Although there is only one letter difference in their names, there is a significant difference in the appearance and medicinal effects between Mutong and Guanmutong, especially Guanmutong, which is a nephrotoxic drug that can cause significant damage to the kidneys.
【The Difference Between Mutong and Guanmutong】
1. Appearance
Mutong is an herb that can grow up to about 170 centimeters long. Its surface is blackish-brown or grayish-brown, with some protruding pores. Guanmutong, on the other hand, is a rhizome of a plant with a harder texture and a brownish-yellow color. Its skin is covered with small pores.
2. Medicinal effects
Guanmutong has the effect of clearing heat, but it contains a toxic substance called aristolochic acid, so its use as a medicine has been discontinued in clinical practice. Mutong, on the other hand, does not contain this toxic substance and mainly functions as a diuretic.
3. Odor
Although both Mutong and Guanmutong have medicinal properties, Mutong itself has no odor, while Guanmutong has a very unpleasant smell, especially when it grows in the wild. It has a strong odor similar to camphor.
【Symptoms of Guanmutong Poisoning】
Guanmutong contains aristolochic acid, a toxic component that can cause acute renal failure and even death if taken in excessive amounts.
Symptoms of poisoning include discomfort in the upper abdomen, followed by vomiting, headache, chest tightness, abdominal distension and pain, diarrhea, facial swelling, frequent urination, urgency to urinate, gradually spreading edema, and confusion.
The cause of poisoning is excessive or prolonged use. Therefore, it is necessary to strictly follow the prescribed dosage and usage.
Treatment for poisoning includes gastric lavage and enema. According to reports, early administration of adrenal cortical hormone can delay the progression of the disease. Timely hemodialysis can achieve favorable treatment opportunities and effects.
For patients with significant impairment of renal function and end-stage renal disease, replacement therapy such as kidney transplantation may be necessary.
【Contraindications for Guanmutong Use】
Guanmutong should not be used by patients with kidney disease, pregnant women, or newborns. It is generally not suitable for children and the elderly. This medicine should not be used for a long time, and regular monitoring of kidney function is necessary.
Guanmutong is a commonly used traditional Chinese medicine with the functions of clearing heat and promoting diuresis. It was once a major ingredient in the widely used Chinese patent medicine Longdan Xiegan Wan.
However, Guanmutong contains aristolochic acid, which has strong toxicity to the kidneys and can damage renal tubular function, leading to renal failure. Due to the close association between the three, the terms used to refer to them are almost the same.
Guanmutong contains aristolochic acid, a toxic component that can cause acute renal failure and even death if taken in excessive amounts.
