Poison alert on Chinese medicine
Health regulators have issued a warning over some Chinese medicines, saying they contain “dangerously high” levels of lead, mercury and arsenic.
The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) said the unlicensed traditional Chinese medicines included some meant for children.
None have been authorised for use in the UK but investigators have found them readily available on the internet. One product, was found to have extremely high levels of arsenic by the Swedish National Food Agency, the MHRA said. The product is called Niu-Huang Chieh-tu-pein, Divya Kaishore Guggul or Chandraprabha Vatiand and is used for treating mumps, sore throat, tonsillitis, toothache, skin infections, anorexia and fever in young children.