'Tonics harmful not healthful'

'Tonics harmful not healthful'

PALEMBANG: A number of tonics sold in South Sumatra markets,
which are traditionally made of medicinal herbs, have been found
to contain dangerous additives, an official says.

Head of public relations at the drug control agency
Burhanuddin Gumay said on Saturday that 82 tonics for different
ailments had been found to contain substances that were
addictive, harmful to one's health, or, in high doses, lethal.

He said the traders believed the additives would improve their
tonics' curative effect, but common sense would suggest
otherwise.

"But people keep drinking them anyway, and the dangerous
chemicals accumulate in their bodies in the process," Burhanuddin
said. -- JP