Adverse events with ayurvedic medicines- possible adulteration and some inherent toxicities [version 2; peer review: 2 approved, 1 approved with reservations]

Abstract

Ayurvedic medicine, a traditional system of medicine practiced in the Indian subcontinent is considered to be devoid of adverse effects. We report three cases which highlight the possibility of adverse events related with the use ofwith the use of ayurvedic products. A 35 years old woman with hepatitis took ayurvedic powder medicine and with swarnabhasma (gold salt)s and had her liver injury worsened, possibly due to alkaloids, and developed nephrotic syndrome, possibly due to and gold salt. A 57 years old hypertensive man was taking ayurvedic medicine containing reserpine which had long been withdrawn from the allopathic system of medicine due to wide range of side effects. A 47 years old woman with rheumatoid arthritis was taking an unknown tablet containing a steroid as an adulterant for 2 years and developed side effects typical of steroid excess. We like to highlight the fact that ayurvedic medicines do have propensity to may cause adverse effects due to adulterations or inherent constituents like alkaloids, and hence are may not always be completely safe.