Herbal hazards: Unveiling the dark side of unknown botanical remedies

IF 1.9 4区医学 Q3 INTEGRATIVE & COMPLEMENTARY MEDICINE

Explore-The Journal of Science and Healing Pub Date : 2025-05-17 DOI:10.1016/j.explore.2025.103191

Agnelo Lucamba , Ricardo Grillo , Luzolo Filipe , Mariana Aparecida Brozoski

{"title":"Herbal hazards: Unveiling the dark side of unknown botanical remedies","authors":"Agnelo Lucamba , Ricardo Grillo , Luzolo Filipe , Mariana Aparecida Brozoski","doi":"10.1016/j.explore.2025.103191","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Objective</h3><div>In some areas, patients often turn to traditional remedies, including local herbs, due to the lack of medical resources. However, the flora in many regions remains largely uncataloged, posing significant risks due to the unknown properties and potential toxicities of these plants.</div></div><div><h3>Case report</h3><div>The case report presented describes a female patient from Angola who suffered severe facial disfigurement and visual impairment after using <em>filanganga</em> to treat an odontogenic abscess. The herb's corrosive effects underscore the dangers of unverified traditional remedies. This case highlights the critical need for healthcare professionals to be aware of the potential risks associated with unclassified herbs, particularly in regions where traditional medicine is prevalent.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>The article advocates for comprehensive research to catalog local flora and for public health campaigns to educate patients on the risks of using unverified herbal treatments. The conclusion emphasizes the importance of balancing respect for cultural practices with the need for scientific validation to ensure patient safety.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":50459,"journal":{"name":"Explore-The Journal of Science and Healing","volume":"21 4","pages":"Article 103191"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9000,"publicationDate":"2025-05-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"Explore-The Journal of Science and Healing","FirstCategoryId":"3","ListUrlMain":"https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1550830725000825","RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"","PubModel":"","JCR":"Q3","JCRName":"INTEGRATIVE & COMPLEMENTARY MEDICINE","Score":null,"Total":0}

引用次数: 0

Abstract

Objective

In some areas, patients often turn to traditional remedies, including local herbs, due to the lack of medical resources. However, the flora in many regions remains largely uncataloged, posing significant risks due to the unknown properties and potential toxicities of these plants.

Case report

The case report presented describes a female patient from Angola who suffered severe facial disfigurement and visual impairment after using filanganga to treat an odontogenic abscess. The herb's corrosive effects underscore the dangers of unverified traditional remedies. This case highlights the critical need for healthcare professionals to be aware of the potential risks associated with unclassified herbs, particularly in regions where traditional medicine is prevalent.

Conclusion

The article advocates for comprehensive research to catalog local flora and for public health campaigns to educate patients on the risks of using unverified herbal treatments. The conclusion emphasizes the importance of balancing respect for cultural practices with the need for scientific validation to ensure patient safety.

查看原文本刊更多论文

草药危害：揭开未知植物疗法的阴暗面

目的在一些地区，由于缺乏医疗资源，患者往往转向传统疗法，包括当地草药。然而，许多地区的植物群在很大程度上仍未分类，由于这些植物的未知特性和潜在毒性，构成了重大风险。本病例报告描述了一名来自安哥拉的女性患者，在使用filanganga治疗牙源性脓肿后，出现了严重的面部畸形和视力障碍。这种草药的腐蚀作用强调了未经证实的传统疗法的危险。这一案例突出表明，医疗保健专业人员迫切需要意识到与未分类草药相关的潜在风险，特别是在传统医学盛行的地区。结论提倡开展综合研究，对当地植物区系进行分类，并开展公共卫生活动，教育患者使用未经证实的草药治疗的风险。结论强调了在尊重文化习俗和需要科学验证以确保患者安全之间取得平衡的重要性。

本文章由计算机程序翻译，如有差异，请以英文原文为准。

求助全文

约1分钟内获得全文求助全文

来源期刊

Explore-The Journal of Science and Healing 医学-全科医学与补充医学

CiteScore

3.00

自引率

8.30%

发文量

179

审稿时长

25 days

期刊介绍： EXPLORE: The Journal of Science & Healing addresses the scientific principles behind, and applications of, evidence-based healing practices from a wide variety of sources, including conventional, alternative, and cross-cultural medicine. It is an interdisciplinary journal that explores the healing arts, consciousness, spirituality, eco-environmental issues, and basic science as all these fields relate to health.