Toxic Hepatitis Induced by Shou-Wu-Pian, a Chinese Herbal Preparation

January 2010 in “ Internal Medicine ”

Midori Furukawa, Saeko Kasajima, Y. Nakamura, Meiko Shouzushima, Naho Nagatani, Akira Takinishi, Ayumi Taguchi, Mikiko Fujita, Akiko Niimi, Ryoichi Misaka, Hikaru Nagahara

toxic hepatitis Shou-Wu-Pian Chinese herbal supplement Polygonum multiflorum hepatotoxicity liver biopsy liver enzymes liver function herbal products liver damage herbal medicines liver dysfunction

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.

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Research cited in this study

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research Recurrent Toxic Hepatitis in a Caucasian Girl Related to the Use of Shou-Wu-Pian, a Chinese Herbal Preparation

66 citations, July 2005 in “Journal of pediatric gastroenterology and nutrition”

A 5-year-old girl had liver damage twice after using the herbal product Shou-Wu-Pian.

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research Toxic Hepatitis Induced by Shou-Wu-Pian, a Chinese Herbal Preparation

37 citations, January 2010 in “Internal Medicine”

A woman's liver was damaged by taking the herbal supplement Shou-Wu-Pian, but it got better after she stopped using it.