Caution on consuming herbal medicine

When it comes to herbal medicine, people cast their doubts apart. The very word ‘herbal’ instills so much trust in the buyers that they trust them on their face value. Here comes a shocker: the herbals you consume may be fake designed to dupe the buyers.

Two studies have revealed that all herbal medicines available in the market are not be trust worthy. Released on Thursday, both the studies cautioned people against buying Chinese herbal medicines without verifying their claims. 

A case in point is the Chinese herbal jellies available in the market for sale. One of the studies carried out by City University has come out with the data that three products of herbal jelly meant to detoxify the body could not qualify the authenticity test. 

These three products were among 18 samples researchers had taken for the study. They lacked substances essential in detoxification. 

While some herbal jellies lack in medicinal properties, Cordyceps that are bought at high prices could be fabricated with substances like bamboo picks and metal wire.

Plastrum testudinis and Wolfiporia were conspicuously absent in the three samples of the herbal jelly. 

Cheung Hon- yeung, deputy director of City University department of biochemistry said in the absence of the two essential components the herbal jellies would remain no more than just jelly, sans any medicinal properties.

The interesting part of the episode is that the herbal shops are not ready to accept the findings. They still insist that their products possess all components listed on their labels.

Another study found that 40% of Cordyceps sinensis either possessed elements harmful for human consumption or were simply faked the real thing. Cordyceps sinensis is also called caterpillar fungus. 

The Chinese University carried out the study which revealed that some of the samples contained metal or chemicals which were ostensibly added to increase the weight of the fungus. 

Explaining about the risks involved in consumption of the products, Paul But Pui-hay, biology professor at CUHK said,

"Five out of 15 types of Cordyceps sinensis contain a medical substance called C. hawkesii Gray, which may lead to dizziness and vomiting when taken."