14 DAY TRIAL // A new pathological research has demonstrated that herbal medicine can lead to unwanted deaths, especially in people who consume too much of their natural remedies, or who combine such substances with prescription medication. University of Adelaide forensic pathologist Professor Roger Byard underlines the fact that many herbal chemicals have very toxic compounds inside, which can kill an adult on their own when taken in excessive quantities, or when combined with other chemicals from other drugs. Details of the new research appear in the latest issue of the Journal of Forensic Sciences.
“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,” the expert explains. He adds that cases in which people opted for injecting their herbal medicine, rather than ingesting it as the prospect said, are not as uncommon as one might be tempted to think. Ill-effects also occur when normal drugs are consumed at the same time.
“As access to such products is largely unrestricted and many people do not tell their doctor they are taking herbal medicines for fear of ridicule, their contribution to death may not be fully appreciated during a standard autopsy,” Byard adds. He and his team analyzed more than 251 types of Asian herbal remedies, all of which can currently be found on the shelves of stores in the United States. The analysis conducted on these products revealed traces of arsenic in about 36 of them. 35 had mercury inside, whereas about 24 were contaminated with lead. These are very dangerous compounds, which can cause poisoning if taken for longer periods of time. Arsenic is known as a potent poison.
Among the most common complications that occur when combining herbal and classical medicine, the group includes cardiac, renal and liver failure, strokes, seizures and muscle failure, to name just a few. “Herbal medicines are frequently mixed with standard drugs, presumably to make them more effective. This can also have devastating results,” Byard adds. “Forensic pathologists the world over need to become more aware of the contribution that herbal medicines are playing in a range of deaths, that is not currently recognized,” he concludes, quoted by e! Science News.