Cimicifuga & liver toxicity

November 2, 2004

Dear All,

one of my menopause patients was advised by her doctor to get a blood

test to check her liver function, as this doctor suppossidly had a

previous patient on Cimicifuga who had had problems with her liver

values. To my surprise my patient came to me with the results and she

has in fact moderately raised ALT levels, which suppossidly only occur

when there is some form of liver problem i.e. can be massively high

when taking statins! This patient however isn't taking any other

medication. She is on a mix containing no standardised extracts and

the following herbs:

Rehmannia

Paeonia lactiflora

Tarax rad

Ephedra radix (Chinese use as astringent, can stop sweating unlike

aerial parts of Ephedra which are diaphoretic)

Ziziphus jujuba semen

Schizandra

Poria cocos

Glycyrrhiza q/s

I've reassured the patient that there has been no evidence of liver

damage caused by Cimicifuga, I couldn't find any.

Do any of you know of any hepatotoxicity found with any of the above

herbs? They all come from reputable herb suppliers, with no history of

plant misidentification etc. I'm not really quite sure what to advise

my patient when she comes next time! Any help greatly appreciated in

advance.

All the best,

Sonja

November 2, 2004

I also have a patient whose GP has recommended she has LFTs in a couple of

weeks. GP did not tell her the reason but she told him she was taking

herbal medicine, including Cimicifuga, and we both jumped to the conclusion

that Cimicifuga was the reason.

So, I would also be interested in other people's advice etc.

Liz Lillicrap

Cimicifuga & liver toxicity

>

> Dear All,

>

> one of my menopause patients was advised by her doctor to get a blood

> test to check her liver function, as this doctor suppossidly had a

> previous patient on Cimicifuga who had had problems with her liver

> values. To my surprise my patient came to me with the results and she

> has in fact moderately raised ALT levels, which suppossidly only occur

> when there is some form of liver problem i.e. can be massively high

> when taking statins! This patient however isn't taking any other

> medication. She is on a mix containing no standardised extracts and

> the following herbs:

> Rehmannia

> Paeonia lactiflora

> Tarax rad

> Ephedra radix (Chinese use as astringent, can stop sweating unlike

> aerial parts of Ephedra which are diaphoretic)

> Ziziphus jujuba semen

> Schizandra

> Poria cocos

> Glycyrrhiza q/s

>

> I've reassured the patient that there has been no evidence of liver

> damage caused by Cimicifuga, I couldn't find any.

>

> Do any of you know of any hepatotoxicity found with any of the above

> herbs? They all come from reputable herb suppliers, with no history of

> plant misidentification etc. I'm not really quite sure what to advise

> my patient when she comes next time! Any help greatly appreciated in

> advance.

>

> All the best,

>

> Sonja

>

> List Owner

>

> Graham White, MNIMH

>

November 2, 2004

Liz, Sonja,

In 2002, it has been published a paper about a few cases of hepatotoxicity

supposed to be due to herbs

Listed below the web site with the whole paper: cimicifuga was associated

with a liver transplant.

Funnily enough at the present, the American NIH is currying out at least two

trials at phase II and III, on cimicifuga safety and efficacy.

The Amercan association of family physicians tells us that cimicifuga is a

safe and effective herb etc.

I did not read it with attention so have a look.

Lugli, MCPP

http://www.mja.com.au/public/issues/177_08_211002/whi10119_fm.html

Cimicifuga & liver toxicity

>

>>

>> Dear All,

>>

>> one of my menopause patients was advised by her doctor to get a blood

>> test to check her liver function, as this doctor suppossidly had a

>> previous patient on Cimicifuga who had had problems with her liver

>> values. To my surprise my patient came to me with the results and she

>> has in fact moderately raised ALT levels, which suppossidly only occur

>> when there is some form of liver problem i.e. can be massively high

>> when taking statins! This patient however isn't taking any other

>> medication. She is on a mix containing no standardised extracts and

>> the following herbs:

>> Rehmannia

>> Paeonia lactiflora

>> Tarax rad

>> Ephedra radix (Chinese use as astringent, can stop sweating unlike

>> aerial parts of Ephedra which are diaphoretic)

>> Ziziphus jujuba semen

>> Schizandra

>> Poria cocos

>> Glycyrrhiza q/s

>>

>> I've reassured the patient that there has been no evidence of liver

>> damage caused by Cimicifuga, I couldn't find any.

>>

>> Do any of you know of any hepatotoxicity found with any of the above

>> herbs? They all come from reputable herb suppliers, with no history of

>> plant misidentification etc. I'm not really quite sure what to advise

>> my patient when she comes next time! Any help greatly appreciated in

>> advance.

>>

>> All the best,

>>

>> Sonja

>>

>> List Owner

>>

>> Graham White, MNIMH

>>

November 3, 2004

we discussed this a lot at the time - look in the archives. (always start

there first). useful paper from Treasure as i remember. a lot of

this crap is becoming accepted information about herbs, however wild the

original claims were. as long as they are published they become truth.

investigate it but don't assume there is a problem. just because somebody's

liver enzymes are out and they are concurrently taking herbal medicine, it

does not necessarily follow that the herbs are to blame.

nne

====================================================

nne Last BA MNIMH

Consultant Medical Herbalist

Monmouth Herbal Clinic

Tel: 01600 719497

www.mariannelast.co.uk

Re: Cimicifuga & liver toxicity

Liz, Sonja,

In 2002, it has been published a paper about a few cases of hepatotoxicity

supposed to be due to herbs

Listed below the web site with the whole paper: cimicifuga was associated

with a liver transplant.

Funnily enough at the present, the American NIH is currying out at least

two