Traditional chinese medicine toxicology

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.
• Although generally marketed as "natural" and "herbal" in nature, many contain contaminants in the form of heavy metals or conventional western medications.
  • Studies have found, among others, cadmium, cobalt, copper, iron, manganese, nickel, lead, zinc, and mercury in traditional Chinese medicines

Common Toxic Herbs

Aconitine Group

These are the most common group of herbals

• Activates sodium channels → cardiac and neurotoxicity
• Paresthesias, nausea/vomiting, arrhythmias, hypotension

Podophyllin Group

• Neurotoxicity (seizure + coma)

Anticholinergic group

• Tachyarrhythmias + altered mental status

Digoxin-like agents

• Tachyarrhythmias
• Heart block

See Also

• Toxicology (Main)