Some of Herbs That are Toxic 有毒的傳統藥物

Historical reference: the dose figures below are the editor's opinions, as the introduction explains, and are not universal safe doses. This redesign did not clinically review the source text.

by: Joe Hing Kwok Chu 按此看中文 The following is a warning on toxicity of certain herbs. It is not a complete list. The maximum dosages listed are just the opinion of the editor. It should not be interpreted as the absolute amount. The weight is in metric measurement of grams. (Note: many of the listings are much less than a gram). Some patients are more sensitive to certain herbs and some have more tolerance for some other herbs. For example, bai guo ( ginkgo biloba) is very toxic to young children. Small children of few years old have died from taking just less than ten pieces of bai guo seeds (ginkgo biloba). Adults seldom are affected by the toxicity of bai guo but it does not mean it will not happen. The author has known of cases where three or four people have consumed a porridge containing a 15 ounce can of bai guo (ginkgo seeds) without ill effect. Cooking can hydrolyze the cyanide in bai guo but the toxin in bai guo (ginkgo) is found in the substance called "bai guo neutral substance" which is absorbed by the intestines and affects the central nervous system. The list of herbs is included here for reference in your professional practice .

Traditionally, in China, the acceptable practice is that the herb doctors prescribe the formulae and the patients keep the copies and buy the herb at the herb stores of their choice. This practice prevents conflict of interest and it shows that you, the practitioner, can stand up for your prescription. If patients keep copies of the prescribed formulae, it is easier to keep track of the herbs being used.

To see the Latin botanical names go to the herb dictionary, and select the the letter of the herb in pinyin to open the file. Some herbs might not be in the dictionary. If you cannot find it, you can email the the research librarian here. The Japanese and Korean pronunciations are not included in the table because it is easier for the Japanese and Korean practitioners to read the Chinese characters (or kanji) and more accurately than reading the Roman alphabet's pronunciations which sometime might create misunderstanding. A separate table of Korean and Japanese pronunciations will be provided separately for the westerners for research purposes only. Although pinyin is the official Chinese Romanized pronunciation of Chinese characters, to avoid misunderstanding, Chinese characters should be used when prescribing herbs.

For complete Latin Names use the Chinese Herb Dictionary. More links will be gradually uploaded.

