Jakarta – Chinese herbal medicines are growing in popularity here, even among the non-Chinese, as an alternative to Western drugs.

Ms Ailin, who has been running a Chinese drug store in Pancoran for more than 10 years after inheriting the business from her great-grandparents, said people were convinced of the efficacy of the Chinese potions, and sales of the drugs were stable.

The Indonesian Consumer Health Empowerment Foundation (YPKKI) has, however, warned that lives could be endangered if Indonesia's Food and Drug Agency (POM) fails to control their use.

The danger, said YPKKI head Marius Widjajarta, arises from the fact that the ingredients used in the Chinese drugs are not identified in the medicines. "Consumers do not know whether the medicines contain dangerous substances, like sedatives," he said.

He said that for the sake of consumers, POM must require all Chinese drug distributors and vendors to register their medicines before selling them. But the consumers do not seem to be alarmed.

Ms Rosdiana, an employee with a foreign bank, said she had been using Chinese medicines regularly since her childhood.

"I have no worries about fake drugs. Just buy them at known Chinese drug stores to ensure that the medicines are genuine." Mr Sutikno, 40, a resident of Harmoni in Kota, West Jakarta, said: "I have been using Chinese herbal drugs for two years. And, so far, it has proven effective in curing common sicknesses like fever, cough or dizziness."

He said he planned to send packages of Chinese medicine to his father in Purwokerto, Central Java, who suffers from a kidney stone. "My father is sick of seeing doctors who do nothing. So, he wants to try Chinese drugs as an alternative. You have nothing to lose if you use Chinese drugs, as a pack of the medicine only costs 10,000 rupiah (US$1)," he said.

According to Mr Ayin, who helps run a West Jakarta drug store, many consumers seek Chinese medicines for common sicknesses. "Pills and herbs to cure gastric problems, headaches, typhoid and stress are medicines that are in high demand," he said.

A vendor in West Jakarta, Mr Kuncoro, said some Chinese medicines were locally made. "For instance Tay Pin San, a drug for gastric problems, is made in Tangerang although it uses a Chinese name," he said.

The ingredients are herbs, roots or animal parts which are then brewed into potions. "We often use antlers, dried sea horses, lizards, snakes or herbs and roots as ingredients to brew the drug," he said.