DNA Sequencing Technology Used to Review Ingredients Used in Traditional Chinese Medicine

Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) covers many different medicine practices and processes. It is based on Taoism and the practice is more than 2,000 years old.

TCM's varied medicine practices share common theoretical concepts which have been developed in China and are based on a tradition of more than 2,000 years, including various forms of herbal medicine, acupuncture, massage (Tui na), exercise (qigong), and dietary therapy. Although considered as an alternative medical practice in the western world, traditional chinese medicine is a common part of medical care throughout East Asia.

There are about 13,000 medicinals used in China and over 100,000 medicinal recipes recorded in their ancient literature. Plant elements and extracts are the most common elements used. In the classic Handbook of Traditional Drugs from 1941, 517 drugs were listed - out of these, 45 were animal parts, and 30 were minerals.

Deep sequencing reveals undeclared, potentially toxic, and trade-restricted ingredients within 15 samples of traditional Chinese medicines

Researchers at Murdoch University have used new DNA sequencing technology to reveal the animal and plant composition of traditional Chinese medicines (TCMs). Some of the TCM samples tested contained potentially toxic plant ingredients, allergens, and traces of endangered animals.

"TCMs have a long cultural history, but today consumers need to be aware of the legal and health safety issues before adopting them as a treatment option," Dr Bunce, research leader and Murdoch University Australian Research Council Future Fellow, said.

The 15 TCM samples, seized by Australian border officials, in the form of powders, tablets, capsules, flakes, and herbal teas were audited using the DNA preserved in the samples. The results are published in the journal PLoS Genetics.

A Short Primer on The Science of The Chinese New Year

The Chinese Calendar is a combination of two calendars, the solar and the lunisolar calendar. The solar calendar starts on the December solstice and follows the 24 solar terms of which the solstice and equinoxes are a part. The lunisolar calendar starts on the Chinese New Year and consists of 12 or 13 months.

The Chinese Calendar based on traditional culture and beliefs has been in use for more than 5,000 years. The year beginning January 23, 2012 based on the chinese calendar system is the year 4710. It is the Year of the (Male) Black Water Dragon.

A lunisolar calendar is a calendar whose date indicates both the moon phase and the time of the solar year. In the chinese calendar, the lunar months are typically simply numbered, following the standard practice with the solar months. The Chinese zodiac is only used in naming years—it is not used in the actual calculation of the calendar. The calendar is not as simple as the Gregorian calendar. Since it is based on moon phases and solar time, there is no exact or consistent tracking system for the calendar. All calculations are based on the exact time the moon has entered a phase.

The day on which the New Moon phase occurs is the first day of the month. A month is calculated from the start of the new moon up to the time of the end of the phase. Instead of leap years, the calendar adjusts based on a "leap month". This is done when the cycle of the moon phase starts to get ahead of how the calendar is calculated. This is remedied by adding a day to synchronize with the moon phase again.