Herbal Tea Ingredient Leads to Deaths in California
Two people have died recently after drinking traditional Chinese herbal teas that included fragments of the monkshood plant. Monkshood contains a toxic compound called aconite, and aconite can be lethal even in small doses. It is used as a remedy to treat a wide-range of ailments in China, but officials fear that products may have been adulterated before or after their importation.
This is not uncommon as additives or certain chemicals can be mixed with plant matter as a way to preserve them. There is also the possibility that the remedy was prepared by someone who was inexperienced or ill-advised in terms of proper dosing. The end result is that two seemingly-healthy individuals experienced a rapid onset of symptoms that lead to their deaths.
Symptoms of Aconite Poisoning
Aconite generally impacts that gastrointestinal system. However, it can also produce abnormal heart rhythms. Heart rates will generally become slower and weaker until the victim goes into cardiac arrest. This is what is thought to have killed the latest victims in San Francisco. While aconite poisoning is rare, it does happen, and it’s important to note that there is no cure or antidote once someone has been exposed.
No Safe Minimum
It only takes a very small amount of aconite to produce life-threatening symptoms. Aconite can be absorbed through healthy skin as well as through cuts and scrapes in addition to being introduced into the bloodstream after consumption. There have been a number of cases in the past where florists or growers who became ill from aconite poisoning simply from handling the monkshood plant as well.
Signs of Exposure
Symptoms will usually appear within a couple of minutes to a few hours after exposure. They include digestive problems such as nausea, vomiting, diarrhea and abdominal cramping. Blood pressure can drop to dangerous levels as heart palpitations lead to rapid or slow heart rates which can cause cardiac arrest and sudden death. It’s important to remember that aconite exposure impacts people differently, and some will have no symptoms whereas others can become deathly ill. Consequently, it should be avoided at all costs.
Dangers of Herbal Remedies
We talk a lot about herbal remedies, and many of them are safer and just as effective as their pharmaceutical counterparts. However, this example illustrates the importance of knowing what you are taking and any potential side-effects beforehand. This is particularly true when taking remedies that come from exotic plants that are known to be toxic.
Additionally, it’s important to remember that emergency personnel and physicians may not be able to identify and diagnose problems related to exposure to plant-based toxins in a timely manner. Consequently, even if someone does get prompt and definitive care, it may take time before the right treatment is offered. By then, the effects the substances have on the body can be irreversible.
We mention this to encourage everyone to do their due diligence when it comes to choosing unconventional remedies to treat ailments. Chances are that the victims in this particular case had no idea that they would be exposed to toxic compounds because they either trusted the herbologist or staff at the store. However, it’s important to take certain remedies, particularly when you don’t know what’s inside of them, with a grain of salt until you’ve done your homework. The last thing you want is to face a life-threatening situation from something that was thought to be better than what could be obtained from a pharmacy instead.
