An Overview of Heavy Metal Research in Traditional Chinese Medicine

Abstract

Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), mainly of plant origin, is subjected to contamination by heavy metal from surrounding environments, especially some toxic heavy metal can impose serious health risks to a human being. The World Health Organization has pointed out that about 70%–80% of the world’s population has a habit of using herb medicine. Therefore, it is necessary to ensure that the heavy metal content could meet the standard in order to control the quality of TCM. Our chapter made an overview of the limited control of heavy metals in TCM in some countries and regions all over the world and analyzed its current status based on the research data of the heavy metals and characteristics of TCM. The strategies, including developing scientific and rational limit, determining the method of heavy metals in TCM, strictly controlling their contamination, and efficiently removing the impurity, were suggested to resolve the problem of heavy metals for TCM.