From forest leaves to "panacea
Recently, the Investigation Police Agency of Dien Bien Provincial Police is investigating a criminal case of "producing and trading banned goods" against Phang Thi Sua (born 1993, residing in Du O A village, Pu Nhi commune, Dien Bien).
Specifically, Phang Thi Sua was not trained and did not have expertise in traditional medicine but self-produced and sold "traditional medicines".
At the Police Agency, Sua confessed that to create 3 types of products ( stomach medicine, decoction medicine and gynecological medicine), Sua collected and harvested 17 types of forest plants, chopped, dried, and mixed them together to create them.
After that, Sua created and used accounts on social networks to post articles and videos advertising them as family medicine produced by herself to attract buyers and sell them at prices ranging from 150,000 to 200,000 VND/package.
Similar to Phang Thi Sua, the Investigation Police Agency is also verifying and investigating a criminal case of "producing and trading banned goods" against Giang A Cu (born 1990, residing in residential group 2, Na Son commune, Dien Bien).
Giang A Cu was not professionally trained, not licensed or certified in medicine, traditional medicine, but self-produced and sold packages of "traditional medicine, family medicine" on social networks.
Although not yet licensed for circulation by competent State agencies, Giang A Cu went to the forest to harvest roots, stems, and leaves of many different forest plants. Then mixed and then packaged and labeled medicine for cervical ectropion "Gau Sua" and medicine for stomach disease "Pheng Mong Giang".
To consume, Phang Thi Sua and Giang A Cu used social networks (Facebook, TikTok) to post widespread advertising videos, hitting the psychology of patients with the label "family medicine".
From June 2024 to June 2025 alone, Phang Thi Sua successfully sent 1,427 orders; meanwhile, Giang A Cu also sold 501 orders to 435 customers in many provinces and cities.
It is this psychology of "miraculous effect" that has not been scientifically verified that has created an invisible cover for drug smugglers to profit.
What does the Department of Health of Dien Bien province say?
Talking to Lao Dong Newspaper, a representative of the Dien Bien Provincial Department of Health affirmed that in the province, there are currently no individuals licensed for "family traditional medicine". Issuing certificates to people with family remedies is only allowed for medical examination, then prescribing medicine on the spot, and is completely not allowed to trade.
Representatives of the Department of Health emphasized that currently Dien Bien only has 13 business establishments licensed to trade traditional medicines and medicinal herbs, and all types of drugs are licensed by the Ministry of Health.
Faced with the above situation, functional agencies of Dien Bien province recommend that people should not arbitrarily buy traditional medicines and family remedies on social networks from individuals and organizations without expertise, unlicensed, and unverified because they pose a high risk of harm to health.
When sick, it is necessary to go to traditional medicine facilities or licensed medical facilities for examination and consultation from doctors and physicians. Do not trust the rampant advertisements on social networks.
