Mercury in Traditional Medicines: Is Cinnabar Toxicologically Similar to Common Mercurials?

Chinese patent medicine as a potential source of mercury poisoning.

This research is an effort to create an awareness of the potential hazards of some Chinese patent medicines which contain mercurial ingredients. This should be of consideration when screening symptomatic patients who are of Asian ethnic background or other users of these medicines. This research discusses reported cases of mercury poisoning related to the use of Chinese patent medicines and the...

Antimicrobial Activity of Traditional Chinese Medicines on Common Oral Bacteria

Objective: To evaluate twenty Traditional Chinese Medicines (TCM) against four oral bacteria. Methods: Twenty TCM were tested for sensitivity against Streptococcus mitis, Streptococcus sanguis, Streptococcus mutans and Porphyromonas gingivalis. Aliquots of suspension of each bacterial species were inoculated on a horse blood agar (HBA) plate, 6 mm diameter paper disks was soaked in different dr...

WHO moves to classify traditional medicines.

Traditional Medicines and Traditional Healers in South Africa

Executive Summary Traditional healers have a crucial role to play in building the health system in South Africa and strengthening and supporting the national response to HIV/AIDS. This paper sketches a background to traditional healing in South Africa and discusses international policies, guidelines and the South African legal framework on traditional health practitioners. It argues for the reg...

Traditional herbal medicines for malaria.