To ask if my chinese herbal medicine has gone off?

[CatRen]

I'm new to using chinese medicine. It's in a desperate attempt to get my next frozen embryo transfer to work so please bear with me.

I've been given 6 x 1.25 litre bottles of brown stinky stuff and wasn't told to keep it in the fridge so they've lived on the side. It's hot where i am. Over the last few days the bottles have expanded and will release gas when opened. Today after gently shaking (as told to) it really fizzed up. And its started to taste even weirder.

Is it off?? Normal? I've put it in the fridge now but fear it's too late. Help please!

Hmm...🤔 I’m not sure Chinese medicine is altogether ethical.
It does seem to promote some highly questionable practices.

Just my tuppence worth, of course.

It has fermented, maybe it’s meant to, I have no idea. I wouldn’t be drinking it though. It may well be mildly alcohol now, I don’t know what else could be produced in the fermentation, I’m sure there are many possibilities. Do you even know what is in the original mix?

Hmm...🤔 I’m not sure Chinese medicine is altogether ethical

I have studied the efficacy of chm and it is actually based in a lot of sound medicine.

Problem is anyone can set up shop and call themselves a chinese herbalist. There are no checks or regulations. So yes, mich of it is very dodgy. However there are medical dr’s in this country who specialise in chm and their results are peer reviewed, trialled etc as all medicines are, and they have demonstratable positive effects.

O/p i have no idea about your medicine. I would contact your chm practitioner and ask them.

I'm obviously doing the normal western medicine stuff too, this is meant to be a herbal add on.

But i think you're right that it's fermented. I'm not drinking any more until i find out from my lady.

Off to acupuncture again this morning for some more witch craftery 🧙‍♀️

Do you know what herbal product it’s supposed to contain? A lot of herbal remedies interact with prescribed drugs and in some cases make them ineffective. You should check this if you are taken anything that has been prescribed for you.

Thanks Sunflower, I've checked and i'm fine. The medications are progesterone at the moment plus a lot of monitoring so not a lot, but was trying to say that I'm focusing on the proper process and supporting with this stuff. Not for everyone i know!

Do you know exactly what’s in the herbal medicine?

How long was it supposed to last you in the fridge?

Some Chinese “herbal medicines” have recently been found to contain steroids. Herbal medicines are now regulated in the UK but that hasn’t stopped illegal importation of dangerous preparations. What does your medicine claim to be?

Let's hope it's not steroids. Some of them are.
www.bmj.com/content/308/6926/473.1

The paper you have linked to, Captain was published 25 years ago so may not reflect the state of regulation or practice today.

Traditional herbal remedies sold in the UK are now regulated, however THRs made specially for individual patients are not. Importation of remedies made in China or elsewhere is a grey area, and there are on-going problems with dangerous preparations being sold in the UK. www.gov.uk/government/news/herbal-skin-cream-found-to-contain-steroids

Ultimately there’s no way of knowing whether the remedy you have is made to medicines manufacturing standards unless it has a THR number. If it doesn’t it could be fine, could be totally useless or could be dangerous.

It’s not a risk I’d take.