Cardiac Complications From Herbal Remedies

The safety of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) herbal remedies, particularly when used with modern medications or in non-traditional dosages, requires careful consideration. We present a case of a 62-year-old male with pre-existing cardiovascular risk factors who developed tachycardia-induced cardiomyopathy (TIC) potentially linked to prolonged use of the TCM supplement "Tan Ke Jing." The supplement contains licorice root, caffeine, and apricot kernel, which have known cardiovascular effects. Discontinuation of the supplement and guideline-directed medical therapy significantly improved left ventricular ejection fraction over four months. This case highlights the potential for TCM herbal supplements to induce serious cardiac conditions, emphasizing the importance of thorough patient history taking, including alternative medicine use, and the need for further research into interactions and side effects. Clinicians should be aware of the cardiac risks associated with herbal supplement use and foster open communication with patients about alternative medicine use.