In the News: ‘Herbal Cleanser’ causes heart poisoning
In the News: Herbal Cleanser’ causes heart poisoning
Eight hours after a 36-year-old woman ingested an herbal product marketed for its "internal cleansing" properties, she experienced symptoms of heart poisoning, including nausea, high potassium levels, slow heart rate and other heart-rate changes, according to a case report in the March Annals of Emergency Medicine.
The patient purchased the herbal product from a New York City street vendor. The ingredients were neither known to the patient nor listed on the product packaging; however, the product claims to be created from plants picked from the Amazon jungle. The product also appeared be commercially produced. The patient said she ingested the entire contents of the package, although the directions stated it should be divided into four doses.
The authors believe it is possible that the herbal product was contaminated with Digitalis lanata (foxglove plant) or some other plant-derived cardioactive steroid. Contained in the leaves of the foxglove plant is a major cardioactive steroid, which is metabolized into digitoxin, used in drugs today to treat some heart problems because it slows down and controls the heart rate. This patient was treated similarly to an acute digoxin overdose and had a full recovery.
Eight hours after a 36-year-old woman ingested an herbal product marketed for its internal cleansing properties, she experienced symptoms of heart poisoning, including nausea, high potassium levels, slow heart rate and other heart-rate changes.Subscribe Now for Access
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