Table 1.

Main components of traditional Chinese medicines

Chinese name	Description	Comments
She Xiang	A substance with a penetrating odour that is obtained from a gland of the male musk deer	The original material is banned from use due to the endangered status of the musk deer; a synthetic compound (muscone) is used in its place.
Ren Shen	Root of Chinese ginseng	This is an extract that specifically includes ginsensosides.
Niu Huang	The gallstone of an ox (water buffalo)	The original material is too rare and costly to use in patent medicines and is substituted by a mixture of substances that have a similar effect.
Su He Xiang	An aromatic extract of the Liquidambar tree (Styrax; storax)	It has antiplatelet aggregation, antithrombosis, antimyocardial ischaemia and other effects.
Rou Gui	Bark of the cinnamon	Cinnamon aqueous solution is rich in antioxidants and can reduce the risk of heart disease and diabetes.
Chan Su	Venom of a toad (Bufo bufo)	This agent is known as a cardiotonic, but it can also exhibit cardiotoxicity depending on dosage; it exhibits neurotoxicity. The amount of Chan Su in the Shexiang Baoxin Pill is small (28 µg/22.5 mg).
Bing Pian	Crystalline aromatic component of certain plants that predominantly contain borneol.	Due to high cost, the patent medicine contains synthetic borneol; borneol is known as a cardiac stimulant.