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Dangers of using herbal medicines for liver
CBC News
The case of a man who developed cancer after taking a Chinese liver tonic highlights the dangers of unregulated herbal therapies, British doctors say.
A 30-year-old Chinese man was referred to a kidney clinic at London's Whittington Hospital in 2003 after showing blood in his urine.
The man had been taking the Chinese herb Longdan Xieganwan to "enhance" his liver, Dr. Robin Woolfson and his co-authors wrote in Saturday's issue of The Lancet.
An active ingredient in Longdan Xieganwan is aristolochic acid, which is recognized as a potent carcinogen.
The man developed a bladder tumour that was surgically removed.
He stopped taking the herb, but when doctors last saw him in June 2006, he had developed recurrent bladder tumours and kidney failure requiring dialysis.
Tonic still available
"Aristolochic acid has been banned in many countries but continues to be available on the internet," the researchers said.
"This case emphasizes the importance of an adequate environmental and dietary history in [urinary/kidney] disease and highlights the dangers of unregulated herbal therapy."
Since 1993, when more than 100 people at a Belgian diet clinic suffered kidney damage after being exposed to aristolochic acid, regulators in the United States, Canada, Britain, Malaysia and other countries have banned aristolochic acid or issued strict warnings about it.
In 2005, Health Canada repeated its warning not to use products containing aristolochic acid.
The case of a man who developed cancer after taking a Chinese liver tonic highlights the dangers of unregulated herbal therapies, British doctors say.
A 30-year-old Chinese man was referred to a kidney clinic at London's Whittington Hospital in 2003 after showing blood in his urine.
The man had been taking the Chinese herb Longdan Xieganwan to "enhance" his liver, Dr. Robin Woolfson and his co-authors wrote in Saturday's issue of The Lancet.
An active ingredient in Longdan Xieganwan is aristolochic acid, which is recognized as a potent carcinogen.
The man developed a bladder tumour that was surgically removed.
He stopped taking the herb, but when doctors last saw him in June 2006, he had developed recurrent bladder tumours and kidney failure requiring dialysis.
Tonic still available
"Aristolochic acid has been banned in many countries but continues to be available on the internet," the researchers said.
"This case emphasizes the importance of an adequate environmental and dietary history in [urinary/kidney] disease and highlights the dangers of unregulated herbal therapy."
Since 1993, when more than 100 people at a Belgian diet clinic suffered kidney damage after being exposed to aristolochic acid, regulators in the United States, Canada, Britain, Malaysia and other countries have banned aristolochic acid or issued strict warnings about it.
In 2005, Health Canada repeated its warning not to use products containing aristolochic acid.
this is fine, and I'm glad you posted it, trouble is, then everyone thinks all herbs are bad, etc...some are tried and true, and they certainly help me out....but you have to consult experts and know what you are doing...millions take milk thistle for example, and have reported good results...I can't take milk thistle, (allergic) but I do take others and I have consistetly had good labs having had this disease for 30 years, not saying it's all due to my regimen, but I know it's helped with my symptoms and possibly inflammation...
I do realize there are some bad herbs out there, and we have to be aware of them...as much as we are able...
I do realize there are some bad herbs out there, and we have to be aware of them...as much as we are able...
Just gotta laugh...Cause exactly as Angie said, "now everybody is gonna think all herbs are bad"...
But hmmmmmmmmmm, lets post a health condition caused by an approved med. Lets say interferon? Everything has possible side effects, even PLACEBO!!!!!!
Just a thought.
But hmmmmmmmmmm, lets post a health condition caused by an approved med. Lets say interferon? Everything has possible side effects, even PLACEBO!!!!!!
Just a thought.
As ALWAYS I think it's a moderation thing......you know coffee isn't a BAD thing on treatment but if you were to drink nothing BUT coffee it wouldn't be a good thing.
Some herbs may help but in general during treatment I'd stay clear since there haven't been enough studies to prove sufficiently that it wouldn't mess with treatment or your liver.
But it doesn't mean ALL herbs are bad.
Some herbs may help but in general during treatment I'd stay clear since there haven't been enough studies to prove sufficiently that it wouldn't mess with treatment or your liver.
But it doesn't mean ALL herbs are bad.
There is a difference between widely used herbs and off the wall alternative solutions.
It is the latter I am talking about. I noticed there is one person on this site promoting a potion with stuff he doesn't even know the proper names of and his liver enzymes have become elevated.
It is the latter I am talking about. I noticed there is one person on this site promoting a potion with stuff he doesn't even know the proper names of and his liver enzymes have become elevated.
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