Arsenic toxicity from homeopathic treatment.
Homeopathic medicine is commonly believed to be relatively harmless. However, treatment with improperly used homeopathic preparations may be dangerous.


METHODS
Case 1 presented with melanosis and keratosis following short-term use of Arsenic Bromide 1-X followed by long-term use of other arsenic-containing homeopathic preparations. Case 2 developed melanotic arsenical skin lesions after taking Arsenicum Sulfuratum Flavum-1-X (Arsenic S.F. 1-X) in an effort to treat his white skin patches. Case 3 consumed Arsenic Bromide 1-X for 6 days in an effort to treat his diabetes and developed an acute gastrointestinal illness followed by leukopenia, thrombocytopenia, and diffuse dermal melanosis with patchy desquamation. Within approximately 2 weeks, he developed a toxic polyneuropathy resulting in quadriparesis. Arsenic concentrations in all three patients were significantly elevated in integument tissue samples. In all three cases, arsenic concentrations in drinking water were normal but arsenic concentrations in samples of the homeopathic medications were elevated.


CONCLUSIONS
Arsenic used therapeutically in homeopathic medicines can cause clinical toxicity if the medications are improperly used.
Chakraborti
Dipankar
D
School of Environmental Studies, Jadavpur University, Kolkata, India. dcsoesju@vsnl.com
Mukherjee
Subhash Chandra
SC
Saha
Khitish Chandra
KC
Chowdhury
Uttam Kumar
UK
Rahman
Mohammad Mahmudur
MM
Sengupta
Mrinal Kumar
MK
D000328:Adult; D001151:Arsenic / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000627:therapeutic use / Q000652:urine; D020261:Arsenic Poisoning / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis*; D005260:Female; D005767:Gastrointestinal Diseases / Q000209:etiology; D006197:Hair / Q000737:chemistry; D006705:Homeopathy; D006801:Humans; D007642:Keratosis / Q000209:etiology; D007970:Leukopenia / Q000209:etiology; D008297:Male; D008419:Materia Medica / Q000737:chemistry / Q000506:poisoning* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008548:Melanosis / Q000209:etiology; D009262:Nails / Q000737:chemistry; D012867:Skin / Q000737:chemistry
D008419:Materia Medica; D001151:Arsenic