--- title: "Beyond Hongmao Medicinal Wine: 203 Other State-Approved Medicinal Wines on the Market – Are They Safe to Buy?" description: "Following the recent escalation of the Hongmao medicinal wine controversy, the China Food and Drug Administration (CFDA) has ordered the company to explain its safety and efficacy and is considering reclassifying it as a prescription drug. The incident has raised public concerns about the safety and efficacy of traditional Chinese medicinal wines, with 204 such products currently holding national drug approval numbers." author: "袁茜" publisher: "New Distribution" email: "zhaobo258@gmail.com" telephone: "+8615854817671" published: "2018-04-20" language: "en" canonical: "https://xinjignxiao.com/en/articles/beyond-hongmao-medicinal-wine-203-other-state-approved-medicinal-wines-o-5e262296/" markdown: "https://xinjignxiao.com/en/articles/beyond-hongmao-medicinal-wine-203-other-state-approved-medicinal-wines-o-5e262296.md" original_source: "https://mp.weixin.qq.com/s/M7-LwfQsR4TAy6FSOPsNQw" translation: "https://xinjignxiao.com/zh/articles/%E9%99%A4%E4%BA%86%E9%B8%BF%E8%8C%85%E8%8D%AF%E9%85%92-%E5%B8%82%E5%9C%BA%E4%B8%8A%E8%BF%98%E6%9C%89203%E6%AC%BE%E5%9B%BD%E5%AD%97%E5%8F%B7%E8%8D%AF%E9%85%92-%E8%83%BD%E4%B9%B0%E5%90%97-5e262296.md" attribution: "New Distribution — https://xinjignxiao.com/en/articles/beyond-hongmao-medicinal-wine-203-other-state-approved-medicinal-wines-o-5e262296/" usage_policy: "https://xinjignxiao.com/ai-policy.txt" --- # Beyond Hongmao Medicinal Wine: 203 Other State-Approved Medicinal Wines on the Market – Are They Safe to Buy? > Following the recent escalation of the Hongmao medicinal wine controversy, the China Food and Drug Administration (CFDA) has ordered the company to explain its safety and efficacy and is considering reclassifying it as a prescription drug. The incident has raised public concerns about the safety and efficacy of traditional Chinese medicinal wines, with 204 such products currently holding national drug approval numbers. Recently, the "Hongmao medicinal wine" incident escalated again. After being criticized by public opinion, on April 16, the China Food and Drug Administration (CFDA) ordered Hongmao medicinal wine to explain its safety and efficacy to the public and organized experts to discuss converting it to a prescription drug. It is reported that Hongmao medicinal wine, as a non-prescription drug (OTC) with a national drug approval number, was approved without passing clinical trials due to historical reasons. Moreover, its ingredients include "processed Polygonum multiflorum," a suspected hepatotoxic substance, and "betel nut and alcohol," which are classified as Group 1 carcinogens. The reasons behind these issues await verification and clarification by relevant authorities. Similar to the trust crisis triggered by the 2006 "Qiyi Pharmaceutical" incident (where "Liangjunjiasu injection" produced by Qiqihar No. 2 Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. caused 11 deaths), the Hongmao incident has sparked widespread public concern about the efficacy and safety of traditional Chinese medicinal wines. ## **The Origin of 204 Medicinal Wines** Our investigator searched the CFDA website and found a total of 76 types, totaling 204 domestic medicinal wines with national drug approval numbers. According to incomplete statistics, similar to Hongmao medicinal wine, "Tongluo Zhitong medicinal wine" (meridian-unblocking and pain-relieving) holds 35 exclusive drug advertisement approvals, and "Qufeng Tongluo medicinal wine" (wind-dispelling and meridian-unblocking) holds 13. **1. Medicinal wines are classified as Chinese patent medicines** For your information, any drug that obtains the "National Drug Approval Number" (Guoyao Zhunzi) from the CFDA is a therapeutic drug. The approval numbers are categorized as H, S, Z, and B: "Guoyao Zhunzi H" for chemical drugs; "S" for biological drugs; "Z" for Chinese patent medicines; and "B" for drugs with both therapeutic and health-care functions. Most medicinal wines in China have obtained the "Guoyao Zhunzi Z" approval number, while a few have "Guoyao Zhunzi B." Consumers should purchase and use medicinal