Those parts and derivatives that are of the highest value due to scarcity of supply and/or high demand are subject to counterfeiting. Because the ingredients are not commonly in trade, it is easier for counterfeiters to convince buyers that they are the genuine articles, as they are not often seen. In fact, the fake ingredients are much more common, so much so that they may even be recognized as being genuine by those less experienced in traditional Asian medicine. The examples below are the main parts and derivatives that tend to be counterfeited, including a short summary of the differences between the genuine.
