Clipping Board » Drug Poisoning ─ It is necessary to be aware of the toxic side effects before taking medication.
(Central News Agency reporter Yang Shumin, Taipei, February 25, 2010)
The Consumers' Foundation today announced that 13.9% of 187 tested traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) samples contained Western drugs, with three samples found to contain the controlled substance diazepam (a Class IV controlled drug). Two of these samples came from TCM clinics. The National Union of Chinese Medical Doctors' Associations called for the disclosure of the clinics involved to facilitate corrective measures.
The Consumers' Foundation held a press conference today titled "1999 TCM Testing Report—Western Drug Detection Rate of 13.9%."
During the conference, You Kaixiong, publisher of Consumer Reports magazine, stated that two samples from TCM clinics and one from a herbal medicine store were found to contain Western drugs.
He further explained that the Western drug detected was a sedative (diazepam). Long-term consumption of such sedatives by consumers may lead to tolerance and dependence. One of the samples claimed to aid digestion but was found to contain the sedative.
He questioned whether the inclusion of such ingredients in TCM constitutes counterfeit or prohibited drugs, which would violate the law and carry penalties of up to seven years in prison. If the case falls under the Narcotics Hazard Prevention Act, the penalty could range from three to ten years in prison.
Weng Ruiwen, deputy secretary-general of the National Union of Chinese Medical Doctors' Associations, who attended the conference, noted that in recent years, the Consumers' Foundation's tests on TCM samples found Western drugs in about three out of 40 samples from TCM clinics and herbal stores. If the issue stems from herbal stores, it falls outside the jurisdiction of the National Union of Chinese Medical Doctors' Associations.
He added that the vast majority of TCM clinics use GMP-certified pharmaceutical manufacturers' scientific TCM products. To date, there have been no reported cases of patients requiring dialysis due to consuming GMP-certified TCM. He urged the Consumers' Foundation to provide the names of non-compliant clinics, as the same clinics might be involved annually, allowing the union to intervene and advise.
He also mentioned that about two months ago, a GMP-certified Taiwanese pharmaceutical manufacturer's TCM product was found by Hong Kong authorities to exceed the local lead standard of 15 ppm, leading to its removal from shelves. This was due to differing standards—Taiwan's limit is 100 ppm—and the product did not violate Taiwanese regulations.
The Consumers' Foundation criticized Taiwan's heavy metal testing standards as being over six times higher than Hong Kong's, calling the gap too wide and insufficiently rigorous.
Weng Ruiwen stated that Huang Linhuang, chairman of the TCM Committee, has reached a consensus with the Department of Health to lower Taiwan's heavy metal content standard for TCM to below 30 ppm within six months to align with EU standards. 990225
Source: http:/ / tw. stock. yahoo. com/ ne……/ url/ d/ a/ 100225/ 1/ 1wlom. html
TCM Clinics Using Western Medicine: Association Urges Improvement
The Consumers' Foundation today announced that 13.9% of 187 tested traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) samples contained Western drugs, with three samples found to contain the controlled substance diazepam (a Class IV controlled drug). Two of these samples came from TCM clinics. The National Union of Chinese Medical Doctors' Associations called for the disclosure of the clinics involved to facilitate corrective measures.
The Consumers' Foundation held a press conference today titled "1999 TCM Testing Report—Western Drug Detection Rate of 13.9%."
During the conference, You Kaixiong, publisher of Consumer Reports magazine, stated that two samples from TCM clinics and one from a herbal medicine store were found to contain Western drugs.
He further explained that the Western drug detected was a sedative (diazepam). Long-term consumption of such sedatives by consumers may lead to tolerance and dependence. One of the samples claimed to aid digestion but was found to contain the sedative.
He questioned whether the inclusion of such ingredients in TCM constitutes counterfeit or prohibited drugs, which would violate the law and carry penalties of up to seven years in prison. If the case falls under the Narcotics Hazard Prevention Act, the penalty could range from three to ten years in prison.
Weng Ruiwen, deputy secretary-general of the National Union of Chinese Medical Doctors' Associations, who attended the conference, noted that in recent years, the Consumers' Foundation's tests on TCM samples found Western drugs in about three out of 40 samples from TCM clinics and herbal stores. If the issue stems from herbal stores, it falls outside the jurisdiction of the National Union of Chinese Medical Doctors' Associations.
He added that the vast majority of TCM clinics use GMP-certified pharmaceutical manufacturers' scientific TCM products. To date, there have been no reported cases of patients requiring dialysis due to consuming GMP-certified TCM. He urged the Consumers' Foundation to provide the names of non-compliant clinics, as the same clinics might be involved annually, allowing the union to intervene and advise.
He also mentioned that about two months ago, a GMP-certified Taiwanese pharmaceutical manufacturer's TCM product was found by Hong Kong authorities to exceed the local lead standard of 15 ppm, leading to its removal from shelves. This was due to differing standards—Taiwan's limit is 100 ppm—and the product did not violate Taiwanese regulations.
The Consumers' Foundation criticized Taiwan's heavy metal testing standards as being over six times higher than Hong Kong's, calling the gap too wide and insufficiently rigorous.
Weng Ruiwen stated that Huang Linhuang, chairman of the TCM Committee, has reached a consensus with the Department of Health to lower Taiwan's heavy metal content standard for TCM to below 30 ppm within six months to align with EU standards. 990225
Source: http:/ / tw. stock. yahoo. com/ ne……/ url/ d/ a/ 100225/ 1/ 1wlom. html