Hospitalized for drinking guava leaf water and black xạ to detoxify the liver

Recently, Phu Tho General Hospital has continuously received and treated dozens of patients with elevated liver enzymes due to drinking leaf juice at home. Notably, most of these cases have a history of diabetes and drink leaf juice with the purpose of cooling and detoxifying the liver.

A typical case is patient PBT (63 years old, residing in Thanh Dinh commune, Viet Tri), who was hospitalized with severe fatigue, loss of appetite, and abdominal pain. Patient T has type 2 diabetes (5 years) and is taking medication to treat diabetes.

However, worried that diabetes medication would affect liver function, Mr. T listened to an acquaintance and drank leaf juice (including Solanum procumbens leaves, Black xạ, Vối leaves, etc.). After nearly a month of drinking the leaf juice, the patient felt tired, had no appetite, was afraid of fat, and had abdominal pain, so he went to Phu Tho Provincial General Hospital for treatment.

At the hospital, after the doctors examined and performed tests, the results showed that the patient's blood sugar and liver enzymes were 3-4 times higher than the allowable index. The patient was treated intensively, after 5 days, his health stabilized and he was discharged from the hospital.

Another patient, Mr. N.D.T (64 years old, residing in Tien Cat, Viet Tri) was hospitalized for treatment due to liver enzymes increasing 5 times after a long period of drinking leaf water every day. Or patient LTH (70 years old, residing in Thanh Mieu, Viet Tri) after 2 months of drinking leaf water also had liver enzymes increasing 6 times...

According to MSc. Dr. Duong Thi Kim Ngan, Head of the Department of Endocrinology - Diabetes of Phu Tho Provincial General Hospital, the medicinal effects of some types of leaves and medicinal herbs have been confirmed in medical literature. However, using leaves incorrectly, in the wrong dosage... can lead to poisoning, and more seriously, can cause multiple organ failure.

It is worrying that the habit of drinking herbal tea is quite common among people, especially the elderly and those with chronic diseases. Improper use and incorrect dosage can be harmful to health, especially for those with underlying diseases.

Through this, MSc. Dr. Duong Thi Kim Ngan recommends: "When people have health problems, they should go to a medical facility to be examined by a doctor and prescribed the right medicine, in the right dosage, and should not arbitrarily use medicines or substitute products to avoid serious consequences.

During the treatment at home according to the doctor's prescription, the patient must strictly adhere to the principle of taking the correct dosage and at the correct time according to the instructions on the prescription and immediately notify medical staff if there are any unusual or severe signs for timely treatment.

Minh Trang