Forensic pathologist
Roger Byard, a pathology professor at the University of Adelaide (U-A), reviewed the risks attached to herbal medicines. His findings have been posted in last month's edition of the Journal of Forensic Sciences.
His research has been sparked by the death of a young South Australian man in 2006 who had injected chan su, a traditional Chinese herbal remedy that contains toxic compound, toad venom.
Herbal medicines and potential dangers
In his paper, Byard mentioned that a recent analysis of 251 Asian herbal products sold in California had discovered potentially dangerous concentrations of harmful substances such as arsenic in 36, mercury in 35, and lead in 24 of the herbal medicines studied.
He has also reported several cases of young children who had developed lead, or arsenic poisoning after consuming herbal medicines.
Many of the herbs had been shown to cause liver failure, hemorrhage, or heart failure, he warned.
Even popular medicinal herbs like ginkgo biloba, pennyroyal, and ma huang can cause liver damage if over consumed, and a wide range of herbs can also have adverse effects on cardiovascular health.
Additionally, if the herbs are combined with the prescription drugs or the standard drugs, it can cause serious health problems such as liver, renal and cardiac failure, strokes, movement disorders, muscle weakness, and seizures.
Byard said, "There's a false perception that herbal remedies are safer than manufactured medicines, when in fact many contain potentially lethal concentrations of arsenic, mercury and lead.
"These substances may cause serious illnesses, exacerbate pre-existing health problems or result in death, particularly if taken in excess or injected rather than ingested."
Consulting doctors advised
In order to avoid such health complications, the patients should consult their doctors on a regular basis, and disclose the details of any traditional supplement they are taking, Byard recommended.
Those who are prescribed any type of surgery should stop taking the herbal medicines at least two weeks before surgery because of the potential risks involved in the herbal and conventional medicine’s interaction.
"Herbal medicines are frequently mixed with standard drugs, presumably to make them more effective. This can also have devastating results," he cautioned.
"I'm not saying don't take them - herbal medicine is a time-honoured practice with real benefits," Byard said. "But you should talk to your doctor and work it out together."
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