Bringing trouble upon oneself by self-medicating with traditional medicine.

Many patients tend to combine Western and Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) treatments. Significantly, the majority of patients use TCM medications inappropriately.

Recently, Mr. TKC (residing in Ha Tinh province) experienced persistent hip pain, chills, and frequent fevers. Upon visiting the hospital, he was diagnosed with kidney stones. Upon reviewing his medical history, the doctors noted that Mr. C. had been drinking a daily dose of finely ground abalone shell powder. "For the past few years, my eyesight has suddenly deteriorated."

"I heard people say that powdered abalone shells are very good for treating eye problems, so I drink them regularly," Mr. C. recounted.

According to observations at several clinics and hospitals, many patients tend to combine Western and traditional medicine. Significantly, the majority of patients use traditional medicine inappropriately, blindly believing in and treating their conditions based on word-of-mouth advice.

Can abalone shells treat poor eyesight?

In the book "Nam Duoc Than Hieu" (Miraculous Southern Medicine) by physician Tue Tinh, it is written: abalone shell (Thach Quyet Minh) has a salty taste, is neutral in nature, non-toxic, and treats nocturnal emissions, dizziness, painful urination, persistent fever, eye pain, and blurred vision.

Based on this information, many people grind abalone shells into a fine powder and mix it with water to drink.

According to herbalist Nguyen Duc Nghia of the Ho Chi Minh City Medicinal Herbs Association, abalone shells are used as medicine, but only if they are properly prepared and used correctly.

Abalone shells are placed on a smokeless stove until the inside turns ash-white and the outside turns white, then removed and left in a cool place to be crushed; or heated until slightly red, then removed, sprayed with salt water, and finely ground.

Abalone shells contain many inorganic substances such as calcium carbonate, and a small amount of organic matter. However, after heating, only inorganic substances remain in the shells. Therefore, when using them, specific quantities must be determined depending on the type of illness, and they are often combined with other medicinal herbs.

If abalone shells are consumed indiscriminately over a long period, it can overload the kidneys, inevitably increasing the risk of kidney stones and ureteral stones. Excess calcium can also inhibit the absorption of iron and zinc, leading to deficiencies in these two substances.

Furthermore, for people with weak and cold digestive systems (frequent stomach pain, diarrhea, cold stomach, rumbling in the stomach, indigestion), consuming abalone shells will worsen their condition.

Does drinking goat blood boost vitality?

According to traditional medicine practitioner Nguyen Duc Nghia, many patients come to his clinic to inquire about the benefits of goat blood for boosting vitality. "In the past, people mixed goat blood with 400-proof alcohol at a ratio of 1/3, drinking 20-40ml daily to treat hemoptysis, postpartum hemorrhage (dizziness after childbirth due to excessive blood loss), and external bleeding..."

"However, modern medicine does not recommend the use of raw animal blood because it contains many types of bacteria. Pathogens can damage the intestinal lining, destroy some cells, and cause poisoning. Goat blood has absolutely no effect on boosting vitality as many people still believe," advised traditional medicine practitioner Nguyen Duc Nghia.

Dr. Kim Van Trung, a specialist at Nguyen Tri Phuong Hospital, stated: "Poisoning from alcohol mixed with animal blood, or contracting certain intestinal, stomach, or liver diseases caused by bacteria parasitic in animal blood, are quite common cases. There have been patients who suffered blood clotting disorders leading to death simply from drinking alcohol mixed with animal blood."

Can hedgehog stomach cure stomach problems?

According to folk remedies, to treat stomach pain, one can use the entire stomach of a hedgehog, including the food inside, dried or roasted, and then ground into a powder. Take 10g daily with rice water on an empty stomach. Some people mix hedgehog stomach powder with black turmeric powder in equal proportions, then mix with honey. Drink twice a day after meals, one teaspoon each time.

Based on the above remedy, many people are selling "authentic wild porcupine stomachs" for 500,000-700,000 VND each. According to these people, just consuming a few porcupine stomachs will cure stomach pain.

"Farm-raised hedgehogs only eat cultivated vegetables like water spinach, lettuce, sweet potatoes, and pumpkins... Wild hedgehogs eat precious medicinal plants, so the stomach of a wild hedgehog is more effective in treating stomach pain than the stomach of a farmed hedgehog," they assert. Along the streets of traditional medicine shops (District 5, Ho Chi Minh City), it's not difficult to find hedgehog stomachs for sale.

According to the book "Vietnamese Medicinal Plants and Remedies" by Professor Dr. Do Tat Loi, hedgehog stomach is cold in nature, non-toxic, and has the effect of clearing heat and promoting diuresis. It is used to treat jaundice, edema, and stomach pain.

However, according to Pharmacist Chau Thi Hanh Dan - Deputy Head of the Pharmacy Department, Ho Chi Minh City Traditional Medicine Hospital, patients should see a doctor to determine the location and extent of stomach damage, whether it is inflammation or ulceration, and whether there are accompanying pathogenic bacteria, in order to choose an appropriate treatment plan.

Without knowing the specific type of stomach pain, treating it superficially with hedgehog stomach alone could worsen the condition and be extremely dangerous if it turns out to be stomach cancer.

According to Alobacsi.vn