Press Release

DH surveillance captured an adulterated proprietary Chinese medicine

11 May 2010

The Department of Health (DH) today (May 11) urged members of the public not to buy or take a proprietary Chinese medicine for relieving joint pain called 【999】Zhuanggu Guangjie Wan (Wan) (【999】壯骨關節丸) with provisional registration number HKP-05345 as analysis by Government Laboratory found undeclared chemicals.

The appeal is made in view of the detection of two chemicals, psoralen (補骨脂素) and iso-psoralen (異補骨脂素) in the Wan but are not on the product's label by DH's Chinese medicine surveillance programme.

The presence of the two chemicals indicated that psoralen- and iso-psoralen- containing Chinese herbs, not declared as ingredients, are probably included in the Wan. Common herbs containing the respective chemicals are Psoraleae corylifolia L (補骨脂) which has the functions of invigorating the kidneys, easing asthma and stopping diarrhea (補腎助陽,納氣平喘,溫脾止瀉) and "Heracleum candicans Wall. ex DC" (白獨活) which can cure coughing and kill pains (散風止咳,除濕止痛).

The wholesaler, Hong Kong San Jiu Medical Limited (香港三九醫藥有限公司), which imported the drug from the Mainland, is ordered by the DH to recall the Wan from consumers because although the undeclared chemicals are not known to pose health hazards, the findings pointed to quality and labelling defects. The company has set up a hotline 2408 0789 to answer related enquiries.

Meanwhile, investigation into the cause of the adulteration is to continue and DH has already been in contact with its Mainland counterpart.

The spokesman reminded members of the public to check their Chinese medicine stock carefully and act accordingly. For those who have used the product and feel unwell, they should seek the expert advice of healthcare professionals.