Chinese herbal poisoning probed

May 04, 2012

The Department of Health is investigating a case of aconitum alkaloid poisoning.
 
A 56-year-old woman fell ill after taking Chinese herbal medicines for an oral ulcer prescribed by a registered practitioner on May 2. The clinic is Winner Medicine Company, Kai Lok Building, Kai Yip Estate, Kowloon Bay.
 
She was admitted to hospital and is stable. She tested positive for two rare and poisonous aconitum alkaloids, yunaconitine and crassicauline A. If improperly used, aconitum alkaloids can cause numbness, nausea and vomiting, weakness, breathing difficulties and cardiac arrhythmias.
 
Health inspectors did not find any obvious contamination of Chinese herbal medicines during inspections at the shop today. Samples have been taken for tests.