Clipping Board » Drug Poisoning ─ It is necessary to be aware of the toxic side effects before taking medication.
United Daily News╱Reporter Lin Wanyu／Changhua Report 2009.12.15 06:12 am
Editor's Note: This article was originally published on [2009-07-09/United Daily News/B2 Edition/Changhua-Nantou Comprehensive News].
Hsieh Bo-chou, head of the Chinese Medicine Division of the Committee on Chinese Medicine and Pharmacy under the Department of Health, pointed out at the National Pharmaceutical Affairs Seminar yesterday that South Korea had destroyed over 800 tons of Chinese medicinal herbs in recent years due to lead contamination. He emphasized the need to strengthen import controls at customs and other sources to ensure public medication safety.
The Pharmaceutical Affairs Seminar was held at the Lukang Lide Cultural and Educational Center in Changhua County. In his keynote report, Hsieh Bo-chou noted the booming global sales of herbal medicines, which continue to grow by $6 billion annually. In Taiwan, 90% of Chinese medicinal herbs are imported, but the heavy metal content in these imports tends to be high, posing risks to human health.
Since 2004, the Department of Health has mandated heavy metal testing (for cadmium, lead, and mercury) for Chinese medicinal herbs such as Eucommia bark, loquat leaf, cinnamon, cassia twig, cassia bark, and acanthopanax bark. High metal content in these herbs may be linked to soil, fertilizers, pesticides, or contamination during processing.
Over the past five years, the Department of Health has intensified inspections for adulteration of Chinese medicines with Western drugs, uncovering illegal practices at rates as high as 16% to 25% annually. Hsieh Bo-chou attributed this issue to public misconceptions about medication. He also admitted that due to insufficient enforcement personnel, efforts to eradicate counterfeit drugs have been ineffective.
Hsieh Bo-chou mentioned that mainland China has recently begun requiring origin labeling for Chinese medicinal herbs, but Taiwan has yet to enforce such regulations. This year, the Department of Health launched the "Training Program for Identifying Misused or Confused Chinese Medicinal Herbs" and initiated community education on safe medication practices last year, urging hospitals and clinics to promote medication safety awareness.
[2009/12/15 United Daily News] @ http://udn. com/
Source: http://udn. com/ NEWS/ NATIONAL/ NATS2/ 5309177. shtml
High Heavy Metal Content in Imported Chinese Herbs
Editor's Note: This article was originally published on [2009-07-09/United Daily News/B2 Edition/Changhua-Nantou Comprehensive News].
Hsieh Bo-chou, head of the Chinese Medicine Division of the Committee on Chinese Medicine and Pharmacy under the Department of Health, pointed out at the National Pharmaceutical Affairs Seminar yesterday that South Korea had destroyed over 800 tons of Chinese medicinal herbs in recent years due to lead contamination. He emphasized the need to strengthen import controls at customs and other sources to ensure public medication safety.
The Pharmaceutical Affairs Seminar was held at the Lukang Lide Cultural and Educational Center in Changhua County. In his keynote report, Hsieh Bo-chou noted the booming global sales of herbal medicines, which continue to grow by $6 billion annually. In Taiwan, 90% of Chinese medicinal herbs are imported, but the heavy metal content in these imports tends to be high, posing risks to human health.
Since 2004, the Department of Health has mandated heavy metal testing (for cadmium, lead, and mercury) for Chinese medicinal herbs such as Eucommia bark, loquat leaf, cinnamon, cassia twig, cassia bark, and acanthopanax bark. High metal content in these herbs may be linked to soil, fertilizers, pesticides, or contamination during processing.
Over the past five years, the Department of Health has intensified inspections for adulteration of Chinese medicines with Western drugs, uncovering illegal practices at rates as high as 16% to 25% annually. Hsieh Bo-chou attributed this issue to public misconceptions about medication. He also admitted that due to insufficient enforcement personnel, efforts to eradicate counterfeit drugs have been ineffective.
Hsieh Bo-chou mentioned that mainland China has recently begun requiring origin labeling for Chinese medicinal herbs, but Taiwan has yet to enforce such regulations. This year, the Department of Health launched the "Training Program for Identifying Misused or Confused Chinese Medicinal Herbs" and initiated community education on safe medication practices last year, urging hospitals and clinics to promote medication safety awareness.
[2009/12/15 United Daily News] @ http://udn. com/
Source: http://udn. com/ NEWS/ NATIONAL/ NATS2/ 5309177. shtml