Pinyin	Chinese	Latin or Chemical Name	Normal dosage/Maximum_dosage Click on herb for usual dosage	Note
ai di cha	矮地茶	Ardisia japonica Bl.
ba dou	巴豆	Croton tiglium L.	0.15～0.3 g
ba jiao feng	八角楓	Alangium chinense (Lour.) Rehder	3–9g, some toxicity
bai guo	白果	Gingko biloba, L.	6–9g, some toxicity
bai hua cai zi	白花菜子		3–6g, some toxicity
bai qu cai	白屈菜 (大白屈菜)	Chelidonium majus	9–18g, some toxicity
bai li lu chun	白藜蘆醇	resveratrol, (3,4',5-trihydroxystilbene)	some toxicity	This chemical is found in various traditional herbs.
bai tou weng	白頭翁	Anemone chinensis, Benze Pulsatila nuttalliana, Spreng. Pulsatila daurica, Spreng.	some toxicity
bai zhi	白芷	Angelica dahurica (Fisc.) Benth. et Hook. f. or Angelica dahurica (Fish.) ex Hook. f. var. Angelica taiwaniana (Boiss.) Shan et Yuan	some toxicity
bi ma zi	萆麻子	Ricinus communis, L.	external use, toxic
bi shi	砒石	Arsenolite,	do not exceed 0.1g
bi xiang	砒霜	Arsenic trioxide, As₂O₃	0.003~0.015g
bu gu zhi	補骨脂	Psoralea corylifolia L.
cang er zi	蒼耳子	Xanthium strumarium L
cao wu	草烏	Aconitum carmichaeli Debx
chan su	蟾酥	Bufo bufo asiaticus Steina Chner.	0.015 g to 0.03 g. highly toxic.
chang chun hua	長春花	Catharanthus roseus (L.) G.Don	9–15g, some toxicity
chang shan	常山	Dichroa febrifuga Lour	4.5–9g, some toxicity
chuan lian zi	川楝子	Melia toosendan Sieb. et Zucc.	4.5–12g, some toxicity
chuan xiong	川芎	Ligusticum chuanxiong Hort.; L. wallichii Franch.	some toxicity
da bai qu cai	大白屈菜 (白屈菜)	Chelidonium majus	some toxicity
da feng zi	大楓子	Hydnocarpus alpina, Wright.	0.3–1g, toxic
da qing ye	大青葉	Baphicacanthus cusia (Nees) Brem.,Isatis tinctoria L. or Isatis indigotica Fort	toxic to kidneys
ding xiang	丁香	Syzygium aromaticum（L.）Merr. et Perry Eugenia aromatica Baillon; Caryophyllus aromatica L.; Eugenia caryophyllata Thunb.	toxic to kidneys
ding gong teng	丁公藤	Erycibe laevigata Wall.	3–6g, some toxicity
fang ji	防己	guang fang ji (guang dong mu fang ji): aristolochia fangchi, Wu (the toxic type)	Do not use guang fang. .
gan sui	甘遂	Euphorbia kansui T.
gou wen	鉤吻，大茶葉	Gelsemium elegans Benth.	external use (careful) , very toxic	Other name: duan chang cao, huang teng.
gua di	瓜蒂	Cucumis melo L. (stems)	0.6－1.5 g
guan mu tong	關木通	Caulis Aristolochiae Manshuriensis; Aristolochia debilis	Do not use.
guan zhong	貫眾	Cyrtomium fortunei	4.5–9g, toxic
guang ci gu	光慈姑	Tulipa edulis Baker	3–9g, some toxicity
guang fang ji	廣防己	aristolochia fangchi, Wu	Do not use.
gui jiu	鬼臼	Podophyllum emodi Wall, var. chinensis Sprague	in decoction: 3 to 10 grams
hai ma	海馬	Hippocampus kelloggi Jordanet Snvder 克氏海馬 Hippocampus histrix Kaup刺海馬 Hippocampus kuda Bleeker 大海馬 Hippocampus trimaculatus Leach班海馬 Hippocampus japonicus Kaup 日本海馬	toxic to kidneys
he shi	鶴虱	Carpesium abrotanoides, L	3–9g, some toxicity
hong fan	紅礬	Na₂Cr₂O₇（重鉻酸鈉、紅礬鈉） K₂Cr₂O₇ （重鉻酸鉀紅礬鉀）
hua jia	花椒	Zanthoxylum bungeanun Maxin.	2–5g, some toxicity
ji xing zi	急性子	Impatiens balsamina L.	4–12g, some toxicity
jia zhu tao	夾竹桃	Nerium odorum, Solaud. Nerium incidum, Mill	toxic
jin yin gen	金櫻根	Rosa laevigata Michx.
ku lian pi	苦楝皮	Melia toosendan Sieb. et Zucc.	4.5–9g, some toxicity
ku shen	苦参	Sophora flavescens. Ait.	10 to 20 g; concentrated extract: 0.5 to 2 g.
la mei gen	臘梅根	Meratia praecox Rehd. et Wils	toxic to kidneys
lang du	狼毒	Euphorbia fischeriana	0.9–1.5g. Toxic	Usually it is not taken internally.
lei gong teng	雷公藤	Tripterygium wilfordii Hook. f.	very toxic
lei wan	雷丸	Polyporus mylittae Cook. et Mass	3–6g, some toxicity
li lu	藜蘆	Veratrum nigrum L.	0.3 – 1g. Toxic	other name: shan cong
liang dang zi	良菪子	Hyoscyamus niger L. (seed)	0.06–0.6g. Very toxic	other name: tian xian zi
long kui	龍葵	Solanum nigrum L.	9–30g, some toxicity
lu hui	蘆薈	Aloe vera L.
ma dou ling	馬兜玲	Aristolochia debilis Sieb et Zucc; Aristolochia sinarum linde.; Aristolochia contorta Bge
man tou luo hua	曼陀羅花	Datura stramonium L
mi ke (ying su ke)	米殼 (罌粟殼)	Papaver Somniferum L. (shells of opium popy seeds)	used in tea: 9g, toxic	Other names: fu rong,
mian hua zi	棉花子	Gossypiμm herbaceμm L (seed)
ming fan, bai fan	白礬 ﹐明礬	Alumen	0.3 g to 3 g in pills or powder.
ming teng	銘藤
mu bie zi	木蟞子	Momordica cochinchinensis (Lour.) Spreng.	0.9–1.2g. Toxic	Usually it is not taken internally. Other name: tu mu bie, fang ba
guang fang ji	廣防己	aristolochia fangchi, Wu
gui jiu	鬼臼﹐ 桃兒七	Podophyllum emodi Wall var. chinensis Sprague	in decoction: 3 to 10 g
