Chinese Herb May Cause Cancer

A herb used in Chinese medicine, which has already been linked to kidney failure, may also cause cancer. This has been found out after research in US. Aristolochia fangchi, is the herb used in Chinese medicine.

At a Belgian dietary clinic between 1990 and 1992, this herb was given to patients. More than 100 of them later suffered kidney damage. This was reported in the New England Journal of Medicine. Many of those patients have also since developed cancers or irregularities of the urinary tract. Aristolochia was given to patients at the Belgian clinic by mistake in a diet pill as its name in Chinese is similar to another substance, Stephania tetrandra.

• These findings reinforce the idea that the use of natural herbal medicine may not be without risk

• This also questions the the "myth" that herbs and other dietary supplements tend to be safer than conventional medicines.