Chinese medicines are preffered, though risky

Damar Harsanto, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

The Indonesian Consumer Health Empowerment Foundation (YPKKI) has accused the Food and Drug agency (POM) of endangering lives by failing to control the use of traditional Chinese medicines.

Chinese herbal medicines are enjoying growing popularity among many people in Jakarta as an alternative to Western drugs, despite the risks.

YPKKI head Dr. Marius Widjajarta said Chinese drugs were not identifying the ingredients used in the medicines.

"Consumers do not know whether or not the medicines contain dangerous substances, like sedatives," Marius said.

Marius called on POM to require all Chinese drug distributors and vendors register their medicines before selling them in markets for the sake of customer safety.

Sutikno, 40, a resident of Harmoni, in Kota, West Jakarta said: "I have been using Chinese herbal drugs for two years. And, so far, it has proven effective in curing common sicknesses, like fever, cough or dizziness."

Sutikno said he will send packages of Chinese medicine to his father in Purwokerto, Central Java, who has a kidney stone.

"He is sick of seeing doctors who do nothing. So, he wants to try Chinese drugs as an alternative. You have nothing to lose if you use Chinese drugs, as a pack of the medicine only costs Rp 10,000," said Sutikno.

Ayin, a staff member at the Po Ho Seng drug store in West Jakarta, said many consumers come to purchase packaged Chinese medicines for common sicknesses.

"Pills and herbs to cure gastric problems, headaches, typhoid and stress are medicines which are in high demand," Ayin said.

Ayin blamed unhealthy lifestyles and poor environmental conditions for the sicknesses.

"Many people become workaholics so they forget to eat regularly and watch their food consumption. They are also eat too much fat and cholesterol. Vegetables are necessary for their gastric health," Ayin said.

Meanwhile, Rosdiana, an employee of a foreign bank on Jl. Imam Bonjol claimed that she had been using Chinese medicines regularly since her childhood.

"I have no worries about fake drugs. Just buy them at known Chinese drug stores to ensure the medicines are real."

Rosdiana said she often consumed Chinese medicines, like Sep Lintan for headaches and Phi Pha Mi Kao for coughing.

A Chinese drug vendor in Pancoran, West Jakarta, Kuncoro said some Chinese medicines were locally made.

"Tay Pin San, a drug for gastric problem, for instance is made in Tangerang though it uses a Chinese name," Kuncoro said, adding that some medicines were made in Malaysia and Singapore.

Kuncoro said Chinese drugs were made of herbs, roots, or animal parts which were then brewed into potions.

"We often use antlers, dried sea horses, lizards, snakes or herbs and roots as ingredients to brew the potion," he said.

Ailin of Bintang Selatan Chinese Drug Store in Pancoran said people enjoyed the efficiency of the Chinese potions and sales of the drugs were relatively stable.

Ailin has been running the business for more than 10 years after inheriting the business from her great-grandparents.