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Previous Volume 333:803-804 September 21, 1995 Number 12 Next

	Since this article has no abstract, we have provided an extract of the first 100 words of the full text and any section headings.

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To the Editor: While examining imported traditional Chinese medicines for the presence of products from endangered species, we have detected potentially toxic levels of arsenic and mercury in certain herbal-ball preparations.

Herbal balls are aromatic, malleable, earth-toned, roughly spherical, hand-rolled mixtures of primarily herbs and honey. They are 1.5 to 2.5 cm in diameter and weigh 2.5 to 9.0 g. The literature accompanying most preparations instructs the consumer to dissolve the balls in warm wine or water and to drink it as a tea. Herbal balls are used as self-medication for a wide variety of conditions, including fever, rheumatism, apoplexy, . . . [Full Text of this Article]

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