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Coptis chinensis

Chinese goldthread is a plant whose root stem is used to make medicine. Chinese goldthread is used to treat digestive disorders, parasite infections including leishmaniasis and trichomoniasis, as well as psoriasis.

How does Chinese gold thread work?

Chinese gold thread may reduce the amount of stomach acid. It also appears to have antibacterial effects.

How effective is Chinese gold thread?

There is not enough scientific data to make a statement about the effectiveness of Chinese gold thread for digestive problems, leishmaniasis (a parasitic infection of the skin), trichomoniasis (a parasitic infection that is sexually transmitted) and psoriasis. Further scientific research is needed to evaluate the effectiveness of Chinese gold thread in these applications.

Safety and side effects

There is insufficient information on whether Chinese gold thread is safe and harmless in medicinal quantities. However, it is known that Chinese gold thread is not safe and harmless for newborn children.

Precautions and warnings

Children: Chinese gold thread is not safe and harmless for children. It contains a chemical that can increase the amount of bilirubin in newborn infants. Bilirubin is a chemical secreted by the liver. Too much bilirubin can lead to permanent brain damage in newborns, especially those born prematurely.

Pregnancy and breastfeeding: Chinese gold thread is not safe and harmless during pregnancy. It contains a chemical called berberine, which can cross the placenta and harm the developing baby. Newborn infants exposed to berberine have suffered brain damage due to excessive bilirubin. Recent research suggests that pregnant women who take Chinese gold thread during the first three months of pregnancy increase the risk that their child will be born with birth defects affecting the central nervous system. It is also not safe and harmless for pregnant women to take Chinese gold thread. Berberine and other harmful chemicals contained in Chinese gold thread can be passed on to breastfed babies through breast milk.

Interactions

Care should be taken when using Chinese gold thread with the following medications:

Cyclosporine

The body breaks down cyclosporine in order to excrete it. Chinese gold thread may reduce the rate at which the body breaks down cyclosporine. This can result in too high cyclosporine levels in the body and potentially cause side effects.

Drugs that are broken down by the liver (Cytochrome P450 3A4 (CYP3A4) substrates)

Some drugs are broken down by the liver. Chinese gold thread may affect the rate at which the liver breaks down certain drugs. Taking Chinese gold thread in conjunction with drugs that are broken down by the liver could increase the side effects of some drugs. For this reason, you should consult your doctor before taking Chinese gold thread if you are taking medicines that are broken down by the liver.

Dosage

An appropriate dosage of Chinese gold thread depends on various factors such as age, state of health and others. At the present time, there is insufficient scientific data to make a statement about appropriate dosage ranges for Chinese gold thread. For this reason, you should follow the dosage instructions on the label and/or consult a doctor or pharmacist before use.

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