Renal pathology and medicinal herbs
Section: Medicinal herbs
How to quote
Serrano Ruiz A, González Sanguino C. Patología renal y hierbas medicinales. Metas de Enferm jun 2006; 9(5): 16-18
Authors
1Alfredo Serrano Ruiz, 2Cristina González Sanguino
Position
1Enfermero. Servicio de Farmacología Clínica. Hospital Universitario “Puerta de Hierro” (Madrid).2Enfermera. Servicio de Hematología. Hospital Severo Ochoa (Madrid).
Contact address
Servicio de Farmacología Clínica, Hospital “Puerta de Hierro”. C/ San Martín de Porres, 4. 28035 Madrid.
Contact email: aserrano.hpth@salud.madrid.org
Abstract
Simply because they are natural remedies, medicinal plants may not be either effective or innocuous. Some preparations made of herbs are clearly nephrotoxic. Other preparations can cause severe effects on the renal function if consumed in inappropriate doses or if they interact with the regular medication the patient who has renal pathology is taking. Moreover, these formulations may be contraindicated in patients on renal dialysis. On the other hand, the literature reports cases in which such effects were caused by adulterants present in the preparations, either in the form of heavy metals, insecticides, pesticides, or even other drugs.
The current lack of information on the action mechanisms of the active molecules present in medicinal herbs make their consumption inadvisable, especially in this type of patients.
Keywords:
Medicinal plants; nephrotoxicity; renal dialysis; drug interactionalternative therapies
Versión en Español
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