Research (Shannon Pei) - How safe is TCM?

The problem is that research is usually done on bits and pieces, instead of the holistic version of TCM. As in, there are individual studies conducted on acupuncture, medicine, etc, but none on TCM as a whole.

Cue verbal diarrhea.

Drugs and Medicine:

Some Chinese herbal treatments may be safe, but others may not be. There have been reports of products being contaminated with drugs, toxins, or heavy metals or not containing the listed ingredients. Some of the herbs are very powerful, can interact with drugs, and may have serious side effects. For example, the Chinese herb ephedra (ma huang) has been linked to serious health complications, including heart attack and stroke. In 2004, the FDA banned the sale of ephedra-containing dietary supplements used for weight loss and performance enhancement, but the ban does not apply to TCM remedies or to herbal teas.

~http://nccam.nih.gov/health/whatiscam/chinesemed.htm#safety

Recent samples of TCMs found on the UK which pose a risk to public health have contained:

• mercury
• toxic herbal ingredients (typically where a toxic herb has a similar name or similar appearance to the intended ingredient)
• potent prescription only medicines (POM), the safe use of which require supervision by a doctor
• human placenta.

~http://www.mhra.gov.uk/Safetyinformation/Generalsafetyinformationandadvice/Herbalmedicines/Usingherbalmedicinessafely/AdviceforconsumersonusingTradionalChineseMedicinesTCMs/

Only a small number of products have been scientifically validated, with their perceived efficacy instead promoted through folklore and word of mouth. 

In the 1990s, for example, the toxic herb Aristolochia fangchi was confused for the anti-inflammatory plant Stephania tetrandra at a slimming clinic in Belgium, leading to more than 100 women suffering kidney failure, many of whom later developed cancer of the urinary system.

Herbal medicines labeled as food supplements often slip under the radar of regulatory agents like the Food and Drug Administration in the United States or the Therapeutic Goods Administration in Australia, even if their ingredients are not explicitly detailed. Despite numerous cases of adverse reactions, concerns about their efficacy, legality and safety have gone unanswered since no solid method existed to determine their ingredients.

(Results of a test conducted to find out what sort of plants and animals are found in TCM medicine):

-They found goat, sheep, deer, buffalo, cow and toad DNA, in addition to endangered Saiga antelope and vulnerable Asiatic black bear. Both of the latter species are protected under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species, which includes China among its 175 signatories.

-The most common included mint — often used to treat gastrointestinal upset and gallbladder problems — and liquorice root — classified as one of the Chinese 50 fundamental herbs and threatened with species extirpation in some Chinese provinces because of over-harvesting.

Among the benign plants, however, the researchers found Ephedra, a poisonous herb banned in the United States, and, within a product labeled as laryngitis medicine, aristolochic acid from aristolochia, a known nephrotoxin, hepatotoxin and carcinogen.

Over all, 78 percent of the samples contained animal DNA that was not labeled in Chinese or English on the packaging. Saiga antelope horn powder, for example, claimed to be 100 percent pure, yet was laced with traces of goat and sheep.

In addition to the mislabeling, a big problem with the medicines was their lack of dosage instruction. Typically, the packaging did not include labels describing how much of a particular ingredient is included in each serving, what dosage people should take or how often they should consume it

~http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/04/12/breaking-down-traditional-chinese-medicine/

Acupuncture

• When performed correctly it is safe
• There are very few side effects
• It is a very effective combination treatment
• It is effective in controlling some types of pain
• It may be considered for patients who do not respond to pain medications
• It is a useful alternative for patients who do not want to take pain medication

• It is dangerous if the patient has a bleeding disorder
• It the dangerous if the patient is taking blood thinners
• There may be bleeding, bruising and soreness at the insertion sites
• The needle may break and damage an internal organ (very rare)
• Unsterilized needles may infect the patient
• When inserted deeply into the chest or upper back there is a risk of collapsed lung (very rare)

~http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/156488.php

Conclusion

TCM is recognized as an alternative method to curing illnesses when the norm (Western Medicine) doesn't work, hence it's label as 'alternative medicine'. However, in Singapore, Medical Certificates are not valid as expert's advice in schools and organisations, thus, students are not allowed to miss school on only the advice of a TCM practitioner. It would also be much safer if TCM practitioners followed work ethics by sterilising their needles before using, and ensuring they have a full skill set and are properly trained before trying to heal others.