There is a wide variety of Chinese herbal medicines that have strengths in treating different ailments, including animal, mineral, and plant-based. Some herbs are not only medicinal but also edible, so many people will use them on their own to regulate their health. However, almost every year, there are cases of poisoning or death from drinking Chinese herbal medicines, sounding the alarm for people.
Why is it easy to get poisoned from drinking Chinese medicine?
Choosing the right Chinese medicine can nourish your body, but you must pay attention to the toxicity and dosage of Chinese medicine. Toxic herbal medicines abound in our lives, and the casual use of herbal medicines may cause poisoning or death due to the wrong dosage, such as aconitine. Aconitine is commonly found in Aconite, Cao Wu, Chuan Wu, concocted Cao Wu, etc. It contains aconitine and japaconitine, which are extremely toxic. 0.2mg of aconitine is enough to poison people, mainly manifesting as abdominal pain and diarrhea, nausea and vomiting and general numbness, numbness of the lips, decreased blood pressure levels, and also in some patients, abnormal vision or hearing, spasms of the limbs and respiratory depression, rapid and slow heartbeat, and can even cause respiratory failure; approximately 3mg of aconitine is lethal.
Which herbs are already banned?
Chinese herbs containing aristolochic acids such as Guan Mu Tong, Qing Mu Xiang, and Guang Fang Ji are banned. Aristolochic acid is an organic compound that is highly nephrotoxic and can cause toxic effects on the kidneys and liver, predisposing them to liver failure or kidney failure and, in severe cases, inducing cancer.
How to take Chinese medicine correctly?
1. Identify the evidence and use the medicine
The basis of a healthy body is the balance of yin and yang. Diseases are related to the imbalance of yin and yang, so treatment needs to start from the whole, adjust the balance of yin and yang as a whole, completely remove the root of the disease, and use the medicine according to the evidence.
2. Scientific combination
Chinese herbal medicines have unique properties and doctors will choose the right herbal medicine according to the patient’s age and gender, symptoms and diseases, physical constitution, etc., and match it with other herbal medicines to harmonize the medicinal properties. The combination of Chinese herbs should be integrated into many ways to improve the efficacy of the medicine and reduce toxicity.
3. Master the dosage
There is no clear standard for the dosage of Chinese herbal medicines, so the dosage should be adjusted according to the patient’s condition. If you are using toxic and potent Chinese medicines, you need to take the minimum safe dose to prevent harm to your body.
4. Know how to decoct your medicine
Chinese herbs are taken in very different ways, either raw or concocted, to neutralize their medicinal properties and reduce toxicity. The most classic is the decoction, but it is also necessary to master the dosage, the decoction time, and the order of putting the herbs in the decoction, and to consult your doctor.
Warm tips
When decocting Chinese medicine, it is also important to choose the right container, preferably a casserole, followed by ceramic or glass, but not a stainless steel or iron pot, as this may cause a chemical reaction with the Chinese medicine, thus reducing its effectiveness and increasing its toxic effects. In addition, it is important to control the heat of the herbs and use low heat for tonic medicines to help release the effects of the medicine.