nao yang hua	鬧羊花	Rhododendri Mollis	0.3–0.6g, some toxicity
nong ji li	農吉利	Crotalaria sessiliflora Linn	9–15g, some toxicity
qian dan	鉛丹	Pb₃0₄(chemical formula of red lead)
qian li guang	千里光	Senecio scandens Buch. -Ham
qian niu zi	牽牛子	Pharbitis nil, Choisy.	3–9g, (in powder form: 1.5–3g) toxic
qing fen	輕粉	Mercurous chloride;Mercury monochloride;Mercury subchloride
shan ci gu	山慈菇	Cremastra variabilis (Bl.)Nakai; or Pleione bulbocodioides (Franch.) Rolfe	3 to 6 g
she du	蛇毒
ba dou (raw)	生巴豆	Croton tiglium L. - unprocessed herb	0.1–0.3g (raw ba dou)	It is better to de–grease first
sheng bai fu zi	生白附子	Typhonium giganteum Engl.L. - unprocessed herb	3g some toxicity
sheng ban xia (raw)	生半夏	Pinellia ternata (Thunb.) Breit L. - unprocessed herb	1.5–3g, some toxicity
sheng da ji (raw)	生大戟	Euphorbia pekinensis Rupr.; or Knoxiavalerianoides Thorel ex Pitard L. - (unprocessed herb)	1.5–3g. Toxic	Two varieties: hong da ji, dosage: 1.5–3g; jing da jI, dosage: 0.3–1 g.
sheng fu zi (raw)	生附子	Aconitum carmichaeli Debx. L. - unprocessed herb	3 g. Toxic	Side roots are called fu zi. Those without side root are called tian xiong.
sheng gan sui (raw)	生甘遂	Euphorbia sieboldiana M. et. D. (raw)	0.5–1.2g. Toxic	other name: gan gao, ling ze, ling hao, zhong ze, zhu tian, gui chou
sheng gong	升汞	mercury sulfide (HgS)
ma qian zi. (raw)	生馬前子	Strychnos nux-vomica Linn.	0.3–.06 g. Very toxic	other name: fan mu bie
sheng shang lu (raw)	生商陸	Phytolacca acinosa Roxb. var. esculenta.﹔ var. Kaempferi.﹔ var. esculenta. (unprocessed herb)	1.5–3g	white shang lu are being used in herb. For internal use prepare with wine.
sheng teng huang	生籐黃	Garcinia cambogia L. (unprocessed herb)	0.03–0.06g, very toxic
sheng wu tou (raw)	生烏頭	Aconitum carmichaeli Debx. L. - (unprocessed herb)	Used as tea: 4.5g. Used as dried powder: 1.5g.Very toxic	The varieties: chuan wu, cao wu. cao wu is stronger and more toxic.
sheng yuan hua	生芫花	Daphne genkwa, Sieb. et. Zucc. (unprocessed herb)	1.5–3g. Toxic	other names:
shi jun zi	使君子	Quisqualis indica, L.
shi liu pi	石榴皮	Punica granatum. L. (skin)	0.5–9g, toxic
tian gua di	甜瓜蒂	Cucumis melo L. (stem of fruit)	0.6–1.5 g. Toxic	Other name: ku ding xiang, gua di.
tian hua fen	天花粉	Trichosanthes kirilowii, Maxim, or Trichosanthes japonica, Regel.	9 - 15 g
tu bei mu	土貝母	Bolbostemma paniculatum (Maxim.) Franquet	toxic to kidneys
tu jin jie	土荆芥	Chenopodium ambrosioides Linn．	toxic to kidneys
tu niu xi	土牛膝	Achyranthes aspera L.	toxic to kidneys
wan nian qing	萬年青	Rhodea japonica Roth.	3–5g. some toxicity
wang jiang nan zi	望江南子	Cassia occidentalis L.	some toxicity
wei ling xian	威靈仙	Clematis chinensis Osbeck, C hexapetala Pall., or C. uhcinata Champ.	6 - 12 g
wu gong	蜈蚣	Scolopendra subspinipes Leach
xi shu	喜樹	Camptotheca acuminata	fruit: 3–9g. bark or root: 9–15g, toxicity
xi xin	細辛	Asarum heterotropoides Fr. Schumidt var. mandshuricum (Maxim.) Kitag	0.4 to 4 g
xian mao	仙茅	Curculigo orchioides Gaertn	3–9g, some toxicity
xiang si zi	相思子	Abrus precatorius L	2.4–4.5g, some toxicity
xing ren	杏仁	Prunus armeniaca L. var. ansu Maxim.; P. armeniaca L.	3–9g, some toxicity
xiong huang	雄黃	( Realgar)	0.15 g to 0.6 g in pills or powders
xu sui zi	續隨子	Euphorbia lathyris, L.	0.5–2g , toxic	other names﹕ qian jin zi, lian bu. After de–oiled it is called qian xiang.
xue lian	雪蓮	Saussurea involucrata	0.6–1.5g, some toxicity
xue shang yi zhi hao	雪上一枝蒿	Aconitum anthora, L.	0.02g, very toxic
yu dan	鱼膽	(fish gall bladder)
ya dan zi	鴉膽子	Brucea javanica (L.) Merri.	0.5–2g, some toxicity
yang jin hua	洋金花	Datura metel L.	0.3–0.6g, very toxic
yi mu cao,	益母草	Leonurus heterophyllus Sweet	9 ~ 30 g
ying su ke (mi ke)	罌粟殼 (米殼)	Papaver Somniferum L. (shells of opium popy seeds)
yu can	玉朁		3–6g, toxic
zao jiao	皂角	Gleditschia horrida, Makio.	1 to 1.5 g daily. For decoction: 1.5 to 5 g.
zao xiu	蚤休(七葉一枝花)	Paris polyphylla Smith var. chinensis (Franch.) Hare	5–10g, some toxicity
ze xie	澤瀉	Alisma orientale (Sam.)Juzep.(a.plantago-aquaticaL.var.orientale Sam.)	3–9g, some toxicity
zhan di feng	鉆地風	Flemingia philippinensis Merr.et Rolfe; Moghania philippinensis (Merr.et Rolfe) Li	toxic to kidneys
zhao shan bai	照山白	Rhododendron micranthum Turcz	3–4.5g, some toxicity
zhu sha	朱砂	mercury sulfide	toxic to kidneys
zi bei tian ku	紫背天葵	Begonia fimbristipula Hance	9–15g, some toxicity
zu si ma	祖司麻	Daphne giraldii Nitsche	3–6g, some toxicity

