Side effects of Fengshi Rizhong Pill

  Fengshen Rizhong Pill consists of five herbs: Fengshen (made), Ginseng, (fried) Atractylodes Macrocephala, Ginger and Licorice. Among them, Radix Aconiti is a toxic herb, and there are relatively more side effects of Radix Aconiti reported clinically. In the drug description of Radix Rehmanniae Pill, under “adverse reactions”, it is marked as “not yet clear”. As a classical Chinese medicine for treating coldness in the spleen and stomach, the side effects of Radix et Rhizoma Pill mainly come from Radix et Rhizoma.  It contains alkaloids such as aconitine and hypaconitine, which are toxic. These ingredients are easily absorbed in the digestive tract, and their pharmacological effects can excite the sympathetic nerves, which later inhibit various nerve endings and the central nervous system. The main symptoms of poisoning are numbness of the lips, tongue and limbs, salivation, nausea, palpitations, blurred vision, slurred speech, and cardiac arrhythmia. The side effects of Chinese medicine are generally cumulative. Although the herbs used in the Pill are made of aconite, if taken for a long time or in excess, the body can still accumulate aconitine and reach the level of toxic dose. In particular, elderly patients with weakness and excretory insufficiency have an increased chance of side effects from prolonged use due to their poor metabolic ability. Therefore, this drug should be taken strictly in accordance with medical advice and in appropriate amounts and in moderation.