Why TCM Products Are Seen as Poison Pills Abroad

(Beijing) – On August 20, Britain's Medicines and Health Care Products Regulatory Agency issued a press release warning that extreme caution should be used with a number of traditional Chinese medicines (TCM) because they could contain dangerously high levels of toxins, including lead, mercury and arsenic.

The release said the drugs are not authorized for sale in Britain, but can be bought on the Internet. "People are warned to exercise extreme caution when buying unlicensed medicines as they have not been assessed for safety and quality, and standards can vary widely," it says.