Press Release

DH finds undeclared ingredients in proprietary Chinese medicine

26 Mar 2009

The Department of Health (DH) today (March 26) urged members of the public not to buy or use a proprietary Chinese medicine called "Sci-tica Herbal Pills" which was found to contain undeclared ingredient.

The appeal was made in view of the detection of an undeclared chemical substance "tetrahydropalmatine" in the product during DH's surveillance exercise.

Tetrahydropalmatine is an alkaloid found in some Chinese herbs. It can be used as analgesics, anxiolytics and sedatives.

A DH spokesman said Tetrahydropalmatine's reported toxic effects include depression of neurological, respiratory and cardiac functions in paediatric cases, as well as hepatitis after prolonged use in adults.

The DH inspected the manufacturer this afternoon and instructed the management to recall the product from the market.

The manufacturer has set up a hotline 2799 9541 to answer public enquiries about recall arrangements.

DH will also set up a hotline 2209 9441 for public enquiries from 9 am to 5 pm from tomorrow onwards.

The spokesman urged members of the public who have used the product to stop taking it immediately and seek advice from healthcare professionals if they feel unwell.

They should submit the product to the DH's Chinese Medicine Section at 2/F, Public Health Laboratory Centre, 382 Nam Cheong Street, Kowloon during office hours, or destroy them before disposal.