What are some nephrotoxic Chinese medicines?

Although Chinese medicine is beneficial to the human body and has regulating and health-preserving effects, it cannot be ruled out that some Chinese medicines have toxic side effects. If the medicine is used for too long or the dosage is too large, it will exceed the body's excretion capacity and cause damage. The most common damage is to the kidneys. If it is not taken seriously, it may lead to impaired kidney function and renal failure. In severe cases, dialysis may be required. Therefore, early detection can avoid harm. Traditional Chinese medicines that contain nephrotoxic substances include arsenic, red sail, snake gall, and tripterygium wilfordii. Some traditional Chinese medicines can also produce nephrotoxicity when they are boiled in combination with other medicinal materials, so consult a doctor before taking any medicine.

Some Chinese medicines are indeed nephrotoxic and should be used with caution by those who take them in excess or have renal impairment.

Common ones include Xanthium sibiricum, Duck Gallbladder, Dichroa chinensis, Ginkgo bile, Comb seeds, Strychnos nux vomica, Pinellia ternata, Tripterygium wilfordii, Scutellaria baicalensis, lead powder, red lead, realgar, arsenic, Dandelion, calomel, and mercury.

The above drugs can directly damage renal tubular epithelial cells and even cause extensive proximal tubular necrosis. (Information cited from Practical Toxic Chinese Medicine by Yang Fenming, 1992, Science and Technology Literature Press)

Red lead is mentioned in the book "Try Hundreds of Medicines on Yourself to Be Careful of Kidney Failure". Red lead is a mercury preparation made from mercury, saltpeter, alum, soap alum, realgar and cinnabar. The main components are mercuric oxide (HgO) and a small amount of arsenic disulfide (As2S2), which are toxic and can only be used externally. Acute poisoning may cause kidney enlargement, cortical thickening, and swelling and necrosis of the renal tubular epithelium.

Nephrotoxic Chinese medicines can cause great damage to the body, so it is best not to take them at will. This is especially true for middle-aged and elderly people whose kidney function is impaired. At this time, they should pay more attention to medication safety, otherwise there will be great safety risks. When choosing Chinese medicine to strengthen your body, you must purchase it with a doctor's prescription and take it according to the prescription to ensure safety.