Toxic Hepatitis Induced by Shou-Wu-Pian, a Chinese Herbal Preparation
January 2010
in “
Internal Medicine
”
TLDR A woman's liver was damaged by taking the herbal supplement Shou-Wu-Pian, but it got better after she stopped using it.
In 2010, a 53-year-old female with Sjögren's syndrome developed acute hepatitis after taking Shou-Wu-Pian, a Chinese herbal supplement, for 8 months. Her liver biopsy indicated toxic hepatitis, and her liver enzymes were significantly elevated. After stopping the supplement, her liver function returned to normal within 2 months. This case underscored the risk of hepatotoxicity from herbal products like Shou-Wu-Pian, which contains Polygonum multiflorum, a substance linked to liver damage. The report called for increased clinician awareness of the potential for herbal medicines to cause liver dysfunction.
