Traditional chinese medicine toxicology: Difference between revisions
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==Background== | ==Background== | ||
*Traditional Chinese medicine has become increasingly popular in the US and other Western countries, and has remained extremely popular in China and Hong Kong.<ref name="Kam">Kam PC1, Liew S. Traditional Chinese herbal medicine and anaesthesia. Anaesthesia. 2002 Nov;57(11):1083-9.</ref> | |||
*Although generally marketed as "natural" and "herbal" in nature, many contain contaminants in the form of heavy metals or conventional western medications.<ref name="Kam" /> | |||
**Studies have found, among others, cadmium, cobalt, copper, iron, manganese, nickel, lead, zinc, and mercury in traditional Chinese medicines<ref name="Kam" /><ref name="Chan">Chan K. Some aspects of toxic contaminants in herbal medicines. Chemosphere. 2003 Sep;52(9):1361-71.</ref> | |||
==Common Toxic Herbs== | |||
== | *Aconitine Group (most common)<ref name="Kam" /> | ||
* Aconitine Group | **Activates sodium channels → cardiac and neurotoxicity | ||
** | **Paresthesias, N/V, arrhythmias, hypotension | ||
*Podophyllin Group | *Podophyllin Group | ||
**Neurotoxicity (convulsion + coma) | **Neurotoxicity (convulsion + coma) | ||
Revision as of 05:34, 28 February 2016
Background
- Traditional Chinese medicine has become increasingly popular in the US and other Western countries, and has remained extremely popular in China and Hong Kong.[1]
- Although generally marketed as "natural" and "herbal" in nature, many contain contaminants in the form of heavy metals or conventional western medications.[1]
Common Toxic Herbs
- Aconitine Group (most common)[1]
- Activates sodium channels → cardiac and neurotoxicity
- Paresthesias, N/V, arrhythmias, hypotension
- Podophyllin Group
- Neurotoxicity (convulsion + coma)
- Anticholinergic group
- Tachy arrythmia + altered mental status
- Digoxin-like agents
- Other