wines according to the drug instructions or under the guidance of a pharmacist. Some medicinal wines have approval numbers "Guoyao Zhunzi B" or "Guoyao Zhunzi Z" (Data source: CFDA website, 2018). **2. Medicinal wine names often contain "gimmicks"** Looking at the names of medicinal wines, they are often tailored to Chinese tastes. Names containing words like "invincible," "strengthening," "great tonic," "powerful," or "wind-dispelling" easily evoke associations with physical fitness and nourishment, creating an illusion that they are "not medicine," leading to drug abuse. It can be said that a "good" name accounts for half the success of a medicinal wine. In response to naming practices, the CFDA issued in November 2017 the "Technical Guidelines for Naming Chinese Patent Medicines" and the "Notice on Standardizing the Naming of Generic Names for Marketed Chinese Patent Medicines," clearly stating that "naming should adhere to the principles of being scientific and concise, avoiding duplicate names, standardizing naming, avoiding exaggerated efficacy claims, and reflecting traditional cultural characteristics." For marketed Chinese patent medicines, the CFDA specified three situations requiring renaming: 1) names that clearly exaggerate efficacy and mislead doctors and patients; 2) names that are incorrect, unscientific, or contain vulgar or superstitious language; and 3) cases where the same prescription has different names, or the same name or similar names have different prescriptions. However, the Notice also states that if a drug name includes a place name, person's name, or surname, or contains characters like "treasure," "essence," or "spirit," but the product has a certain history of use, has formed a brand, and is widely accepted by the public, it may not be renamed; nor will Chinese patent medicines derived from ancient classic prescriptions be renamed. These two points may still cause confusion for consumers who are not familiar with the "historical allusions" of medicinal wine names. ## **Jilin Province Leads in Medicinal Wine Production** According to incomplete statistics, among the 204 medicinal wines, 41 are produced by enterprises in Jilin Province, ranking first among provinces. Guangxi and Jiangxi each have 27, tied for second. Hunan and Guangdong each have 16, Beijing has 14, Zhejiang has 13, Guizhou has 8, and Henan has 6. Medicinal wine production is distributed across South China, North China, Northwest China, and other regions. Among them, 80% of enterprises producing ginseng medicinal wine, ginseng gastrodia medicinal wine, and rheumatism pain-relieving medicinal wine are from Jilin. This is related to the fact that ginseng is mainly distributed in the three northeastern provinces, with Jilin producing the most, accounting for four-fifths of the national output and seven-tenths of the world's output. 60% of Maoji medicinal wine and Sanshe medicinal wine are produced in Guangxi. Medicinal wines produced in Beijing mostly come from Beijing Tongrentang Co., Ltd.'s Tongrentang Medicinal Wine Factory. ## **Who Should Regulate Excessive Promotion of Medicinal Wines?** In addition to enterprises with exclusive registration approvals, multiple manufacturers have obtained registration approvals for the same type of medicinal wine. For example, Shiguogong medicinal wine is produced by 21 enterprises with 21 national drug approval numbers; ginseng medicinal wine is produced by 19 enterprises with 19 approval numbers... These similar products from different enterprises vary in price, which not only confuses consumers but also makes the same type of medicinal wine vulnerable to "one glory, all glory; one loss, all loss." The 204 medicinal wines have obtained a total of 1,492 drug advertisement approvals, of which Hongmao medicinal wine accounts for 1,192. Ranked by the number of drug advertisements for all medicinal wines, Hongmao medicinal wine still ranks first, far ahead. It is followed by ginseng gastrodia medicinal wine with 55 approvals, Tongluo Zhitong medicinal wine with 35, and Fengshitong medicinal wine (rheumatism pain) with 31... **Hongmao medicinal wine:** Approval number Guoyao Zhunzi Z15020795, Inner