Chinese Herbs and Food Safety
Pet Food Recall a Reminder to Know Source of Your Chinese Medicine
In the wake of the pet food recall, concerns about contaminated Chinese foodstuffs extend to herbal formulas and supplements. How to be sure what you are taking is safe.
The recent recall of pet foods found to be contaminated with melamine brings up the overall issue of quality control in food related products imported from China. Traditional Chinese medicinal products have also been recalled in the past few years based on contamination concerns. When using Chinese formulas and supplements it is critical to chose carefully to ensure that what is purchased to enhance wellness does not end up causing illness.
So how do you know if a particular Chinese medicine is safe? The place to start is by examining the packaging. If there is no Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) seal, don’t buy it. The GMP seal ensures that the product has been certified by the Department of Health, Republic of China based on the standards of the Commonwealth Department of Health, Australia. Products without the seal are the ones likely to contain ingredients that are potentially dangerous.
The best manufacturers go beyond GMP requirements when testing for bacteria, including E. Coli and Salmonella, as well as the heavy metals which are common soil contaminants in various parts of China.
There is another issue that consumers need to be aware of. Because Traditional Chinese Medicine has been practiced for over 4,000 years some of the classical formulas include ingredients that we now know to be dangerous. The use of cinnabar, lead, arsenic, magnetite, etc. was once common. Modern herbalists use other healthier ingredients in their place.
The best case scenario would be to see a TCM practitioner before taking any Chinese herbal formulas or supplements. The advantage is that you will be evaluated by the practitioner who considers all aspects of your lifestyle and present health before designing a formula specifically for you. In addition practitioners generally use the most reliable sources for their medicines.
But even without visiting a practitioner it is possible to find quality Chinese Medicines. As with any food or medicine, reading the label is key. The label should include the English name of the ingredient (this may be the Latin name in cases where a plant has common names that may be confusing), the PinYin name of the ingredient and the percentage of the ingredient that they guarantee to be in the formula. If there is any ingredient that you are unsure about, do some research before taking the product. It is well worth the greater cost to use products that have been carefully prepared. After all, you are taking them to enhance, not damage, your health.
