title: Tea not Tincture: Hepatotoxicity Associated with Rooibos Herbal Tea.
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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Rhode Island Hospital, Alpert Medical School of Brown University, Providence, RI.
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Engels
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology, Rhode Island Hospital, Alpert Medical School of Brown University, Providence, RI.
authors.forename: Charles
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Rhode Island Hospital, Alpert Medical School of Brown University, Providence, RI.
authors.forename: Andres
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Matoso
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Rhode Island Hospital, Alpert Medical School of Brown University, Providence, RI.
authors.forename: Eyal
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Maidan
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology, Rhode Island Hospital, Alpert Medical School of Brown University, Providence, RI.
authors.forename: Jack
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wands