 The use of traditional Chinese herbal medicine and various forms of alternative medicine to maintain health among the Chinese ethnic group has had a long history and has been deeply rooted in the Chinese way of living for centuries. It has been a general belief that these therapies consist of natural substances and are less toxic than their western synthetic drug counterparts. However, recent reports of side effects of systemic traditional Chinese medicine, including hypersensitivity, hepatotoxicity, neurotoxicity, cardiovascular toxicity, renal failure, and contact dermatitis, have been increasing. 