Xanthium sibiricum (also known as Xanthium sibiricum Patrin ex Widder) is an annual woody plant in the family Compositae and the genus Xanthium, reaching a height of up to 90 centimeters. The root is spindle-shaped, the lower part of the stem is cylindrical, the upper part has longitudinal grooves, the leaves are triangular-ovate or heart-shaped, nearly entire, with irregular coarse serrations along the edge, green above, pale white below, and covered with rough hairs. What are the side effects of Xanthium sibiricum?

Side effects of Xanthium sibiricum

The leaves and stems of Xanthium sibiricum contain substances harmful to the nerves and muscles. After poisoning, symptoms may include general weakness, dizziness, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, constipation, difficulty breathing, restlessness, cold hands and feet, slow pulse rate. In severe cases, jaundice, epistaxis, and even coma may occur, with a decrease in body temperature, fluctuating blood pressure, or abundant bleeding, ultimately leading to death due to respiratory and circulatory failure.

Common Questions

Contraindications: Avoid taking for headache and arthralgia due to deficiency of both Qi and blood.

Toxic side effects: reduced activity, reduced sensitivity to external stimuli, irregular breathing, extremely difficult breathing before death, accompanied by convulsive seizures. Pathological and histological examination shows more severe liver damage, that is, the main cause of Xanthium sibiricum seed poisoning is liver necrosis, followed by secondary brain edema causing convulsions, which may be the immediate cause of death.

Excessive intake of this product in clinical medicine (more than 30g) or accidentally swallowing more than 10 Xanthium sibiricum seeds can cause poisoning, which usually occurs within 1 to 3 days. The severity of the symptoms varies. Common symptoms include dizziness, headache, fatigue, depression, poor appetite, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, diarrhea, or fever, facial redness, conjunctival congestion, urticaria, and so on; in severe cases, there may be restlessness, excessive drowsiness, coma, convulsions, arrhythmia, increased blood pressure, jaundice, enlargement of the liver and spleen, liver function damage, bleeding, appearance of casts and blood cells in urine, and urinary retention. Liver failure and renal failure or respiratory failure may occur due to extensive liver necrosis, leading to hepatic encephalopathy and death. There have been reports of death due to excessive intake of Xanthium sibiricum (children and adolescents consuming 600g in two days) in clinical medicine.