Usage and dosage of Xanthium sibiricum

Side effects of Xanthium sibiricum. Therefore, when taking Xanthium sibiricum, you must pay attention to the usage and dosage to avoid taking too much Xanthium sibiricum to produce toxins and other adverse effects on the human body.

The leaves and stems of Xanthium sibiricum contain substances that are harmful to nerves and muscles. After poisoning, the patient will feel weak all over, dizzy, nauseous, vomiting, abdominal pain, constipation, difficulty breathing, restlessness, cold hands and feet, and slow pulse. In severe cases, jaundice, epistaxis, and even coma may occur, body temperature may drop, blood pressure may fluctuate, or there may be heavy bleeding, and ultimately death from respiratory and circulatory failure.

Toxic side effects: decreased activity, slow response to external stimuli, irregular breathing, extremely difficult breathing before death, accompanied by paroxysmal convulsions. Pathological histological examinations showed that the liver damage was more serious, that is, the main cause of seed kernel infusion poisoning was liver necrosis, and the convulsions caused by secondary cerebral edema might be the direct cause of death.

When taking the therapeutic dosage of Xanthium sibiricum (about 9 grams) internally, there is a slight dryness of mouth and throat. Taking too much (more than 30 grams) or swallowing more than 10 pieces by mistake can cause poisoning. The poisoning usually occurs within 2 to 3 days after eating Xanthium sibiricum. The symptoms are faster, about 4 to 8 hours, and can be mild, such as drowsiness, lack of energy, headache, dizziness, loss of appetite, nausea and vomiting. In severe cases, symptoms such as restlessness or constant sleepiness, coma, convulsions, arrhythmia, jaundice, liver enlargement, damage to liver function tests, bleeding tendency, the presence of casts and blood cells in the urine, and urinary retention may occur 1 to 3 days after the onset of the disease. Massive necrosis of the liver may cause hepatic encephalopathy and death from liver, kidney failure or respiratory failure. There have been reports of deaths in clinical medicine due to excessive intake of Xanthium sibiricum (children taking 600 grams within two days).

There are several reports in clinical medicine of accidental ingestion of Xanthium sibiricum causing liver and kidney failure, coma, myocardial damage, and decline in multiple organ functions. Therefore, caution must be exercised when using this medicine and it should never be used raw or in excess. External application of Xanthium sibiricum to treat arthritis is also one of the common treatments in Chinese medicine. External application of Xanthium sibiricum can cause skin lesions: papules, blisters, pain, rash, etc., so you should pay attention.