I always have a cough, so my mom often cooks stewed pear with fritillaria for me to eat. I feel better after eating it, but the elderly in my family say that fritillaria is toxic. I would like to ask if fritillaria is really toxic?
Is Fritillaria Toxic?
Fritillaria itself is not toxic.
Fritillaria is a commonly used cough medicine. It has a sweet and slightly bitter taste, a cool nature, and it enters the lung and stomach meridians. It has the functions of moisturizing the lungs, stopping coughing, and resolving phlegm. It can be used to treat various types of hot coughs, such as coughs caused by wind-heat, dry-heat, or lung heat. Fritillaria itself is not toxic, but if it is taken improperly or used by certain groups of people, it may cause a series of toxic side effects or adverse reactions.
Taking a Large Amount of Fritillaria
Fritillaria itself is not toxic, but it is a traditional Chinese medicinal herb after all. As the saying goes, "Every medicine has its poison." Fritillaria has a sweet and cool nature. If taken in large amounts, it may also cause a series of adverse reactions, such as gastrointestinal discomfort, loose stools, and diarrhea. The usual dosage of fritillaria is 3-9 grams, and for coughs, it is generally around 3-5 grams. If you are unsure about the dosage or if your cough symptoms are severe, it is recommended to consult a doctor for detailed guidance.
Long-term Use of Fritillaria
If fritillaria is used for a long time, it may also cause toxic side effects or adverse reactions. This is because fritillaria has a cooling nature, and long-term use may damage the body's yang qi or weaken the function of the spleen and stomach. Therefore, it is generally recommended to stop taking fritillaria when your symptoms improve.
Taking Fritillaria with Aconite
Taking fritillaria with aconite, caowu, or other aconite herbs can produce toxic side effects. According to the "Eighteen Incompatibilities of Chinese Medicine," it is stated that pinellia, gualou, fritillaria, baijiang, and baijie have opposite natures to aconite. If fritillaria is taken together with aconite herbs, it may produce toxic side reactions that are detrimental to human health.
Taking Fritillaria for Those with Spleen and Stomach Deficiency-Cold
For those with spleen and stomach deficiency-cold, taking fritillaria may also cause adverse reactions or side effects. This is because people with spleen and stomach deficiency-cold have weaker gastrointestinal function than normal people, and they are more sensitive to the cold nature of external stimuli. Fritillaria has a sweet and cool nature, so taking it may aggravate symptoms such as pale complexion, cold hands and feet, indigestion, and loose stools.
Taking Fritillaria for Wind-Cold Cough
For those with wind-cold cough, taking fritillaria is also "toxic." This is because fritillaria has a sweet taste and a cool nature. It has the effects of moisturizing the lungs, clearing heat, stopping coughing, and resolving phlegm. It is suitable for treating various types of hot coughs. However, for those with cold cough, taking fritillaria will not relieve discomfort but may worsen the cough symptoms.
