Does Chinese Medicine Have Side Effects?

If you’ve ever sipped herbal tea for a sore throat or tried acupuncture for back pain, you’ve likely wondered: Does Chinese medicine come with hidden risks? While traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) has been trusted for millennia, its reputation as “natural” doesn’t automatically mean “safe.” From liver damage linked to certain herbs to rare but serious complications from acupuncture, TCM’s side effects are real—but often misunderstood.

Let’s cut through the noise and explore what science says about the risks, controversies, and smart ways to navigate this ancient practice.

All kinds of traditional Chinese medicine

Table of Contents

Yes, Chinese Medicine has Side Effects

Chinese herbs are far from harmless. While many are gentle, others pack a potent punch—and sometimes, unintended consequences.

Liver Damage: Heavyweights like 雷公藤 (Thunder God Vine) and licorice root (甘草) have been linked to liver injury when used long-term or in high doses¹². A 2019 study in Hepatology found that herbal remedies account for 20% of drug-induced liver injuries in China, second only to anti-tuberculosis drugs³.
Kidney Risks: Remember the 马兜铃酸 (aristolochic acid) scandal? From 1993–2003, weight-loss pills containing this toxin (found in 广防己 and 关木通) caused kidney failure and cancer in over 100 patients globally. By 2000, Europe banned these herbs—yet China waited until 2003 to act⁴.
Digestive Drama: Herbs like 大黄 (rhubarb root) can irritate the gut, triggering nausea or ulcers if overused⁵.

Fun fact: Even “safe” herbs like ginseng can backfire. One case study reported insomnia and hypertension in a man taking daily ginseng tea⁶.

Summary: Chinese herbal medicine has side effects. Some can cause liver damage, kidney risks, and digestive problems. Examples include Thunder God Vine, licorice root, aristolochic acid, and rhubarb root.

Acupuncture, Cupping, and More: When “Alternative” Goes Wrong

TCM isn’t just herbs. Physical therapies carry risks too:

Acupuncture: While generally safe, improper needle placement can cause infections, punctured lungs (气胸), or nerve damage⁷. Although this fine needle has limited damage to you, there are still many cases of reported dizziness, congestion, and other problems. You should be extra cautious when targeting the skin near the body’s fragile organs⁸.
Cupping: Those Instagram-worthy circular bruises? They’re harmless—unless the cups aren’t sterilized. When encountering unprofessional practitioners or even novices, you may encounter problems such as burns and bruises.
Bone-Cracking Massage: Aggressive 推拿 (tuina) sessions have led to dislocated joints and even spinal injuries.

Key takeaway: Always choose licensed practitioners who use sterile tools.

Summary: TCM physical therapies like acupuncture, cupping, and bone – cracking massage have risks. Incorrect practices can cause infections, injuries. Always pick licensed practitioners with sterile tools.

The Elephant in the Room: “Adverse Reactions: Unknown”

Here’s the scary part: Over 60% of TCM products in China list side effects as “尚不明确” (not yet clear). Why? Until 2006, Chinese regulations allowed TCM makers to skip safety studies required for Western drugs. Even today, many labels omit risks to protect cultural heritage—or profits⁹.

Compare this to Western meds: While 10% of U.S. hospital deaths stem from drug reactions (per Johns Hopkins), at least risks are transparent¹⁰. As Dr. Cai Haodong, a Beijing hepatologist, warns: “Silence about risks turns patients into unwitting test subjects.”

The good news is that with more people’s attention, the review of traditional Chinese medicine is becoming more and more strict. Some herbs with serious side effects have also been banned.

Risk vs. Reward: When TCM Outshines Modern Medicine

Not all TCM risks are dealbreakers. Consider arsenic trioxide (砒霜), aka “poison” in fairy tales. When paired with modern leukemia drugs, it boosts survival rates to 90% for acute promyelocytic leukemia¹¹. Similarly, 青蒿素 (artemisinin), derived from sweet wormwood, revolutionized malaria treatment¹².

The lesson? Context matters. As Dr. Yan Jie (Peking University) puts it: “We accept chemotherapy’s toxicity because it saves lives. TCM deserves the same risk-benefit scrutiny.”

How to Use TCM Safely: 3 Non-Negotiable Rules

Although traditional Chinese medicine has side effects, it is still very valuable experience. Even modern medicine can continuously find “gold” from these ancient experiences. However, it is unwise to become the “price of exploration”.

You can take the following measures to reduce this risk:

Demand Transparency: Avoid products with vague labels. Look for herbs tested in trials like the WHO Herbal Dictionary.
Mix Carefully: Ginkgo biloba + blood thinners = bleeding risk¹³. Always tell your doctor about herbal use.
Monitor Reactions: Get liver/kidney tests if using herbs long-term.

Q&A

Q1: Is TCM safer than Western drugs since it’s “natural”?
Nope. “Natural” doesn’t mean safe. Hemlock is natural too. Both systems have risks—but modern medicine owns up to them.

Q2: Can acupuncture really puncture organs?
Rarely. A 2020 study found 0.02% serious adverse events¹⁴, mostly from untrained practitioners. Stick to certified pros.

Q3: Why does China allow “not yet clear” labels?
Cultural pride meets lax regulation. However, since 2019, China’s FDA has required stricter adverse event reporting.

The Bottom Line

Chinese medicine isn’t a harmless placebo—nor is it a villain. Like any medical system, it has gems (artemisinin) and landmines (aristolochic acid). The key? Respect its power. Treat herbs like prescription drugs: use them knowingly, cautiously, and under expert guidance.

Final thought: If you wouldn’t swallow a mystery pill from a lab, why accept a “natural” one? Demand evidence, stay curious, and let science—not tradition—guide your health choices.