Fatal Mistake: Chinese Man Dies After Consuming Herbal Remedy Bought from Online Livestream

A tragic warning emerged on February 1st about the dangerous consequences of blindly trusting online medical advice. A 35-year-old Chinese man named Xie died after consuming a potentially lethal herbal remedy he purchased through an online livestream. The local media reported that towards the end of January, Mr. Xie suddenly lost consciousness and fell into a coma after drinking a homemade Chinese herbal brew. His family rushed him to the nearby hospital, where his heart had already stopped. Medical teams initially managed to revive and stabilize his vital signs, admitting him to the ICU. However, after eight days of treatment, he ultimately passed away. His family revealed that Mr. Xie had been struggling with high blood sugar for over six years and believed traditional Chinese herbal medicine was the solution. He frequently purchased herbs online, sometimes stockpiling large quantities. Prior to the incident, he had prepared an herbal drink using Aconitum root from Jiangzhou in Sichuan Province, which he bought during an online livestream sale. Doctors warned that this particular herb is extremely toxic if used incorrectly and can be fatal. Medical experts confirmed that the Aconitum herb requires complex processing to reduce its toxicity and should only be used under the guidance of a licensed traditional Chinese medicine practitioner. The product Mr. Xie purchased was labeled as a basic agricultural product, allowing its online sale despite being unsuitable for direct consumption. This incident serves as a critical warning for consumers to be extremely cautious about purchasing herbs or medical remedies online, especially without professional medical advice, as such actions could cost one's life.