Tea not Tincture: Hepatotoxicity Associated with Rooibos Herbal Tea.
Publication/Presentation Date
10-1-2013
Abstract
A 52-year-old male presented with signs of acute hepatitis and liver failure. Laboratory investigations for common etiologies were unrevealing, but history suggested liver injury secondary to ingestion of a traditional South African herbal tea made with rooibos and buchu. Livery biopsy confirmed a toxin-mediated liver injury. The patient recovered liver function after stopping the herbal tea. Although hepatotoxicity associated with rooibos and buchu has rarely been reported, anecdotal correspondence with South African physicians confirmed suspected cases. Hepatotoxicity may be due to the heterogeneous composition of herbal teas due to small-batch manufacturing. Our case clearly outlines the need to suspect herbal causes of idiopathic liver injury.
Volume
1
Issue
1
First Page
58
Last Page
60
ISSN
2326-3253
Published In/Presented At
Engels, M., Wang, C., Matoso, A., Maidan, E., & Wands, J. (2013). Tea not Tincture: Hepatotoxicity Associated with Rooibos Herbal Tea. ACG case reports journal, 1(1), 58–60. https://doi.org/10.14309/crj.2013.20
Disciplines
Medicine and Health Sciences
PubMedID
26157822
Department(s)
Department of Medicine
Document Type
Article