Clarifications on Mu Tong, Akebia

[Guest guest]

Sorry, I should probably know this as many of you do I'm sure, but

what is the current thinking on Mu Tong, Akebia, with respect to the

FDA/legality and health risks? My understanding is that there was

concern that Akebia could be contaminated/confused with aristilochic

acid-containing herbs... Where do things stand now?

 

Thanks

[Guest guest]

At 06:16 PM 4/17/2006, you wrote:

>Sorry, I should probably know this as many of you do I'm sure, but

>what is the current thinking on Mu Tong, Akebia, with respect to the

>FDA/legality and health risks? My understanding is that there was

>concern that Akebia could be contaminated/confused with aristilochic

>acid-containing herbs... Where do things stand now?

 

Health Concerns (herbal tablet manufacturer) claims to use a Mu Tong

" aristolochic acid free " in its " Akebia Moist Heat " formula. This

indicates that apparently, when verifiably non-contaminated with some

banned chemical(s), the stuff is being imported.

 

 

[Guest guest]

The KPC catalogue lists clematis as the botanical for mu tong, which

according to Bensky is guang mu tong; however, in the back of their

catalogue under akebia, they also list mu tong. I called to see which

one was the mu tong they sold when a practitioner requests mu tong,

and I was told that akebia was the common name and clematis the latin

name for the same herb!! I asked the person to get some much-needed

clarification, and was told in a later message that akebia is the

" aka " name for reference for those who don't know the name clematis

(obviously still considering the herbs to be the same).

 

In any case, both were banned here and in England around 2001, but

whether this was for contamination/substitution risk or something

considered dangerous about the herbs themselves I'm not sure. if they

are now available, is this due to an elimination of contamination risk

or a rethinking of the risks of the herbs? Clematis is available now

from KPC, but apparently akebia is not. I wonder which Mu Tong/Akebia

is in Health Concerns' formula?

 

Thanks for the reply. If anyone has any more information on this I

would be grateful.

 

--Jim

 

Chinese Medicine ,

< wrote:

 

> Health Concerns (herbal tablet manufacturer) claims to use a Mu Tong

> " aristolochic acid free " in its " Akebia Moist Heat " formula. This

> indicates that apparently, when verifiably non-contaminated with some

> banned chemical(s), the stuff is being imported.

>

>

>