Mongolia Hongmao Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. Advertised effects: tonify liver and kidney, nourish qi and blood, treat fear of cold and cold limbs, soreness and weakness of waist and knees, irregular menstruation, dizziness, insomnia... Hongmao medicinal wine advertisement script (Data source: CFDA website, 2018). **Tongluo Zhitong medicinal wine:** Approval number Guoyao Zhunzi Z20026044, Jilin Haitong Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. Advertised effects: treat hand numbness, limb numbness, waist and knee pain, relax tendons and activate blood... Tongluo Zhitong medicinal wine advertisement script (Data source: CFDA website, 2018). **Zhougong Baisui wine:** Approval number Guoyao Zhunzi Z36020435, Nanchang Henghu Medicinal Wine Co., Ltd. Advertised effects: treat deficiency of both qi and blood, insufficiency of true yin, soreness and weakness of limbs... Zhougong Baisui wine audio advertisement (Data source: CFDA website, 2018). **Guogong wine:** Approval number Guoyao Zhunzi Z11020459, Beijing Tongrentang Co., Ltd. Tongrentang Medicinal Wine Factory. Advertised effects: treat joint pain, hand and foot numbness, waist and leg pain... Guogong wine radio advertisement (Data source: CFDA website, 2018). **Qufeng Tongluo medicinal wine:** Approval number Guoyao Zhunzi Z20026501, Shapu Aisi Qiangshen Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. Advertised effects: dispel wind and relieve pain, remove dampness and dispel cold, treat limb numbness, joint soreness... Qufeng Tongluo medicinal wine advertisement script (Data source: CFDA website, 2018). The above advertisements are very straightforward, with concise advertising copy and visuals that directly point to functions and efficacy, but they may inadvertently violate the Advertising Law. According to Health Times, Hongmao medicinal wine has been reported for illegal advertising by food and drug regulatory departments in Hunan, Xinjiang, Henan, and other provinces due to exaggerating indications (functions and main treatments), making assertions and guarantees of efficacy, and including comprehensive evaluation content such as efficacy and awards. In fact, according to regulations, relevant regulatory authorities should conduct follow-up supervision on certified drugs and enterprises, and should not act as "hands-off bosses" after certification. Article 14 of the Advertising Law of the People's Republic of China stipulates that drug and medical device advertisements shall not contain the following: 1) unscientific assertions or guarantees of efficacy; 2) statements of cure rates or effectiveness rates; 3) comparisons with the efficacy and safety of other drugs or medical devices; 4) use of the names and images of medical research units, academic institutions, medical institutions, or experts, doctors, or patients as proof; 5) other content prohibited by laws and administrative regulations. Currently, drug listing approvals are handled by the drug regulatory authority and the Ministry of Health, investigation and punishment of illegal advertisements is the responsibility of the industry and commerce department, and review of advertising content is the responsibility of the propaganda department. According to People's Daily Online on April 11, the State Administration for Market Regulation website announced the establishment of the State Administration for Market Regulation as a directly affiliated agency of the State Council; the establishment of the National Medical Products Administration, managed by the State Administration for Market Regulation; and the abolition of the China Food and Drug Administration. During the institutional reform period, before the "three fixed" plan is announced, all matters will still be handled according to original regulations... After the reform is in place, relevant matters will be notified separately. Source: Consumer Report -END- --- ## Copyright and AI use This article is sourced from New Distribution. Search, quotation, summarization, and model training are permitted, but every use must credit New Distribution and retain the canonical source URL. Contact: zhaobo258@gmail.com · +86 158 5481 7671