Prepared Chuan Wu Root … Safety & Interactions

Zhi Chuan Wu · Aconiti Radix Cocta

Contraindications

  • Pregnancy
  • Heat syndromes, Yin deficiency with heat, or true fluid depletion without cold
  • Raw or inadequately processed aconite for internal use
  • Known ventricular arrhythmia or unstable severe cardiac disease without expert supervision

Cautions

  • Prepared Chuan Wu remains highly toxic and should be sourced only as an authenticated processed product.
  • Improper dosing or under-processing can cause oral numbness, vomiting, diarrhea, weakness, hypotension, and life-threatening ventricular arrhythmias.
  • It is a strong cold-pain herb rather than a general tonic, and it should not be self-prescribed for musculoskeletal pain.

Drug Interactions

Drug Class / Substrate Mechanism Severity Source
Cardiac glycosides such as digoxin ... additive arrhythmogenic risk
Class I and III antiarrhythmic drugs ... unpredictable electrophysiologic interaction
Beta-blockers or other rate-slowing agents ... may worsen bradycardia or mask early toxicity
QT-prolonging medications ... additive risk of malignant ventricular arrhythmia

Pregnancy

Not recommended during pregnancy. Consult a qualified practitioner before any use.

This information is for educational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider before using herbal medicines, especially if you take prescription medications.