TCM Tea Ain't Gonna Help You Combat Smog

A leading expert in Chinese traditional medicine (TCM) says "anti-smog teas" are not a reliable method of dealing with China's numerous severe smog attacks.

Liu Quanqing, president of the Beijing Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, recently told a CCTV report that herbal teas can not effectively counteract the harmful effects of air pollution and recommended consumers not to purchase such "misleading" products.

"I've looked at many formula. They all contain ingredients that are medicines and can't be used as food, which may cause health problems if taken for a long time," said Liu.

Liu said a single prescription can not be routinely applied to every person with the same result, and said that prolonged exposure to any medicinal tea can have adverse effects.

Liu also said foods like kelp, radish and wood-ear fungus are similarly ineffective against alleviating health conditions brought on by smog.

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Images: CQ News, Dagou

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