When Western medicine struggles with complex ailments, people often turn to traditional Chinese medicine. This stems from a common misconception: that herbal medicines, derived directly from raw plant materials, are less toxic, safer, and capable of not only eradicating root causes but also eliminating side effects entirely.
Where does the "toxicity" in Chinese medicine come from?
In reality, adverse reactions to Chinese herbs are not uncommon. According to an analysis by the Chinese Pharmaceutical Association of 1,551 domestic cases of drug adverse reactions, Chinese herbal medicine ranked second only to antibiotics in the proportion of adverse reactions.
The toxicity of modern drugs has two aspects: First, the therapeutic dose is close to the toxic dose, or certain therapeutic doses already fall within the toxic range, resulting in a narrow therapeutic margin.Second, it refers to severe damage to bodily tissues and organs, potentially leading to serious or irreversible consequences.
Chinese herbs contain multiple chemical constituents. When used medicinally, not only do their inherent toxic components exert effects, but some components also interact during processing. Additionally, new compounds may form within the body. Therefore, adverse reactions caused by a specific Chinese medicine may not stem solely from a single toxic component but could also be related to other non-toxic constituents.
Poison or Life-Saving Elixir?
Traditional Chinese medicine adheres to the therapeutic principle of "treating poison with poison." Within safe therapeutic margins, herbal medicines can become life-saving elixirs. The renowned Qing Dynasty physician Ye Tianshi famously employed venomous insect-derived drugs to treat masses, accumulations, and convulsions, earning him historical acclaim.Modern renowned physicians frequently employ toxic herbs to treat intractable conditions like cancer, arthralgia, and blood stasis. Take the herb Strychnos nux-vomica (马钱子) as an example: though highly toxic, when properly processed and used judiciously, it effectively treats severe ailments including rheumatism, hemiplegia, myasthenia gravis, tumors, and schizophrenia.Aconite, containing aconitine, can cause central nervous system paralysis and cardiac arrest. However, after processing, most toxic components are destroyed while its cardiotonic properties remain intact. It demonstrates an 86.5% efficacy rate in treating arrhythmia, heart failure, and various forms of shock.The well-known Niu Huang Detoxification Tablets and An Gong Niu Huang Pills both contain realgar and cinnabar. While these substances can cause damage to the digestive and nervous systems, they are also highly effective therapeutic agents.
In fact, side effects are also common in Western medicines. However, due to their clearly defined chemical compositions and extensive research, the adverse reactions they cause are well-documented.Conversely, research on the toxic side effects of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) lags behind. Fields like clinical pharmacology, toxicology, and pharmacokinetics of TCM began relatively late, resulting in insufficient understanding of TCM toxicity. Nevertheless, evidence shows that while using toxic TCM carries inherent risks, overcoming its toxicity allows for therapeutic application.
How to prevent poisoning from Chinese herbal medicine?
1. Prescribe according to symptoms and ensure precise dosing. When using toxic herbs, select appropriate medications and determine doses based on the patient's constitution and the severity of the condition. Stop treatment once the disease is addressed; avoid overdose to prevent cumulative toxicity.Avoid contraindicated combinations that may produce severe toxic side effects. Strictly follow prescribed processing methods to reduce toxicity.
3. Consider individual constitutional differences and take medications as directed by a physician.
4. Regulatory authorities must rigorously verify drug authenticity to prevent counterfeit products from entering circulation. Strengthen oversight and strictly control the distribution of highly toxic Chinese herbs.
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