Kew Gardens has launched an urgent appeal for £700,000 to set up a Chinese herb-checking centre.

The Royal Botanic Gardens says it is responding to growing fears the public may not always receive the correct herbs, or the right quality.

Its centre would provide specialist resources and expertise to identify and check the quality of the 400 to 500 Chinese herbal medicine species commonly used in the West.

Kew expert Christine Leon told the Guardian: "Chinese herbal medicine has already proved to be effective in the treatment of eczema and other skin diseases, and practitioner numbers have increased from 200 to 3,000 over the past 10 years.

"But the growing demand will lead to a greater number of fakes, substitutes and adulterants unless quality-control checks are introduced."

She says Kew wants to promote good Chinese herbal medicine but fears spiraling health risks if these controls are not in place.

Copies of Kew's Funding Proposal for the centre are available from Mrs Leon, Botanist in Traditional Medicine, by calling 0181 332 5702.

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