Authentic Porcupine Bezoar: Identification, Risks of Fakes, and Expert Insights

The demand for porcupine bezoar has soared over the years, thanks to its efficacy in treating certain serious illnesses. However, due to its high price and scarcity, many unscrupulous traders have flooded the market with fake porcupine bezoars, preying on desperate consumers. These fake porcupine bezoars are made from synthetic materials and are harmful to human body. According to a news article, nearly 80% of porcupine bezoars sold in the market are fake porcupine bezoars.

There are still no official methods in differentiating the fake porcupine bezoars from the real ones, but many medical and pharmaceutical experts are already starting to educate the public on how to identify a fake porcupine bezoar. One of them is Dr. Tan Chu San, a professor of Pharmacology from Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM), who has been advocating for the authentication of porcupine bezoar and has written a journal on porcupine bezoar.  

Journal: (PDF) A traditional folk medicine in Malaysia: porcupine bezoar (researchgate.net)

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