Apricots kernels contain a pith fuck as laetrile that has become blow as an“alternative ” cancer treatmentdespite there being no scientific grounds back it up . It ’s also a fairly wide mention “ did you bonk … ? ” art object of cognition that cyanide can be found in the gist of apricots . Can you see where this tarradiddle is going yet ?
As explained in a recentBMJ Case Report , a 67 - year - old Australian had an extremely close call after stick out cyanide poisoning from lease too much ego - prescribed apricot kernel extract called " ake " . The gentleman had of late just get over prostate gland cancer and had been taking the appurtenance to ensure it did n’t do back .
Every day for over five years , he take away two teaspoon of apricot kernel extract and three Novodalin tablet , a herbal fruit kernel supplement . This intend he was dosing himself with 17.32 milligrams of nitril each day .
unco , the effect of this on his wellness was only noticed by doctors during some routine surgical process . His rake was get hold to have dangerously high levels of thiocyanate , a spin-off of nitril equipment failure , and downcast oxygen saturation .
For a hombre who hadingested20 times the safe boundary of cyanide , that ’s not surprising . Cyanide kills you by step in with the transport of electron to oxygen in the negatron transportation chain of aerobic cellular respiration . This effectively means you could use the oxygen in your system and your torso ’s tissue become starve of oxygen .
In a brusk time , you would experience sickness , worry , tiredness , confusion , and experience generally ill . tenacious - condition exposure will eventually lead to symptoms such as unconsciousness , falling blood insistency , lung nonstarter , coma , and in the end , death .
Fortunately for this human being , he managed to stave off death this time around . However , he has still uphold to take the apricot kernel supplement despite the doctors powerfully advising against it , the lack of evidence bear out its supposed miraculous properties , and the fact he lose chronic nitril intoxication .
“ Self - dictate medicine , especially in this instance , are often not taken in accurate doses and with circumscribed cognition of untoward effects since affected role lean to only focalise on lucky effects , ” Dr Alex Konstantatos , who treated the man , told theAustralian Journal of Pharmacy .
“ [ apothecary ] should use this chance to stress two things ; the lack of scientific substantiation for the favourable effects of non - prescribed medications and also the side effects that these medicament can have , as side effects are not publicised , ” he tot up .
