MANILA, Philippines–Capsules that work like chemotherapy? Don’t fall for this claim, warned the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

 

In an advisory issued Wednesday, the FDA said it has monitored a “deceptive” advertisement that was published in the Inquirer on Sept. 7, promoting Tian Xian Liquid and Tian Xian Capsules as herbal supplement for cancer treatment like chemotherapy.

 

The print ad was a testimonial of supposedly a signet ring cell carcinoma survivor from Malaysia, who took the herbal medicine following her operation for breast and ovarian cancer.

 

She claimed that after taking the capsules for six months, her white blood cell and platelet counts became normal and her ovarian tumor had shrunk.

 

The FDA further said it checked the product’s website, which also carried “false, deceptive and misleading” advertisements, saying that the herbal dietary supplements’ active ingredients “aim to control, inhibit and destroy cancer cells.”–Jocelyn R. Uy