A study on the history and present state of toxicity of herbal medicine

  • Lee, Young-Seob (College of Pharmacy, Wonkwang-Oriental Medicines Research Institute, Wonkwang University) ;
  • Kang, Ok-Hwa (College of Pharmacy, Wonkwang-Oriental Medicines Research Institute, Wonkwang University) ;
  • Choi, Jang-Gi (College of Pharmacy, Wonkwang-Oriental Medicines Research Institute, Wonkwang University) ;
  • Kim, Nan-Young (Dept. of Third Medicine Professional Graduate School of Oriental Medicine Wonkwang University) ;
  • Lee, Joo-Hee (Dept. of Third Medicine Professional Graduate School of Oriental Medicine Wonkwang University) ;
  • Lee, Ki-Nam (Dept. of Third Medicine Professional Graduate School of Oriental Medicine Wonkwang University) ;
  • Kwon, Dong-Yeul (College of Pharmacy, Wonkwang-Oriental Medicines Research Institute, Wonkwang University)
  • 투고 : 2009.11.23
  • 심사 : 2009.12.15
  • 발행 : 2009.12.31

초록

All medicines are poisonous, and there are none free from poison. Thus, all things may be regarded as poisonous. And poison and medicine is the same one of which actions differ from each other. Medicine may be good medicine or poison according to doses, whether chemical medicine or herbal one. Herbal medicine falls into the category of natural materials. From ancient times humankind has Been using animals and plants as food, but on the other hand, chemical medicine is unfamiliar relatively to natural materials. Somecine is unfamilis, absorbed into the human boan, are transformed and help deemicfication. Other medicines protect the gastric mucous membrane and are demulcent, and inhibithemica materials from being absorbed. In some cases, ine is unfamilis function as deemicfiers in combination withhemica materials, and remove the toxicity and side effect caused by drug properties. Herbal medicine causes less side effects, as compared to chemical one, and thus can work effectively. As the case stands, some deem that herbal medicine does not cause problems despite high dose and long-term use because it is nontoxic or low-toxic. However, herbal medicine may be also poisonous though it is used at a very low dose. Even a deadly poison may produce therapeutic results satisfactorily without side effects, on condition that it is used properly.

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