The spouse of a California congressman died final 12 months after taking natural therapies meant to fight weight problems, diabetes and excessive ldl cholesterol, a report discovered.
Lori McClintock, spouse of Rep. Tom McClintock, died from dehydration attributable to “antagonistic results of white mulberry leaf ingestion,” based on an post-mortem report obtained by Kaiser Well being Information.
KHN obtained a replica of McClintock’s post-mortem eight months after she was discovered unresponsive in her Elk Grove, California dwelling.
The congressman found his spouse on Dec. 15, 2021 after getting back from Washington, DC, the place he had been voting in Congress the night time prior.
McClintock had suffered from gastroenteritis, or irritation of the abdomen and intestines, on the time of her dying, which the Sacramento County coroner dominated an accident in March.
White mulberry leaves are sometimes used to combat heart problems, hypertension and extra, in addition to hinder weight acquire.
However the herb could cause diarrhea, nausea, dizziness, bloating and constipation, as effectively.
“The leaves and different components of the tree comprise a milky white sap referred to as latex, which is mildly poisonous to people and should lead to signs like an upset abdomen if ingested or pores and skin irritation if touched,” Healthline states.
The coroner didn’t disclose how McClintock ingested the herb — whether or not in a dietary complement or drank in a tea — however said {that a} “partially intact” white mulberry leaf was present in her abdomen, KHN mentioned.
Daniel Fabricant, CEO and president of the Pure Merchandise Affiliation, which represents the dietary dietary supplements trade, advised KHN that it will be “utterly speculative” to tie McClintock’s dying to an natural therapy.
“There’s a science to this. It’s not simply what a coroner feels,” mentioned Fabricant, who oversaw dietary dietary supplements on the FDA in the course of the Obama administration. “Folks sadly cross from dehydration each day, and there’s loads of completely different causes and loads of completely different causes.”
McClintock, who had been married to the congressman since 1987, was training actual property in California on the time of her dying, based on the LA Occasions. She was 61.
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