UK. The Medicines Control Agency (MCA) has ruled that ‘Woman’s Accent’, an herbal product marketed in the UK, should be classified as a Medicinal Product requiring licensing. Woman’s Accent contains several ingredients such as Blessed thistle, Dong Quai, Wild Yam and Black cohosh. According to the MCA, the product was deemed to be a medicine since it claimed to relieve menstrual problems, prevent bone loss, inhibit growth of cancer cells and restore sexual function, balance progesterone and other hormone levels and to promote diuresis. These claims do not meet the criteria for exemption from licensing.

Reference:
MCA’s Final Determination issued by the Borderline Section, 30 Dec 2003. Available from URL: http://www.mca.gov.uk/ourwork/lic ensingmeds