TOXIC and chemical-laced ingredients used in the making of traditional Chinese medicines were found all over in Bozhou City in Anhui Province by investigators who have launched nationwide crackdown on illegal production and sale of drugs.
Zhusha (mercuric sulfide), hongfen (mercury compound) and other toxic substances used in some classic TCMs are easily accessible in Bozhou TCM Materials Trading Center despite a ban, CCTV news reported. Some herbs were found to have been steamed with industrial sulphur to make it look good with an extended shelf life.
"I had once seen a dead rat when workers were fumigating the herbs," a female vendor said. But she said she didn't fear about health risks because "Chinese people can still survive even after eating swill oil."
Vendors meanwhile have figured out variety of ways to add weight to the raw materials, especially in expensive dried animals like sea horses and vipers, which costs thousands of yuan per kilogram, CCTV reported.
Weights on Ziheche, also known as dried human placenta, can go up to more than 100 grams - double the original weight. Ziheche is believed to be capable of curing menstrual disorders and asthma and improve blood circulation. But there is a national ban on trading because of the possibility of viruses.
A vendor selling a kind of dried beetles revealed his secret on how they gain weight before they are killed. "Just treat them like human beings," he said. "Leave them starving for three days and then feed them as much food as possible on the fourth day."
On Wednesday, the State Food and Drug Administration launched a crackdown on illegal drug-related production and operations that will last for six months. They are specially targeting those violating TCM and online drug sales.
Spokeswoman Yan Jiang-ying said the administration will establish more regulations and mechanisms for regular management in the field and to control the drug safety risks.
Last month, Greenpeace reported that 48 of the 65 Chinese herbs purchased from Chinese mainland pharmacies had tested positive for pesticide residue.
In March, Guangxi Yingkang Pharmacy Co was ordered to stop selling Yingqiao cold tablets mixed with vitamin C which were available over-the-counter. One of the raw materials used in the tablet, wild honeysuckle flower, was processed with industrial sulphur that contained toxic arsenic and mercury.
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