ORCID Profile
0000-0003-4014-6170
Current Organisation
University of Adelaide
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Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 10-11-2018
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 17-10-2019
DOI: 10.1111/APA.14595
Abstract: Complementary and alternative medicines are becoming increasingly popular worldwide with a variety of purported medicinal uses. These products are generally believed to be natural and therefore safe, with few adverse reactions. With this perception, parents are now taking their children to see practitioners prescribing these medicines as well as self-prescribing. Despite this, there are issues regarding safety, efficacy and regulation, with increasing numbers of reports of adverse reactions to these products. Therefore, a mini-review was conducted to ascertain the potential risks to children. A overview of literature was conducted to highlight the current use of complementary and alternative medicines in children and the possible risks associated with their use. Infants and children may be more susceptible to harmful effects due to their immature physiology and metabolic pathways and different dosage requirements. Adverse reactions may also be caused by interactions with conventional medicines, contamination with heavy metals, and adulteration of filler products including other plant species or pharmaceutical agents. As complementary and alternative medicines become increasingly used alongside and with conventional drug therapy, there needs to be greater awareness and discussion among parents, complementary practitioners and medical practitioners to ensure the overall health and safety of children being exposed to these products.
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 11-2018
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 25-06-2016
DOI: 10.1007/S12024-016-9786-9
Abstract: Caffeine is considered a very safe stimulant and is widely consumed in a variety of forms, from pure caffeine to beverages and foods. Typically, death is only seen when gram quantities of caffeine are consumed, usually in suicide attempts. Even in this scenario, death is rare. However, there are special populations that need to be considered in forensic presentations, who may be at greater risk. These include poor metabolizers, people with liver disease, and people with cardiac conditions, who can die as a result of caffeine intake at levels well below what is ordinarily considered toxic. Also, caffeine intake may be hidden. For ex le, herbal medicines with substantial caffeine content may not disclose these concentrations on their product label. The role of caffeine in medicolegal deaths is yet to be defined, however, herbal medicines and herbal weight loss supplements may represent an underappreciated source of caffeine in this context.
Publisher: Informa UK Limited
Date: 03-01-2022
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 04-11-2022
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 27-09-2019
DOI: 10.1007/S12024-018-0027-2
Abstract: Mahomet Allum was a flamboyant philanthropist and herbalist who worked in South Australia in the early part of last century, whose herbal therapies generated some controversy at the time. Two of his preparations have survived to the present day, a general tonic and a treatment for liver and kidney dysfunction. Given the frequent use of pharmaceutical drugs in "tonics" at the time, toxicological analysis was undertaken at Forensic Science SA, Adelaide with liquid chromatography/quadrupole-time-of-flight mass-spectrometer (LC-QTOF MS), liquid-chromatography/ diode array detector (LC/UV) and gas chromatography/ nitrogen phosphorous- detector/mass-spectrometer (GC-NPD/MS), to look for common drugs. In addition DNA analysis was also undertaken at Trace and Environmental DNA (TrEnD) Laboratory (Curtin University) to evaluate the types of plant products used to make these remedies. The general tonic contained genera from the Triticeae (wheat) family as well as the Medicago family (includes alfalfa), possibly as fillers. Other genera found included Utrica (nettle) and Passiflora (passion flower). The preparation for liver and kidney disease also contained genera from the Medicago family as well as genera Arctostaphylos (bear berry) which has traditionally been used for the treatment of dysuria and bladder stones. No common drugs were found. Thus it appears that the two treatments prepared by Mahomet Allum contained only herbal substances and not adulterant pharmaceutical agents. The herbals identified provide an insight into herbalist practices in the early twentieth century.
No related grants have been discovered for Rachael Farrington.