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TOXIC REACTIONS

"Any company that exploits the romanticism of herbalism should have to take the social responsibility." David Roll, Ph.D.

 

ALLERGENIC REACTIONS

1.    Chamomile tea may cause contact dermatitis, anaphylaxis, and other severe hypersensitivity reactions in patients allergic to          rag weed, asters, chrysanthemums or other members of the Compositae family.
        Brenner & Lee, J Allergy Clin Immunol, 53:307, 1973

Compositae family--

1.     Allergy to this family should also avoid teas from floral heads of goldenrod, marigold, and yarrow.
        Med. Letter 21:30, 1979

DIURESIS

Buchu
Quack grass
Dandelion
Inefficient
Diuretics
generally non-toxic
Juniper berries
Shave grass
Horsetail
Contains nicotine
Thiaminase
G.I. irritation
Excitement
Loss of appetitie
Loss of muscle control
Diarrhea
Thiamine deficiency
Convulsions/Coma/Death

    Med. Letter 21:29, 1979.

 

CATHARTICS

  1.     Buckthorn Severe diarrhea
  2.     Senna
  3.     Particularly strong
  4.     Aloe Irritant cathartic

Morbid Mortal Weekly rep. 27:248, 1978

CARDIOVASCULAR REACTIONS

  1.     Licorice root (large amounts) can cause:

Bannister, Br Med J, 2:738, 1977
Chamberlain, JAMA 213:1343, 1970
Koster & David, NEJM, 278: 1381, 1968

MISTLETOE

1. Contains toxic amines & proteins
    that may cause gastroenteritis
2. Some phytotoxins produce same effects as cobra venom cardiotoxin
    • depolarization of skeletal muscle
    • contracture of smooth muscle
    • vasoconstriction
    • shock
    • cardiac arrest

Europ J Pharmacol, 23:223, 1973

ANTICHOLINERGIC REACTIONS

Herbs Effects
Burdock root Blurred vision
Catnip Dilated pupils
Juniper Dry Mouth
Hydrangea Urinary

Bryson, JAMA 239:2157, 1978
Bryson, JAMA 240:1586, 1978
Bryson, JAMA 236:473, 1976

HORMONAL REACTIONS

HORMONES

1. Ginseng contains estrogens & can cause swollen and painful breasts
    Dukes, Br Med J, 1:1621, 1978
    Palmer, Br Med J, 1:1284, 1978
2. Mandrake contains scopolamine
3. Snakeroot contains reserpine
Siegal, JAMA, 237:25, 1977

CARCINOGENIC REACTIONS

1.      Sassafras root bark contains at least 70% safrole. Safrole is hepatotoxic and carcinogenic in animals.
Segeiman, JAMA 238:477, 1976

2.      Comfrey contains several hepatoxic pyrrolizidine alkaloids shown to produce cancer of the liver in small animals.
         Eight pyrrolizidine alkaloids of hepatotoxic type identified in Russian country.
Farnsworth Am. Jour. of Pharm. Ed., 43:242, 1979

3.      Coltsfoot contains a pyrrolizidine alkaloid, senkirkine, shown to be carcinogenic to rats.
Hironi, ET AL, GANN, 67:125-119, 1976.

ABORTIFACIENT REACTIONS

1.     Devil’s claw root (from S. Africa) --oxytocic properties.
2.     Pennyroyal--used to induce menstruation & as an abortifacient; contains ketone pulegone and has caused death due to           renal and hepatic toxicity.
Sullivan, JAMA, in press

CNS STIMULATION REACTIONS

LOBELLA (INDIAN TOBACCO)
1.     Contains lobeline - pharmacologically similar to nicotine.
2.     Can cause: CNS stimulation sweating vomiting paralysis depressed temperature coma death

RESPIRATORY DEPRESSION

POKE WEED
1.     Whole plant, particularly root, is toxic
2.     Ingestion of uncooked plant causes:
        •     gastroenteritis
        •     diminished respiration
        •     death
3. Children have died from eating berries
Lewish & Elvin-Lewis, Med. Botany, 1977

CYANIDE REACTIONS

CASSAVA
1.     Causes chronic cyanide intoxication
2.     Linked to:
           •      Goiter
           •      Amblyopia
           •      Ataxic neuropathy
Conn, Nat. Acad Sci, 1973, p. 299 Med. Letter 21:31, 1979

AMYGDALIN
1.     After ingestion compound liberates hydrogen cyanide (HCN)

2.     Children have been poisoned

3.     Some have died
Sayre & Kaymakcaian, NEJM, 270:1113, 1964 Goldfrank & Kirstein, Hosp Phys, 13:30, 1977

SEROTONERGIC HYPERSTIMULATION (SEROTONIN SYNDROME)

HERBS IMPLICATED IN INDUCING THE SEROTONIN SYNDROME
    •     Increase synthesis L-tryptophan, red wine, beer
    •     Stimulate release Cocaine
    •     Inhibit reuptake Cocaine
    •     Reduce degradation after reuptake St. Johns wort, yohimbe
    •     Direct postsynaptic agonist action Melatonin, valerian
    •     Nonspecific increase in activity Lithium

RULE OF THUMB

    Avoid using herbs in:

        Infants and children
        Pregnant women & nursing mothers
        People with allergies to plants
        Chronic medical conditions
        Taking multiple medications