Slimming aids
Despite the permanent ban on Aristolochia, the UK MHRA has continued
to find evidence of the supply of TCMs containing the herb in the UK. The
Agency has advised dieters to be cautious when using any TCM slimming
aid to help weight loss, following the discovery of a number of potentially
dangerous and illegal products (including Xiao Pang Meionand Qian
Er/Ma zin dol/Chaso/Onshido) in the UK and international markets in
addition to Aristolochia. The Agency has posted information on its website
(http://tinyurl.com/yoly5t).
Heavy metals
Another reported concern with regard to CHMs is the presence of heavy
metals. Much confusion has arisen regarding the presence of heavy metals
probably due in part to the way news is reported in the press. There have
been reports of herbal products contaminated with extremely high levels of
heavy metals when in fact the heavy metals were an intended constituent of
the formula. An example of this would be the formula tian wang bu xin dan
or ‘Emperor of Heavens Special Pill to Tonify the Heart’.
This formula contains zhu sha(cinnabaris or red mercuric sulphide) and
is prescribed in China in small doses and for short periods of time to treat
mental and emotional conditions. It is prescribed in small doses and used for
short periods of time and is still used in China today. There are only a few
Chinese herbal formulae that contain heavy metals and, when a case does
occur citing heavy metal contamination with thousands of times the
permitted level, it is almost certainly due to the use of one of these formulae,
probably smuggled in from China.
The problem with heavy metals for mainstream CHM is a very different
one. Here we see a situation where heavy metals may be found in low levels
in formulae that do not traditionally contain any compounds that could be
responsible. It is a contamination problem. At the moment China is under-
going its own industrial revolution, manufacturing industries are every-
where and the result of this frenetic manufacture is increased pollution into
the rivers, many of which go on to irrigate farmland, including those that
grow herbs. Testing programmes are in place to monitor heavy metal levels
but a longer-term solution is needed.
Not all herbs are susceptible to heavy metal contamination and many
herbs are grown in areas free from contamination. Many herbs are now
cultivated rather than picked from the wild, not only protecting the environ-
ment, but also making it possible to control growing conditions. Good agri-
cultural practice (GAP) has been introduced to herb farms across China and
steadily a situation is developing where it is possible to trace herbs back to
the field where they were grown. This is a far cry from the previous situation,
170 | Traditional medicine