Efectos adversos e interacciones de productos botánicos medicinales / Adverse effects and interactions of medicinal herbal products

The use of medicinal products derived from plants (phytomedicinals) has been increasing dramatically in the past years this has forced the health professional to increase their knowledge in the risks and benefits in the use of such products. This article reviews the most important adverse effects and interactions from the phytomedicinals and presents this information in the perspective of a responsible Integrative Medicine practice focused in achieving optimal therapeutic goals

Some usual and unusual poisonings due to carbon monoxide

Carbon monoxide poisoning is a frequent occurrence in both developed and under developed countries of the world. Carbon monoxide can be produced in fires, automobile engine exhausts and the incomplete combustion of organic matter. It is a [quot ]silent killer[quot ] that initially produces a mild progressive frontal headache, drowsiness and sleep that is usually ignored as common place. Continued low-level CO exposure for a long period of time in a confined space is cumulative and these accidental deaths are frequent but should be avoidable. Several usual and unusual poisonings are reported to illustrate its various forms of exposure. It all began many years ago when a bolt of lightening hit a fallen tree and produced a fire. Early cave man later learned to enjoy some of the benefits of this new discovery. They could now see at night, they could keep warm, keep the predators at bay, cook their food and make it taste better and be more gentle to their teeth. Also meat could be preserved and eaten at a later date especially if it were dried and smoked. They learned by trial and error that it was dangerous to bring their fire deep into their cave without a chimney. Carbon monoxide (CO) also can be easily produced by many other sources besides fire. Very common today is the incomplete combustion of gasoline in the engine of an automobile which can produce about 6 carbon monoxide

Analysis of carboxyhemoglobin and cyanide in blood from victims of the Dupont Plaza Hotel fire in Puerto Rico.

Ninety-seven people died from a fire that occurred in the Dupont Plaza Hotel in Puerto Rico on 31 Dec. 1986. All, except four who died later in the hospital, were found dead at the scene. All of the fatalities at the hotel (except for eight) were burned beyond recognition. Blood from seventy-eight of the victims was screened for carboxyhemoglobin at the Institute for Forensic Sciences in Puerto Rico and was then sent to the National Institute of Standards and Technology, Gaithersburg, Maryland, for analysis of carboxyhemoglobin and cyanide concentrations. The blood data indicated that carbon monoxide and hydrogen cyanide, singly or combined, were probably not responsible for the majority of the deaths that occurred in the badly burned victims. On the other hand, the significantly higher carboxyhemoglobin in the nonburned victims indicated that carbon monoxide alone or combined with hydrogen cyanide probably played a major role in the cause of their deaths.