Mung Bean Doctor Proves Fraudulent

Think mung beans have the power to treat diabetes, high blood pressure, or even cancer? According to Zhang Wuben, whose book Keep Healthy By Eating Well, has sold over four million copies and is this week’s top seller on Dangdang.com, the beans and other natural ingredients have the magical power to cure a multitude of ailments. However, patients from all around China who have paid up to RMB 5,000 for a consultation with Zhang at one of his clinics might be wishing they had that money back.

According to the Global Times and CRI English, officials of the Ministry of Health have accused Zhang of faking his qualifications which included a degree from the Peking University Health Science Center and an appointment as senior nutritionist by the Ministry of Health. Both have denied Zhang’s affiliation with their institutions. Because of the accusations, Zhang’s clinic in Beijing’s Chaoyang District, which had a waitlist into 2012, has been closed.

Zhang’s nutrition advice has not been evaluated for its effectiveness, and so it remains to be seen whether the beans really are “magic” or if those who visited Zhang’s clinic were simply duped into believing in a miracle cure.