Recently, a 38-year-old Mr. Liu and his family in Shenzhen, China, ended up in hospital after drinking a pot of so-called “health soup” made from ingredients they harvested themselves.
According to the Shenzhen Evening News, Mr. Liu's family had heard that “oil gam tree roots” are good for health and thought they’d be perfect for tonic soup during the chilly season. His father went to the mountains to pick some, cleaned and sliced them, and brewed a big pot of soup. However, soon after all four family members drank it, they experienced nausea, vomiting, and fatigue all over their bodies.
Mr. Liu had the most severe symptoms, but initially thought he had just eaten something bad and didn’t pay much attention. When it became unbearable, he went to the hospital, where tests revealed clearly abnormal liver function: his alanine aminotransferase (ALT) level was 1820 U/L, while the normal range is 0-50 U/L—an increase of over 30 times the norm.
Doctors from the Hepatitis and Cirrhosis Department at Shenzhen Third People’s Hospital saw the lab results and repeatedly inquired about his recent diet. Only then did Mr. Liu recall the tree root soup. Upon hearing this, doctors advised all family members who drank the soup to get their liver function checked. Results showed that Mr. Liu’s father, mother, and younger brother all had abnormal liver function indexes.
Once the cause was clear, the more seriously ill Mr. Liu and his mother were admitted for treatment. After a period of therapy, their symptoms significantly improved, test results steadily recovered, and they have since been discharged. Other family members with milder illness received outpatient medication and have returned home.
Expert: Natural Doesn't Mean Safe
Dr. Wang Fang, director of the Hepatitis and Cirrhosis Department at Shenzhen Third People’s Hospital, warns that wild plants contain natural toxins which directly damage liver cells and aren’t easily removed through regular cooking. Never use wild plants or folk remedy ingredients that haven’t been tested for safety. She reminds the public that “natural” doesn’t necessarily mean “safe.”