Combining Chinese Herbal Remedies with Prescription Drugs Poses Serious Interaction Risks

An elderly patient with a mechanical heart valve was prescribed warfarin, an anticoagulant used to prevent blood clots, when she began taking danshen, a Chinese herb commonly marketed to improve blood circulation. The combination caused her blood to lose its ability to clot normally, leading to severe bleeding complications.

The case, encountered by Dr Raymond Wong Siu-ming in his capacity as a consultant at the Prince of Wales Hospital’s Poison Treatment Centre and lead expert with the Integrated Chinese-Western Medicine Treatment Safety Centre, highlights a growing blind spot in patient care. Chinese medicine and Western pharmaceuticals are frequently used concurrently, yet patients often remain unaware of the potential interactions.

For many residents of Hong Kong, Chinese medicine is not an alternative therapy but an integral part of daily life — whether consumed as chrysanthemum tea, tonic soup, or proprietary pills purchased over the counter. The critical distinction lies not in whether a substance is “natural,” but in its role: whether it functions as food, symptom relief, or a concentrated treatment administered alongside potent prescription medications.

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