A new pathological research has announced 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. Professor Roger Byard of University of Adelaide forensic pathologist 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.
“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. Ill-effects also occur when normal drugs are consumed at the same time.
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.
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