Mercury in Chinese Medicines

Patented Asian Medicinals are commercially manufactured, mass produced medicines that follow traditional Chinese formulations. Manufactured medicinals are sold in packages, with pictures of the wildlife they claim to contain, such as the illustration of a tiger or rhinoceros on the box. There typically are no animal parts in these patented over-the-counter medicinals, but they do contain significant levels of mercury sulfide and arsenic.

The Chinese pharmacopoeia lists realgar (arsenic sulfide) and cinnabar (mercury sulfide) as therapeutic agents. Traditionally they have been used in Asian medicinals. However, none of the medicines analyzed list them as ingredients. Realgar and cinnabar appear to be associated with products claiming to contain tiger bone or rhinoceros horn.

Studies evaluating levels of these compounds have not been completed. However, studies published in Australia reported chronic arsenic sulfide poisoning from traditional Chinese medicine with an average intake of approximately 10.3 milligrams per day. Studies published in Britain reported chronic mercury sulfide poisoning from Indian ethnic remedies with approximately 262.0 milligrams per day. Ingestion of the daily recommended dose of Asian herbal balls could theoretically provide up to 72 milligrams of arsenic and up to 1.2 grams of mercury.

Analysis of Herbal Ball Samples

Medicinal Name	Manufacturer	Location	Ar	Hg
An Gong Niu Huang Wan	Tung Jen Tang Pharmaceutical Factory	Nanjing China	yes	yes
Da Huo Luo Wan	Guanghou Chen Li Ji Pharmaceutical Factory	Guangzhou China	no	yes
Dendrobium Moniliforme Night Sight	Tientsin Drug Manufactory	Tianjin China	no	no
Niu Huang Chiang Ya Wan	Tianjin Drug Manufactory	Tianjin China	yes	no
Niu Huang Chiang Hsin Wan	Peking Tung Jen Tang	Peking China	yes	yes
Niu Huang Chiang Hsin Wan	Tientsin Manufactory	Tientsin China	yes	yes
Niu Huang Chiang Hsin Wan	Beijing Tongren Tang	Beijing China	yes	yes
Niu Huang Qing Xin Wan	Niu Huang Qing Xin Wan	Beijing China	yes	yes
Ta Huo Lo Tan	Beijing Tung Jen Tang	Beijing China	yes	no
Tsai Tsao Wan	Peking Tung Jen Tang	Peking China	yes	yes
Yan Shen Jai Jao Wan	United Pharmaceutical Manufactory	Fushan China	no	yes

Espinoza, E.O., Mann, M.J., Bleasdell, B., DeKorte, S.,and Cox, M. "Toxic Metals in Selected Traditional Chinese Medicinals," Journal of Forensic Sciences, JFSCA, Vol.41,No.3,May 1996, pp. 453-456.

An examination of traditional Chinese medicine preparation that purport to contain endangered-species products revealed the presence of inorganic forms of mercury and arsenic. We analyzed 12 types of commercially produced herbal-ball preparations (n = 85) using X-ray flourescence spectroscopy and atomic absorpton spectroscopy. Mercury levels ranged from 7.8 to 621.3 milligrams and arsenic levels ranged from 0.1 to 36.6 milligrams per ball. The recommended adult dose for these preparations is two balls daily. At this dose the maximum elemental intake per day is up to 73.2 milligrams of arsenic and 1.2 grams of mercury. While arsenic poisoning is usually associated with foul play and mercury poisoning is usually associated with environmental comtamination, forensic scientists should be aware that these elements may be consumed in connection with cultural and lifestyle preferences.