Lead, Mercury, and Arsenic Poisoning Due to Topical Use of Traditional Chinese Medicines

    May 2013 in “ ˜The œAmerican journal of medicine ”
    Ming‐Ling Wu, Jou‐Fang Deng, Kon‐Ping Lin, Wei‐Jern Tsai
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    TLDR Traditional Chinese medicines with heavy metals can cause severe poisoning.
    The document reported two cases of heavy metal poisoning from the use of traditional Chinese medicines. A 51-year-old man developed severe symptoms, including perianal gangrene, high fever, gastrointestinal issues, skin rash, anemia, hair loss, peripheral neuropathy, and muscle atrophy after using a hong-dan herbal mixture containing lead, arsenic, and mercury. Despite treatment, he experienced partial improvement, but peripheral neuropathy persisted 4 years later. A 75-year-old man experienced anorexia, weight loss, headache, dizziness, nausea, vomiting, constipation, weakness, and anemia after using an herbal patch for a chronic leg ulcer, with a blood lead concentration of 226 μg/dL. Chelation therapy led to his clinical recovery. These cases highlighted the risks of systemic poisoning from short-term use of traditional Chinese medicines containing heavy metals on damaged or infected tissue.
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