What are the adverse reactions to taking Chinese medicine?

Our country is an ancient country with a 5,000-year-old culture with profound connotations. Our smart ancestors invented various methods of using medicine with their own wisdom in a period when medicine had not yet been invented. This system is called Traditional Chinese Medicine. Of course, Traditional Chinese Medicine uses Chinese herbs. Do you know what adverse reactions may occur after Chinese herbs are absorbed by the human body? Let’s study together today.

First of all, we need to look at the specific medication used. The medicinal properties of each Chinese medicine are different. Then we need to see whether the composition of the prescription is reasonable. It also depends on whether the medicine is suitable for the condition. Generally speaking, all medicines are poisonous! If used correctly, it can cure diseases; if used incorrectly, it can cause illness!

This paper summarizes the main manifestations and clinical symptoms of adverse reactions to traditional Chinese medicine, and analyzes the causes of adverse reactions to traditional Chinese medicine.

With the development of traditional Chinese medicine, Chinese medicine is increasingly widely used in clinical practice. People's understanding of drug-induced diseases is constantly improving. They realize that the view that "Chinese medicine has no toxic side effects and no allergic reactions" is one-sided, and adverse reactions to Chinese medicine have been reported repeatedly. This article attempts to make a simple analysis of the adverse reactions of traditional Chinese medicine.

1. Main manifestations and clinical symptoms of adverse reactions to traditional Chinese medicine 1.1 Allergic reaction: Allergic reaction is one of the most common adverse reactions to drugs, and traditional Chinese medicine is no exception. Allergic reactions to traditional Chinese medicine are particularly common, including allergic skin reactions and anaphylactic shock. 1.1.1 Allergic skin reactions: There are many types of Chinese medicine that can cause allergic skin reactions, including single Chinese herbal medicines, Chinese patent medicines, and compound preparations. Clinical symptoms include various skin lesions. In mild cases, there are itching, miliary rash, urticaria, purpuric drug eruption, and eczematous dermatitis-like drug eruption; in severe cases, there are exfoliative dermatitis, epidermolysis bullosa atrophic drug eruption, and severe erythema multiforme. Some traditional Chinese medicines can also cause photosensitivity drug eruptions［1］. 1.1.2 Anaphylactic shock: Traditional Chinese medicines that cause anaphylactic shock are mostly Chinese patent medicines and compound preparations, especially Chinese medicine injections. The symptoms include dizziness, nausea, chest tightness and shortness of breath, pale complexion, cold limbs, difficulty breathing, confusion, low blood pressure or unmeasurable blood pressure, etc. If rescue is not timely, it can lead to death. There are reports that topical Chinese medicine can occasionally cause anaphylactic shock［2］. 1.1.3 Others: Other allergic reactions mainly include drug-induced fever, allergic asthma, angioedema, phlebitis, delayed diplopia, drug-induced hepatitis, etc. 1.2 Toxic reactions: Toxic reactions of traditional Chinese medicine are often caused by accidental ingestion or overdose. Mild reactions include dizziness, headache, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, diarrhea, hematemesis, bloody stools and other gastrointestinal bleeding; severe reactions include toxic shock, cardiac and respiratory arrest and even death.

Although traditional Chinese medicine is inherited from our ancestors and is the crystallization of our ancestors' wisdom, it does not mean that traditional Chinese medicine will not have any side effects on our body. Traditional Chinese medicine is warm in nature and is very suitable for the diseases of us Chinese people. However, for people with special constitutions, their constitutions cannot withstand the side effects of traditional Chinese medicine. Therefore, when we choose to take Chinese medicine, we must first see if it is suitable for us.