The New York Times 
(4/13, Nuwer) "Green" blog reports, "For more than 3,000 years,
traditional Chinese medicine has been an integral part of Chinese
culture and the predominant medical treatment for a large part of the
population. In recent decades, the practice has gained popularity in
countries around the world, creating a multimillion-dollar global
industry." The blog post adds, "Despite the popularity if a given
traditional Chinese medicine, the actual contents -- frequently in the
form of a pill, powder or tea -- are often hard to
ascertain. Undeclared or mislabeled ingredients can pose serious health
risks, however, and traces of allergens, toxic plants and heavy metals
sometimes find their way into the treatments."
(4/13, Nuwer) "Green" blog reports, "For more than 3,000 years,
traditional Chinese medicine has been an integral part of Chinese
culture and the predominant medical treatment for a large part of the
population. In recent decades, the practice has gained popularity in
countries around the world, creating a multimillion-dollar global
industry." The blog post adds, "Despite the popularity if a given
traditional Chinese medicine, the actual contents -- frequently in the
form of a pill, powder or tea -- are often hard to
ascertain. Undeclared or mislabeled ingredients can pose serious health
risks, however, and traces of allergens, toxic plants and heavy metals
sometimes find their way into the treatments."
As an example of some of the health risks associated with some medicines, HealthDay
(4/13, Mozes) notes that "DNA analysis of traditional Chinese medicines
that were seized by Australian customs officials revealed that many
contained plant ingredients in quantities and combinations that could
have produced allergic or even toxic reactions among consumers." The
audit's findings are reported in the April issue of the journal PLoS
Genetics.
(4/13, Mozes) notes that "DNA analysis of traditional Chinese medicines
that were seized by Australian customs officials revealed that many
contained plant ingredients in quantities and combinations that could
have produced allergic or even toxic reactions among consumers." The
audit's findings are reported in the April issue of the journal PLoS
Genetics.
Herbal Remedy Component Associated With Cancer, Kidney Failure.
HealthDay
(4/13, Preidt) reports that aristolochic acid, a component of herbal
remedies containing Aristolochia, may "cause kidney failure and upper
urinary tract cancer," according to a study published online April 9 in
the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. After
studying 151 Taiwanese patients with cancer of the upper urinary tract,
"researchers found that 83 percent of the patients had evidence in their
kidneys of DNA changes that are related to the plant toxin and
associated with the development of
cancer." A previous study "linked the ingestion of Aristolochia
clematitis (commonly known as birthwort) to widespread kidney disease in
the Balkans."
(4/13, Preidt) reports that aristolochic acid, a component of herbal
remedies containing Aristolochia, may "cause kidney failure and upper
urinary tract cancer," according to a study published online April 9 in
the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. After
studying 151 Taiwanese patients with cancer of the upper urinary tract,
"researchers found that 83 percent of the patients had evidence in their
kidneys of DNA changes that are related to the plant toxin and
associated with the development of
cancer." A previous study "linked the ingestion of Aristolochia
clematitis (commonly known as birthwort) to widespread kidney disease in
the Balkans."
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