The Yellow Card scheme for drug monitoring of orthodox drugs asks
only for serious suspected reactions to established drugs and all suspected
reactions to newer drugs. However, the RCHM’s Yellow Card scheme asks
for anysuspected reaction, however minor. This does not include minor
known side effects such as loose stools with the use of greasy yin tonics, or
any other symptom that you might warn your patient about as a mild
transient side effect.
Sometimes it is hard to tell whether a possible adverse reaction is due to
herbs prescribed or something else. However, even if a practitioner is unsure
as to whether a herbal medicine or a combination of herbal medicines and
other medicines has caused a side effect, but has a suspicion, completion of
a card would be appropriate. Actively using the Yellow Cards will further
every practitioner’s knowledge. Contact [email protected].
MHRA
The Yellow Card scheme operated by the UK MHRA has been widened to
encourage reporting of suspected ADRs in association with herbal medicines,
including unlicensed products. Patients are now able to report suspected
ADRs direct.
Endangered species
The conservation of rare medicinal plants is a worldwide problem affecting
many cultures.^194 The issue of the usage of various endangered species,
including bears and tigers, which are ingredients in the formulation of
Chinese herbal patent formulae, was brought to the public eye in the USA
by a World Wildlife Fund-supported report entitled Prescription for Extinc-
tion: Endangered species and patented oriental medicines in trade.^195 This
report was released in 1994 and resulted in widespread media attention and
subsequent public concern. Researchers at Bastyr University are studying
the issue of endangered species usage in depth, along with the issues of
excessive toxins, drugs, adulterants, and illegal and inaccurate labelling
practices, which are prevalent in these formulae. Bastyr University is near
Seattle, and integrates the pursuit of scientific knowledge with the wisdom
of ancient healing methods and traditional cultures from around the world.
Researchers plan to work with the manufacturers of Chinese herbal patent
formulae toward establishing guidelines that may be implemented in the
west and in Asia.
Modern developments in CHM
Over the last 20 years there have been initiatives in China to find new
dosage forms that are more convenient than the traditional practice of
Traditional Chinese medicine | 175