Author: Cao Lihui, Department of Pharmacy, Third Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University
Generally speaking, it is safer to take Chinese medicine normally, but we will also see some news reports of poisoning due to indiscriminate or incorrect use of Chinese medicine.
Taking Chinese medicine to make wine is a matter of habit in some people's minds. However, in the clinic, poisoning occurs from time to time due to improper drinking of medicinal liquor. Recently, the emergency department of our hospital received an uncle, and after questioning, it was found that the uncle made chuanwu and caowu medicinal liquor, which he drank every day, and the doctor suspected that the uncle was "aconitine poisoning".
First of all, let's first get to know Chuanwu and Caowu.
Aconitum herbs were first published in the Shennong Materia Medica and were listed as Chinese products. According to China's "Chinese Pharmacopoeia" (2020 edition), the aconitum Chinese medicines included in the Chinese Medicine Are Chuan Wu, Chuan Wu, Cao Wu, Cao Wu, Cao Wu, Cao Wu, Cao Wu Leaf, and Zhi Zi. Below, a diagram illustrates the relationship between them.
The difference between the above aconitum Chinese medicines is that the raw Sichuan Wu and Grass Wu are more toxic, and the toxicity is reduced after being prepared by different processing methods, and the pharmacological effects are different, such as regulating immunity should be selected black smooth tablets and light attachment tablets.
Grass
Chuanwu
Drugs have two sides, which can play a therapeutic role in diseases and also produce unrelated or even opposite effects to the purpose of treatment. Aconitum tcm toxicity and efficacy coexist, among which the therapeutic amount of ChuanWu and Caowu is very close to the amount of poisoning. Its active ingredient is alkaloids, which are both key components and toxic components that play a therapeutic role, especially diterpene diester alkaloids are the most toxic, such as aconitine, medium aconitine, and lower aconitine. Studies have shown that after the aconitum Chinese medicine is processed, aconitine is converted into aconitine and aconitine, and the toxicity is greatly reduced.
However, due to different origins and different processing conditions, aconitine poisoning may still occur.
In fact, whether it is decoction with water or soaking aconitum chinese medicine in wine, poisoning may occur if it is not used properly. The method of extracting the active ingredients of traditional Chinese medicine is decoction method, impregnation method, infiltration method, etc., and usually decocting Chinese medicine at home belongs to the decoction method; the main ingredient of the liquor selected for medicinal liquor is alcohol, the chemical name is called ethanol, the concentration is about 40%, and the chinese medicine soaking medicinal wine belongs to the impregnation method. Both methods can dissolve the active ingredients.
The toxic component of aconitum Chinese medicine is aconitine, etc., with a spicy taste, is an organic compound, easily soluble in organic solvents such as anhydrous ethanol, and difficult to dissolve in water. According to the data, after the aconitine is heated in water or soaked for a long time, hydrolysis occurs to produce non-toxic alkaloids.
1. Circulatory system
The main manifestations are decreased blood pressure, palpitations, chest tightness;
2. Digestive system
The main manifestations are nausea and vomiting, dysphagia, and salivation;
3. Nervous system
The main manifestations are numbness in the whole body, limbs, mouth and tongue, dizziness, cold extremities, pale face, the whole body is accompanied by a burning sensation, irritability;
4. Respiratory system
The main manifestations are increased breathing depth and frequency, irregular breathing, and pallor.
1. Pay attention to dialectical medication;
2. The dosage of traditional Chinese medicine should not be too large, and the medication time should not be too long;
3. Select appropriate traditional Chinese medicine raw products or cannon products;
4. The combined use of Traditional Chinese Medicine and Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chinese Medicine and Western Medicine should be appropriate.
Therefore, if you are not a professional, do not soak the medicinal liquor yourself. At the same time, if you experience discomfort during taking, be sure to seek medical attention in time. If you really need to brew medicinal liquor, it is recommended to consult a professional Chinese medicine practitioner first, and purchase Chinese herbal medicines in regular hospitals or pharmacies.
Review expert: Tan Xiangping, Department of Pharmacy, Third Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University
The above is the original work of the volunteers of the "Drug Safety Cooperation Alliance", if you reprint, please indicate the author and source!
【Medicine Shield Public Welfare】PSM Pharmaceutical Shield Public Welfare (public number: PSMChina), a public welfare organization jointly initiated and established by the China Over-the-Counter Drug Association, the Chinese Pharmaceutical Association, etc., gathers resources, gathers strength, and promotes the safety of public medication.