National Institute of Medical Herbalists

Press Release 17/2/10

European Herbal and Traditional Medicine Practitioners Association

Old Bailey Case Highlights need for Statutory Regulation of Herbalists

Today at the Old Bailey Patricia Booth won her case against the Chinese “doctor”, Ying "Susan" Wu, who supplied Chinese herbal pills containing a banned herb, Aristolochia fangchi that contains an acid that is toxic to the kidneys. As a result of taking the pills Patricia Booth’s kidneys ceased to function. She has developed cancer and is dependent on dialysis and is awaiting a kidney transplant.

The Old Bailey judge in charge of the case ruled that, as the sale of traditional Chinese medicines was totally unregulated, there was no evidence that Wu knew of the potential harm.

This case highlights the urgent and immediate need for the statutory regulation of herbal practitioners throughout the UK – something which the House of Lords Select Committee on Science and Technology called for in 2000 and three subsequent Department of Health Committees also backed in the last decade.

The Government committed to the statutory regulation of herbalists in 2001 and even published a timetable for this to occur in 2005 following a public consultation that showed overwhelming public support for statutory regulation of this sector. Statutory regulation would ensure the safety and quality of herbal medicines used by UK herbalists and all of whom would be properly trained and fully up to date with the latest safety data about the medicines they use.

Michael McIntyre, Chair of the EHTPA said today (17/2/10)

““It beggars belief that the Government appears content to place lives at risk because of its abject failure to provide statutory regulation of herbal medicine practitioners.

“They promised regulation nearly ten years ago. They even announced a timetable which would have seen it happen in 2005. Instead,  Ministers set up another Steering Group and another consultation.  It is time to stop talking and start acting.”

Contact Details: Michael McIntyre - Chair of EHTPA  07989 301963