Chemistry and Biological Activities of Selected Popular Chinese Herbs in the US Market-7 - 農業知識入口網

7.Concluding remarks on TCM quality

As Chinese herbal medicines move into the US markets, and into the dietary supplement mainstream, the value of these products to the health care industry and to consumers will be predicated largely on their proper use, additional scientific studies using both animal and human studies to evaluate efficacy, and ensuring that a quality product reaches the consumer. Issues and problems that now surround these medicinal plants include lack of botanical authentication; lack of natural product standardization whether for a single, blended or complex herbal mix; and the spiking or adulteration of final products. Other product problems on Asian herbs such as the presence of undesired heavy metals, pesticides and nontarget plant debris in the final products are also part and parcel of such a QC imperative, though not addressed in this brief overview. All of these issues can be minimized or eliminated with a strong scientific-driven quality control program that if implemented can further promote Chinese Traditional Medicines to the mantle it richly deserves within an integrated western health care system.