According to numerous reports, Bootea’s ‘Teatox’ has a detrimental effect on the functioning of the contraceptive pill- a detail which is in fact highlighted on the brand’s website, but not present on the tea’s packaging.
Commenting on the controversy, 26-year-old Naomi Salt, who insists her unplanned pregnancy resulted after following the Teatox programme at Christmas, said: “They’ve got a duty of care to young women like myself. Bootea assumes people check the website but not everyone will.”
Opening up about her experience, the young woman said: “I am regimental about taking my pill and my first reaction was 'how has this happened?”'
An online forum is currently awash with comments and remarks from women who all insist the tea affected the functioning of their oral contraceptives.
Slamming the company for their approach to the controversy, one irate user wrote: “I have emailed Bootea to advise them to state this major side effect on the disclaimer and also on the booking page. They claimed it was not their responsibility to do so!"
According to the brand’s website, the contraceptive pill’s efficiency may be affected if ingested within four hours of the laxative effect brought on by the consumption of the tea.
The site, however, goes on to assure users: “If you take the pill at night you will be fine as it takes around 10 hours for the laxative effect of the night time tea bags to set in.”
Commenting on the highly-publicised outrage, a spokesperson for sexual health charity FPA, said: “Some medicines and complementary medicines can also make the pill less effective. If you are worried or unsure about the possible effects of medications or any detox or weight-loss remedies it is best to speak to a doctor or nurse before taking them.”
