Side effects and contraindications of borneol

Borneol is very common in the summer. It looks like small pieces of ice crystals, is transparent and almost colorless, and has no strong smell. Its effect is similar to that of the Xingshen Pills. If you feel groggy or have heatstroke in high temperatures, you can use borneol to relieve the symptoms. It is true that borneol has many benefits, but it itself is toxic and taking too much can also have side effects.

The median lethal dose of borneol is greater than that of isoborneol, which means that borneol is less toxic than isoborneol. Borneol contains a smaller median lethal dose of isoborneol, so synthetic borneol is more toxic. The poisoning reaction is manifested as follows: when the dosage is too large, it will cause irritation to the gastrointestinal tract, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, liver and spleen enlargement, and can excite the central nervous system, causing convulsions, loss of consciousness, spasms, and in severe cases, respiratory failure and death.

There are also reports of allergic dermatitis caused by the use of borneol. In clinical applications, borneol-containing preparations are used externally to treat hemorrhoids and their postoperative recovery period. As a result, 2 cases developed perianal itching, burning, skin redness and scattered red papules 3 to 6 hours later. The symptoms returned to normal after stopping the medication and giving anti-allergic treatment. Normal amounts of borneol can cause allergic reactions, including rash, wind lumps all over the body, itching of the scrotum and lips, palpitations, chest tightness, laryngeal edema, and shortness of breath.

Because borneol is cold in nature, pregnant women and patients with qi and blood deficiency should not take borneol. It is also not suitable to take it in excess, otherwise it may cause side effects to the body. The Chinese medicine classic "Bencao Jingshu" believes that although borneol can treat stroke after taking it, if the cause of this disease is not due to the invasion of external wind evil, but due to deficiency of qi and blood, then taking borneol will not be able to cure the disease. In addition, if a child is frightened after vomiting or diarrhea, he or she should not take borneol, otherwise the disease may worsen.