Beware! Three Traditional Medicines Contain Poisons By Finaz Daniel

Bandar Seri Begawan - Based on a report announcing that three traditional medicines have been found to be adulterated with controlled poisons, an inspection conducted by the Ministry of Health, through the Pharmacy Enforcement Section, has found one of the affected products (Pronoton Capsules) to be available for sale in the local market.

The ministry said that based on the report from the Drug Control Authorities in neighbouring countries, the following affected traditional medicines are:

• Ramuan Asy-Syifa
• Pronoton Capsules (manufactured by Shitek Micro Algae Sdn Bhd, Malaysia)
• Edoly Capsules (manufactured by Shen Loon She Enterprise Sdn Bhd, Malaysia)

The drug Sildenafil, found in Ramuan Asy-Syifa and Pronoton Capsules, is used in the treatment of male impotency which can interact with other medicines, resulting in serious adverse affects such as the lowering of blood pressure if combined with some anti-hypertensive drugs.

Also found contained in Ramuan Asy-Syifa is paracetamol, used for pain and fever, the long-term consumption of which may cause rashes, lowered blood pressure and blood disorder. Furthermore, overdos age could lead to kidney and liver damage.

The unsupervised ingestion of Chlorpheniramine (found in Edoly Capsules) may lead to dizziness, lowering of blood pressure, confusion, in coordination and drowsiness.

Importers were instructed to recall the affected product, Pronoton Capsules, from the market and the Ministry of Health advises consumers to stop using the said product.

The selling of any product containing any substance controlled under the Poisons Act is an offence under the Poison Act 1956 and the penalty for such an offence upon conviction is a fine of $8,000 or imprisonment of six months.

The ministry would also like to advise members of the public in possession of the affected products to destroy or surrender them to the Pharmacy Enforcement Section, Block 2G, 8th Floor, BSB Health Centre at Jalan Ong Sum Ping, Bandar Seri Begawan.

According to a long-time practising local private doctor, the popular trend of purchasing traditional medicines such as these is largely because of irresponsible advertising.

People just want to be healthy and think buying traditional medicine supplements is the easy way to do this, said the clinic doctor who wished to remain unnamed.

For local teacher Norakilah Mohiddin, the need to purchase traditional medicines is a way out of having to be medically examined in the hospital for embarrassing medical ailments.

"I buy my supplements and medicines from reputable shops so I tend to trust them," she said. "It is also a cheaper alternative."

"The products I buy are from Malaysia which means it is halal," said local banker Hardi Yusoff as his reason for purchasing health supplements.

"These companies use marketing strategies that are aimed towards individuals who are looking for a quick alternative way to be healthy," said the clinic doctor, adding that some of the supplements even neglect to list down their contents.

Nowadays, companies not only produce health supplements but in some instances also machines, including chairs and even mattresses, that claim to cure health disorders such as rheumatism, said the clinic doctor.

"What the public should be aware of is that if the product really does cure rheumatism, hospitals would have acquired the product already," said the doctor.

"All the food we can eat contains all the vitamins the body needs to be healthy," said the medical practitioner, adding that people nowadays are too lazy to work at being healthy.

Nowadays, individuals turn to dieting pills to stay slim when all that is needed is exercise and proper sleep, said the doctor.

"Some of the traditional medicines and supplements work and some don't. The public should buy products that have only been approved by the Ministry of Health," he advised. -- Courtesy of Borneo Bulletin

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