Given that our poisonous chinese medicine thread got locked down, I'm starting a new thread on this subject. Toxins in OTC TCM is a great concern, especially given dubious regulation standards. It's a very relevant discussion here, not just as a caveat, but also so TCM practitioners and users can dispose of these products properly.

Page last updated at 09:59 GMT, Tuesday, 2 March 2010
Harmful Chinese medicine on sale in St Helier

People in Jersey who have taken a herbal medicine that has been linked to cancer have been urged by the health department to contact their GP.

Aristolochia, banned under Jersey Law was found in a product at Dr Beijing, St Helier.

Dr Rosemary Geller, medical officer of health, said it can affect kidneys and urged anyone who had taken "Jing Zhi Ke Sou Tan Chuan Wan" to see a doctor.

Police said the shop's owner had been cooperative and no arrests were made.

'Medicine shared'

Dr Geller said: "I am very concerned that this issue has arisen in Jersey but am confident that action has been taken urgently to loook into the mattter."

Dr Susan Turnbull, the deputy medical officer of health and police, visited the shop and ensured all the medicine containing the substance have been removed from stock.

They could identify some customers who had bought the product from shops records and have contacted them.

Dr Turnball said: "There may be more people who have taken this product than the records suggest.

"People may also have shared the medication with others believing as the product is herbal, it must therefore be safe.

"This is simply not the case."

Aristolochia is banned under the Aristolochia, Mu Tong and Fangi Prohibition (Jersey) Order 2002