"The medicines that the ginseng preparation contains can cause severe side effects and the number of unreported cases is likely to be high", says Martin Norell, expert at the Customs Agency, in a press release.
In social media, the preparation, which goes by the name Ginseng Kianpi Pil, is marketed for weight gain and general health.
However, both the cortisone and antihistamine can affect the body negatively. Taking cortisone for a longer period can disrupt the body's hormone balance. Antihistamine can, among other things, cause sudden drowsiness, which is dangerous in connection with, for example, driving a car.
Last year, the customs agency stopped 35 shipments with a total of over 12,000 capsules, which can be compared to five shipments in 2022 and two in 2023.
Ginseng Kianpi Pil is illegal to sell in Sweden and is often shipped from Indonesia, but it is manufactured by a Chinese company, according to the Customs Agency.
"The Medical Products Agency has urged those who use Ginseng Kianpi Pil to seek medical attention to get help to stop using the preparation in a safe way", says Norell.
