Do not spend heavily on wellness supplements, herbal pastes, or tonics
Chinese health-food labels must state that the product is not a medicine and cannot replace medicines for treating disease. The first six entries examine familiar ingredients such as multivitamins, fish oil, and vitamin D and do not establish the broad wellness benefits used to market them. Many of these purchases are gifts for parents or hosts. The intention to show care is valuable, but it does not give an expensive tonic a medical benefit.
What it takes
From hundreds to more than ten thousand RMB, often with a several-fold markup for gift packaging.
What you may gain
China’s State Administration for Market Regulation requires health-food packaging to state that the product is not a medicine and cannot replace medicines for treating disease, in a warning area covering at least 20% of the principal display panel. The permitted scope concerns nutrition, maintaining or improving health, and reducing certain risk factors. The first six entries in this chapter show how limited the evidence is even for familiar, well-studied supplement ingredients. The appeal of a prestigious gift, a reassuring ritual, or a promise to “build health” should not be confused with evidence of treatment benefit.
Context & considerations
A lack of supporting evidence is not proof that every product is useless; that is why this entry receives grade C. Confirmed deficiency or a medical treatment indication should be discussed with a clinician. There is little value in fighting with an older relative over a harmless supplement that is not replacing prescribed treatment. For products with clearly listed ingredients, consult the corresponding studies in the preceding entries. Put effort into higher priorities: annual influenza vaccination, shingles vaccination from age 50, pneumococcal vaccination from age 65, a blood-pressure monitor and support with taking prescribed treatment to reach the target, bathroom and stair improvements plus balance and leg-strength exercises, and breast, cervical, or colorectal screening. For a relative confined to bed, consider long-term care and pressure-injury prevention. Fruit, rice, or favorite foods can make perfectly good gifts. Intervene more firmly when products replace medicine or involve investment schemes and large prepaid elder-care fees; see protecting older relatives from financial exploitation.
Research & references
State Administration for Market Regulation (2019). Press conference on warning-label guidance for health foods. https://www.samr.gov.cn/tssps/sjdt/tpxw/art/2023/art_4b658b824b1b4b0ba57c09a56cc93aad.html.