However, according to MSc.BS. CKI Tran Quoc Phong - Head of Urology Unit, An Binh Hospital, this concept can cause patients to face serious complications.
According to Dr. Phong, the safety level of a product does not depend on whether it is traditional medicine or modern medicine, but is related to active ingredients, dosage, preparation, purity and the body's ability to detoxify.
Some medicinal herbs may contain active substances that are toxic to the kidneys. In addition, products of unknown origin also have the risk of being contaminated with heavy metals, pesticides or being mixed with new drugs.
Users may experience acute kidney damage, interstitial nephritis, blood potassium disorders, metabolic acidosis, hypertension, edema or liver damage. Worryingly, some people continue to take medication even though kidney function is declining because they believe the body is "detoxifying".
There are many cases of going to the hospital when kidney damage is severe after a period of using products with unknown ingredients. At that time, it is very difficult to identify the active ingredient causing toxicity and kidney damage may not fully recover," said Dr. Phong.
Dr. Phong recommends that patients not arbitrarily use traditional medicine along with medicine prescribed by doctors. Some products can change the effects of blood pressure medications, diabetes medications, anticoagulants, immunosuppressants or cause electrolyte disorders.
If there is still a need to use it, patients need to provide their doctor with the full product name, ingredients, dosage and origin for evaluation. In particular, do not arbitrarily stop treatment drugs to switch to advertised products that have the effect of "cure the root".
Products with unclear ingredients, without labels, sold through word of mouth or advertised to cure multiple diseases at the same time, committing to quick recovery need to be especially vigilant. Patients should also not see frequent urination and rapid weight loss as signs of "toxin detoxification" if they have not been evaluated by a doctor.
