Re: CHinese herb issues

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 8/17/2005 10:29:52 AM Eastern Daylight Time,

skydanse@... writes:

The herbs that I order from sensiblehealth.com do not have these particular

herbs. She has a complete list of ingredients and their properties in

everything she uses.

this is what I understand from info from my naturopathic buddies that seems

accurate to me.

1) Chinese patent medicine (like their version of Tylenol, antiacids, etc)

are often manufactured by different standards than those in the US. The

Chinese routinely laced these medicines with drugs appropriate to their use --

ie

antibiotics laced into sinus herbal decongestants for example. If you want US

GMP (good manufacturing practices) you must buy a brands either manufactured

in the US or one of the European countries. They exist.

2) Chinese dry herbs imported into US then used for teas are fumigated at

the border and will carry the chemicals used in fumigation. Also, China is a

very polluted country and their water could (note I said could) be from a

polluted source. It depends on where the herbs are grown. That is one risk of

taking Chinese-grown Chinese herbal tea. But many of those herbals are

excellent

products and are, for me, worth that risk. Furthermore, some of these herbs

are grown in the US and you are only subject to US pollution and chemical

farming standards if they are grown chemically. (nature's Sunshine chinese herbs

come to mind for US grown Chinese herbals)

3) Some Chinese herbs (like MANY drugs and non-Chinese herbs) can cause

side-effects including very serious things like cancer. Remember ma huang which

was removed from the market in the US. It was an excellent cough suppressant,

however, it was also a stimulate and therefore abused by people looking for

a high. This should be viewed in the light of all the US drug scandals of

drugs rushed to market too quickly or ones abused like Ocycontin.

Chinese herbs are very effective. I use them routinely. But I treat them

with care just like I treat US herbs with care and US patent medicines and US

drugs.

Just my 2 cents.

(Atlanta)

[Guest guest]

1) Chinese patent medicine (like their version of Tylenol, antiacids, etc)

are often manufactured by different standards than those in the US. The

Chinese routinely laced these medicines with drugs appropriate to their use

-- ie

antibiotics laced into sinus herbal decongestants for example. If you want

US

GMP (good manufacturing practices) you must buy a brands either manufactured

in the US or one of the European countries. They exist.

There are many manufacturers in China using GMP practices, and routinely

screen for heavy metals and other toxins.

2) Chinese dry herbs imported into US then used for teas are fumigated at

the border and will carry the chemicals used in fumigation.

Not all.

3) Some Chinese herbs (like MANY drugs and non-Chinese herbs) can cause

side-effects including very serious things like cancer.

Many things when used improperly can cause cancer. Take radiation and chemo

for instance. Chinese herbs are no more dangerous as a whole than any other

herbs on the face of the earth.

Remember ma huang which

was removed from the market in the US. It was an excellent cough suppressant,

Bronchial dialator (5000 years of recorded use) not cough suppressant.