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