Also see a new page on herbs toxic to the kidneys Back to Chinese Herb Dictionary.

The formulae listed below may contain the toxic type of mu tong or fang ji. Consult your local regulations before using them.

Ba Zheng San 八正散 (contains mu tong)
Chun Yang Zheng Ji Wan 純陽正氣丸 (contains qing mu xiang)
Da Huang Qing Wei Wan 大黃清胃丸 (contains guan mu tong)
dang gui si ni tang 當歸四逆湯 (contains mu tong and xi xin)
Mu Xiang Dao Chi Wan 木香導滯丸 (contains mu xiang and may be confused with qing mu xiang)
Die Da Wan 跌打丸 (some Die Da Wan formulae contain mu tong or fang ji)
Guan Xin Siu He Ge Wan 冠心秀克閤丸 (contains qing mu xiang)
Ji Sheng Ju He Wan 濟生橘核丸 (contains mu tong and hou po)
Kat Kit Wan 解結前列丸 (contains mu tong)
Quell Fire Shi Xiang Fan Shen Wan 十香翻身(返神)丸
Xin Yi Wan 心怡丸

Click here for herbs that may cause skin allergy.

香港中醫藥委員會列出三十一種毒性較高的藥物：
鬼臼, 生川烏, 生草烏, 生附子, 天雄, 生白附子, 砒石/砒霜, 雄黃, 雌黃, 水銀, 紅粉/紅升丹, 朱砂, 輕粉, 白降丹, 生馬錢子, 生半夏, 生南星, 生巴豆, 斑蝥, 青娘子 , 紅娘子, 生甘遂, 生狼毒, 生藤黃, 生天仙子, 生千金子, 鬧羊花, 雪上一枝蒿, 蟾酥 , 洋金花, 山豆根 .