A Case Report of Poisoning Caused by Incorrect Use of Salvia.

BACKGROUND Previous reports suggest that homoplantaginin, one of the compounds isolated from Salvia plebeia, has a protective and therapeutic effect on hepatocyte injury. We present a case of serious liver and kidney damage due to incorrect use of Salvia plebeia in a patient with a history of thyroid tumorectomy, who was successfully treated for poisoning with blood purification and systemic, comprehensive critical care. CASE REPORT A 54-year-old female patient with salvia intoxication combined with multiple organ dysfunction was transported to our emergency center by ambulance after presenting with nausea, vomiting, and skin yellowing. On arrival, she exhibited fatigue, dizziness, lightheadedness, yellowish discoloration of her skin, breathing difficulties, and low back pain, all of which was suggestive of salvia intoxication combined with multiple organ dysfunction. The treatment strategy was to immediately speed up the excretion of toxins and administered blood purification therapy. She also displayed disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC), which was successfully treated with plasma infusion of blood coagulation factor combined with LMWH acupuncture therapy. CONCLUSIONS Salvia plebeia should only be considered for use in patients who have infectious disease or oxidative stress related disease and only at an appropriate dose. In addition, for patients with salvia poisoning, prompt administration of blood purification therapy and systemic comprehensive measures involving multiple supportive therapies can save such patients.

Towards evidence-based emergency medicine: best BETs from the Manchester Royal Infirmary. BET 3: what are the clinical features of Salvia divinorum toxicity?

A short-cut review was carried out to determine the clinical features associated with acute intoxication with Salvia divinorum. Sixty-six papers were found using the reported searches, of which three presented the best evidence to answer the clinical question. The author, date and country of publication, patient group studied, study type, relevant outcomes, results and study weaknesses of these best papers are tabulated. It is concluded that the most common features of intoxication are tachycardia, hallucinations and acute alteration in mental status.

Salvia divinorum: exposures reported to a statewide poison control system over 10 years.

BACKGROUND: Salvia divinorum, a hallucinogenic herb, has in recent years become popular among teenagers and young adults. Salvia is presently marketed as a "legal" alternative to other drugs of abuse, but little is known about the clinical toxicity of this substance. OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study is to describe the clinical and demographic features of this emerging substance of recreational abuse using data obtained from the records of a poison control center. METHODS: We performed retrospective review of exposures to the herbal hallucinogen Salvia divinorum as reported to the California Poison Control System (CPCS) over the last 10 years. Demographic and clinical data were collected and compiled from the computerized records of the CPCS for the search terms "salvia" and "sage." RESULTS: There were 37 exposures to S. divinorum and 96 exposures to non-hallucinogenic Salvia species. Eighteen (49%) of the exposures were to S. divinorum alone. Intentional Salvia exposures resulted in a variety of neurologic, cardiovascular, and gastrointestinal effects. Notably, the use of concomitant substances of abuse was associated with a high rate of complications and psychomotor disturbances. CONCLUSIONS: Intentional use of S. divinorum, whether alone or in combination with alcoholic beverages and other drugs, causes neurologic, cardiovascular, and gastrointestinal effects. This poison-center-based review helps to characterize the clinical toxicity of S. divinorum, but more clinical and pharmacologic research is warranted for this rapidly emerging substance of abuse.