Traditional Chinese Medicine, or TCM, uses herbs as remedies for conditions from acne to cancer, based on ancient medicinal practices. Quite a few of those herbs are common supplements today. However, many Chinese herbs have not been properly tested for effectiveness and safety, and some are unsafe or even banned in the United States because they carry unacceptable health risks.
Ginkgo
Gingko biloba has been used in Chinese medicine for centuries. TCM made use of the leaves and seeds of the ginkgo tree, but modern ginkgo biloba extract is made only from the dried green leaves. Although gingko has shown promise in some studies for boosting cognitive functioning, other studies have found it no better than a placebo. Gingko can cause seizures in epileptics and can interfere with seizure medications. It can also decrease effectiveness of antidepressant medications. In addition, the University of Maryland Medical Center reports that people on blood-thinning medications, or those who have scheduled surgery, should avoid gingko as it may cause bleeding disorders. Gingko should be considered unsafe for pregnant and nursing women, since it has not been tested on that population.
Ma Huang
The Chinese herb ma huang, or ephedra, has been used as a bronchial dilator and remedy in Chinese medicine for a wide range of ailments. It was sold in the United States as a performance enhancer, weight-loss aid and natural stimulant until 2004. After an FDA investigation revealed that ma huang was associated with over 100 deaths and thousands of reports of adverse events, they banned it from sale. The primary danger with ma huang is cardiovascular damage and heart attack.
Aristolochic Acid
Many Chinese herbs contain the naturally occurring toxin aristolochic acid. Most of these herbs are members of the Aristolochia family, and may not be identified on the product label. Chinese herbs containing aristolochic acid are primarily sold as weight-loss supplements, and the FDA issued a warning about 18 different brands in 2001. However, since the supplement industry is largely unregulated, they are still sold in the United States. Several studies have clearly implicated aristolochic acid in urinary tract and other cancers. The FDA says it is associated with permanent kidney damage and kidney failure as well.
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