Herbal, homeopathic and other "alternative" forms of health care are growing in popularity. Frustrated with the slow pace and incomprehensible jargon of mainstream scientific/medical research, many folks turn to the folk medicines of India or China, or to the hippie traditions of the New Age Movement.
Some of the "herbals" used by these faith-based traditions may well prove efficacious--eventually, but until they are thoroughly and honestly tested, major caution is advised. Recently, there have been several cases in which the contents did not match the label. In one case, violations were so severe that the Government of Australia shut down the manufacturer (Source: BBC online).
The second case, reported by Reuters (Feb, 21), concerns several concoctions marketed as "Chinese Herbal Diabetes Treatments." It seems one diabetic patient experienced severe hypoglycemia after using one such product, and handed samples over to the authorities, who analyzed the contents. The "herbal medication" in fact contained the Sulfonylurea Glyburide and the weight-loss drug Phenformin, both prescription medications, and both un-named on the label. As it is a crime to dispense prescription medications while calling them something else, and another to dispense them without prescription, the authorities tested further, and found five different "diabetes medications" with dishonest labels and illegal contents.
Please recognize the importers of "alternative" medications may not operate under the same laws, scrutiny, or sense of responsibility as the mainstream prescription drugmakers. It is now a matter of legal record that some of these firms have lied about the contents. It's your body; be certain what you're putting in it.