Man ill after taking Chinese herb

February 08, 2013

The Department of Health is investigating a case of aconitum alkaloid poisoning affecting a 58-year-old man who consumed a Chinese herb.
 
He came down with dizziness, confusion and cardiac arrhythmia after consuming a Chinese herbal medicine - processed Radix Aconiti Kusnezoffii - for his hypertension yesterday.
 
He was admitted to Queen Mary Hospital and is stable.
 
He bought it from a local herbal shop.
 
Aconitum alkaloids can be toxic, causing numbness, nausea, vomiting, and peripheral weakness, and can even lead to breathing difficulties.