Traditional Chinese medicine is increasingly used as an alternative, natural and safe choice of medicine. However, a laboratory in Hong Kong, which published its findings in the British Journal of Clinical Pharmacology, reveals that the safety of these products is often compromised by adulteration (a criminal activity which consists of adding or substituting a product for another product). The most frequently used adulterants found in the 404 samples were: nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (18%), anorectics (15%), corticosteroids (14%), diuretics and laxatives (11%), oral antidiabetic agents (10%), and erectile dysfunction medicines (6%). The products cause many side effects, some of which are severe and even fatal.
Source : www.eurekalert.org