Safety Concern of the Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM)

Source: https://sg.news.yahoo.com/chinese-medicines-may-contain-high-levels-toxins-230754907.html

British health regulators have issued a warning that some traditional Chinese medications contain "dangerously high" levels of lead, mercury, and arsenic.

On Tuesday, the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) warned people not to use a number of unlicensed Chinese medicines, including a product called Bak Foong Pills, which are used to treat menstrual pain.

The medicine has been recalled in Hong Kong after it was found to contain up to twice the level of lead permitted by the Hong Kong Government.

Another Chinese medication called Hairegenerator, used for the treatment of hair loss, has also been recalled in Hong Kong after a sample was found to contain 11 times the permitted level of mercury.

The Swedish National Food Agency (SFNA), meanwhile, has found extremely high levels of arsenic in products going by a variety of names, including Niu-Huang Chieh-tu-pein, Divya Kaishore Guggul, and Chandraprabha Vati.

These are used for the treatment of mumps, sore throat, tonsillitis, toothache, skin infections, anorexia, and fever in young children.

"The adulteration of traditional Chinese medicines with heavy metals is a significant international problem and can pose a serious risk to public health," said Richard Woodfield, MHRA's Head of Herbal Policy.

 UK consumers can follow Woodfield's advice: "To help you choose an herbal medicine that is suitable for you, look for a product that has a Traditional Herbal Registration (THR) or product license number on the packaging.

These products have met the acceptable quality and safety standards. – AFP/Relaxnews, August 22, 2013.

As mentioned by Dr Chen during Live of Dr Chen chapters, there are 3 category of plant foods:

1. Poisonous Category (example, Ma Huang)

2. Herbal Categry (Korean Ginseng, TCM)

3. Fruits and Vegetable Category - Given that it's food, it can be consumed on daily basis. 

Commonly, we thought that TCM is better than western medicine, given that it's herbal. However, let's look at one example, Aspirin. Which is used to treat fever, inflammation, joint pain or even heart disease. 

Aspirin could be made from medicational herb call White Willow Bark. In TCM, white whillow bark is also used to help with pain relief, arthritis, reduce inflammation. 

However, why white willow bark from TCM "seems" better? Often, it's due to the concentration whereby in preparing the TCM, it's not as concentrated as western medicine. Thus, the effect is slower and side effect is lesser than western medicine. When we are consuming it, it will burden our kidney as well. 

Cheers

Siew Choon

90263064

Combating haze again

Haze is coming to Singapore again, the PSI hits above 300, the hazardous level. It's the first time hitting this level since July 2013.

Look at the before and after!!

                

When inhaling these air pollutants, it easily cause irritation of nose, throat, our respiratory system. Thus, we may easily have fever, coughing and sneezing.

For those who has existing medical condition, the condition may be worsen as there might be asthma attack, allergies or even cardiovascular problem. All these pollutants may entering our blood stream and causing inflammation within our body.

I am sure we are more well prepared already, compare to 2013. To add on further, here are some of the good tips.

1. Close all the windows, turn on the aircond or air-purifier if you have.

2. Stay indoor if possible

3. Try not turn to medication if you have sneezing, coughing or irritation, as those are just working as suppressant. In contrary, you should be nourishing your immune system, so that you are able to cleanse out the dirt, mucus, phlegm effectively.

In order to nourish your immune system, take more than 15 serving of fruits and vegetables as we are living in a complex and stressful environment. As a convenient, here is what I do, as a convenient.

I will take 

1. Oxyginberry

http://immunesuperfood.blogspot.sg/2014/05/oxyginberry-is-immune-strengthen-food.html

2. Triflora

Triflora contains the five leaf ginseng, which also known as sweet tea vine, which are very effective in detox the heavy metals, preservatives, air pollants and toxin chemicals from our body.

3. Orchestra

Which contains the Ashitaba and Kumazasa. Kumazasa has the powerhouse in cleansing and detoxification, especially for our blood and liver. Thus able to cleanse out the air pollutant easily.

Ashitaba, which containing chalcones, flavonoids, coumarins, chlorophyll, thus able to fight against the free radical damage caused by the air pollutants.

Hope all is well and the haze is going away soon!


Cheers
Siew Choon