Third of herbal remedy ingredients fail tests
By Jessie Dong |
December 13, 2011, Tuesday
|
Print Edition
Print Edition
A THIRD of herbal medicine ingredients tested in Guangzhou, capital of Guangdong Province, failed quality tests, it was reported yesterday.
The Guangzhou Pharmaceutical Association is now warning the public to be on the lookout for scams when buying herbal medicines.
Experts blamed quality issues on cons by suppliers to lower costs, reported a local Guangzhou newspaper.
A common trick is dyeing herbal materials such as heshouwu - Chinese knotweed - which has dark-colored roots.
Tests by the association showed some were dyed darker to make them look fresher and heavier, boosting income.
They also found some hangbaiju, white chrysanthemums from Hangzhou, had been pre-steamed with starch to add weight.
The tests also uncovered some materials were replaced by cheaper lookalike plants.
Earlier this year, some Shanghai doctors at traditional Chinese medicine hospitals called for local watchdogs to increase market inspections after they discovered some herbal ingredients on sale locally had been tampered with to boost profits.
Doctors said these dishonest practices pose health threats and are difficult for consumers to detect.
A Shanghai Daily reporter visiting a health product market on Tianmu Road discovered that heshouwu on sale came in sealed packages.
Sellers refused to open the packaging for examination before purchase.
The Guangzhou Pharmaceutical Association is now warning the public to be on the lookout for scams when buying herbal medicines.
Experts blamed quality issues on cons by suppliers to lower costs, reported a local Guangzhou newspaper.
A common trick is dyeing herbal materials such as heshouwu - Chinese knotweed - which has dark-colored roots.
Tests by the association showed some were dyed darker to make them look fresher and heavier, boosting income.
They also found some hangbaiju, white chrysanthemums from Hangzhou, had been pre-steamed with starch to add weight.
The tests also uncovered some materials were replaced by cheaper lookalike plants.
Earlier this year, some Shanghai doctors at traditional Chinese medicine hospitals called for local watchdogs to increase market inspections after they discovered some herbal ingredients on sale locally had been tampered with to boost profits.
Doctors said these dishonest practices pose health threats and are difficult for consumers to detect.
A Shanghai Daily reporter visiting a health product market on Tianmu Road discovered that heshouwu on sale came in sealed packages.
Sellers refused to open the packaging for examination before purchase.
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