply it all over the body six times daily. A medicines board officer, however, told the court that the uncontrolled application of steroid cream not only worsened children’s eczema but, in extreme cases, it could also stunt growth. In the case of one adult, repeated application thinned the epidermis of the face so much that the veins became visible. The ‘herbalist’was fined IR£3000, with IR£2700 costs and has given up his business.

Pharm J 2001; 266: 871.