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Can Fo-Ti Cause Liver Damage?
Question: i have taken the pill call Fo-Ti (HE SHOU WU) for about two weeks i found out it may cause liver damage i am having stomach pains and diarrhea i am afraid it could be a problem with my liver
Brief Answer:
Information
Detailed Answer:
Hello XXXXXXX
Fo-Ti is a stimulant laxative, which would explain the diarrhea and abdominal cramps if that is the nature of your stomach pain. So the diarrhea may not be a sign of liver damage.
I could not find research related information on the Memorial XXXXXXX Kettering integrative/herbal website. XXXXXXX Kettering compiles whatever research is available on alternative medicine and gives information on what herbs, etc may be effective for different problems. I could not find Fo-Ti, or it's Latin/English names Fallopia multiflora or Polygonum multiflorum. I know it is used sometimes in Oriental Medicine, but then, my understanding is that it is used in combination with things, so the concentration probably isn't as strong as if it were used on it's own.
I recommend you go in to the urgent care or ER to make sure you aren't getting dehydrated from diarrhea or having electrolyte abnormalities from the diarrhea (they should draw blood for an electrolyte or chemistry panel), and also they should check your liver enzymes via a liver panel blood test. Liver enzymes indicate if the liver is inflamed or injured.
I know that for some substances that hurt the liver such as too much Tylenol (acetaminophen), in the ER they will give something called Mucomyst (N-acetyl cysteine) IV (it isn't absorbed well by mouth) and this can help protect the liver. This is given in a Tylenol overdose so I don't know if it will apply to what you have taken. But I do think you should go in to be seen now.
Most likely no harm was done except for the stimulant laxative effect which would be temporary. But you should get checked. I would be happy to write further after you have gone in to be seen and know what your liver function test results are.
Information
Detailed Answer:
Hello XXXXXXX
Fo-Ti is a stimulant laxative, which would explain the diarrhea and abdominal cramps if that is the nature of your stomach pain. So the diarrhea may not be a sign of liver damage.
I could not find research related information on the Memorial XXXXXXX Kettering integrative/herbal website. XXXXXXX Kettering compiles whatever research is available on alternative medicine and gives information on what herbs, etc may be effective for different problems. I could not find Fo-Ti, or it's Latin/English names Fallopia multiflora or Polygonum multiflorum. I know it is used sometimes in Oriental Medicine, but then, my understanding is that it is used in combination with things, so the concentration probably isn't as strong as if it were used on it's own.
I recommend you go in to the urgent care or ER to make sure you aren't getting dehydrated from diarrhea or having electrolyte abnormalities from the diarrhea (they should draw blood for an electrolyte or chemistry panel), and also they should check your liver enzymes via a liver panel blood test. Liver enzymes indicate if the liver is inflamed or injured.
I know that for some substances that hurt the liver such as too much Tylenol (acetaminophen), in the ER they will give something called Mucomyst (N-acetyl cysteine) IV (it isn't absorbed well by mouth) and this can help protect the liver. This is given in a Tylenol overdose so I don't know if it will apply to what you have taken. But I do think you should go in to be seen now.
Most likely no harm was done except for the stimulant laxative effect which would be temporary. But you should get checked. I would be happy to write further after you have gone in to be seen and know what your liver function test results are.
Note: For more detailed guidance, please consult an Internal Medicine Specialist, with your latest reports. Click here..
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
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