CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH SERVICES

February 15, 2000
Media Contacts:	Ken August or Lea Brooks
		(916) 657-3064

SACRAMENTO--Consumers should immediately stop using five herbal products because they contain two prescription drugs not listed as ingredients that are unsafe without monitoring by a physician, State Health director Diana Bonta, R.N., Dr. P.H., said today. The products are Diabetes Hypoglucose Capsules, Pearl Hypoglycemic Capsules, Tongyi Tang Diabestes Angel Pearl Hypoglycemic Capsules, Tongyi Tang Diabetes Angel Hypoglycemic Capsules and Zhen Qi Capsules.

The products claim to contain only natural Chinese herbal ingredients. However, an investigation by the California Department of Health Services' Food and Drug Branch determined they contain the prescription drugs glyburide and phenformin, which can be used to treat diabetes.

The investigation was launched after a diabetic patient in Northern California suffered from several episodes of low blood sugar after consuming one of the products, Diabetes Hypoglucose Capsules. The patient has fully recovered.

Consumers should stop using these products and seek medical advice, especially if they are currently being treated with other anti-diabetes drugs or if they have symptoms of fatigue, excessive hunger, profuse sweating or numbness of extremities. Consumers who use these products can receive a dangerously high amount of glyburide and phenformin.

These products are available from mail order and can be purchased by telephone or via the Internet:

• Diabetes Hypoglucose Capsules are sold by Chinese Angel Health Products Inc., also know as Chinese Herbal Products, 2118 Wilshire Blvd., P.O. Box 498, Santa Monica CA 90403. These capsules, which are green and white, are available in 70-capsule bottles. The label has green and black English printing with a picture of a plant. The UPC number is 6-923174-911016.
• Pearl Hypoglycemic Capsules, imported by Sino American Health Product Inc., 2421 W. 205th St., Suite D103, Torrence CA 90501, are sold by the importer and Chinese Angel Health Products Inc. Chinese Angel Health Products also relabels the product. Capsules, available in 60-capsule bottles, are blue and white with Chinese characters imprinted on one side of the capsule. The red, green and black English label is placed over the Chinese manufacturer's label that contains black and green Chinese characters and a red logo.
• Tongyi Tang Diabetes Angel Pearl Hypoglycemic Capsules and Tongyi Tang Diabetes Angel Hypoglycemic Capsules are available in 60-capsule bottles. The capsules are blue and white with Chinese characters imprinted on one side of the capsule. The label has red, green and black English printing and Chinese characters. The UPC number is 6-920555-319966.
• The Zhen Qi Capsules are available in 60-capsule bottles. The capsules are clear. The green label has silver English printing with a picture of a leaf. The product is manufactured for Sino American Health Products Inc. of Torrence CA 90501. The UPC number is 7-63052-31148.

Consumers should return these products to the seller or dispose of them safely to prevent exposure to children. The Food and Drug Branch is working closely with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to stop importation of the products into the United states and remove them from sale.