Lead poisoning after ingestion of home-made Chinese medicines.

A young woman presented with non-specific generalized musculoskeletal pain. Investigations revealed anaemia, raised reticulocyte count, basophilic stippling and erythroid hyperplasia of the bone marrow. Further history showed that she had been taking home-made Chinese medicines for acne for two months and the blood lead level confirmed the diagnosis of lead poisoning. The medications were stopped and her condition gradually improved. Incorporating the use of herbal medicines into the routine medical history is important in early identification of herbal poisoning.