downtoearth-subscribe

Bad medicine

The UK has banned the import and sale of a Chinese herbal medicine after it was linked to kidney failure. Aristolochia, used to treat fluid retention and rheumatic symptoms, was banned until October 27 on the advice of the Independent Committee on Safety of Medicines.

The government said Aristolochia had been prescribed "by mistake' after it was confused with a medicine made from the clematis plant with the same name in Chinese,

Related Content