Naturally Unsafe: The Dangers of Herbal Supplements

It's tempting to take herbal remedies. We see them advertised, the pharmacy has a section devoted to herbal remedies, our friends swear by the success of their herbal remedy for weight loss. What could be more harmless than something that comes from nature, right? Well, cocaine and opium are "natural" too. Remember Ephedra - the wonder weight loss supplement? The FDA banned it in April 2004 after several deaths. The Ephedra ban brought to light the dangers in taking substances that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration does not strictly regulate. Without such regulation, there is no guarantee of purity or safety. Not all herbal supplements are as dangerous as Ephedra. Some are at worst harmless and others are actually beneficial. I'm not implying that you should not use herbal remedies. Before you begin taking any herbal supplement do some research. Some herbs are harmful or have side effects. Other herbs are innocuous on their own, but when mixed with medications you may be taking can become harmful or lethal. To avoid a potentially dangerous health risk, always tell your doctor and pharmacist about any herbs you take.

Drug Interactions

I remember a few years ago when St. John's wort was all the rage as a natural treatment for depression. It seems like everyone was taking it. It was the precursor to everyone being on Prozac. Imagine my surprise when my fun time at the pool with my daughter lead to three days of lathering on aloe vera gel to soothe an unexpected sunburn - this in spite of my unwavering use of sunscreen. It turns out that St. John's wort causes sensitivity to sunlight. It also interacts with birth control pills, certain HIV medications, cancer medications and anticoagulants. If I had been on a prescription antidepressant and combined it with St. John's wort, instead of experiencing a synergistic bonus in depression reduction, I might have experienced an increase in side affects including nausea, dry mouth, and headaches.

NSAIDs (Advil, ibuprofen) can cause internal bleeding. Your risk of bleeding problems increases if you combine any NSAIDS with ginkgo biloba, or devil's claw.

Your risk of liver toxicity increases if you combine your immunosuppressant arthritis medication (DMARD) with echinacea.

Having surgery soon? These herbal supplements interfere with surgical outcomes: valerian, echinacea, ginkgo biloba, kava, garlic, ginseng, and St. John's wort. Let you surgeon know if you take any of these supplements - you'll likely need to stop taking them a couple of weeks prior to having surgery.

Dangerous Herbs

Ephedra is the most famous offender, but these herbal supplements are also dangerous in their own right and should be avoided altogether.

Lobelia is often used to treat asthma and bronchitis. It has recently been touted as the natural way to stop smoking. Unfortunately, it is incredibly easy to unintentionally overdose. Reactions include respiratory failure, rapid heartbeat, coma, and death.

Comfrey is used to treat gastric ulcers. It is toxic to the liver and is also thought to cause cancer.

Yohimbe, a natural aphrodisiac, is an MAO inhibitor and is known to increase blood pressure. If you take too much you are risking kidney failure and cardiac failure (death).

Ginsing is thought to improve stamina. Take care if you are diabetic since this herbal supplement is thought to lower blood sugar.

Sassafras tea was widely used as a remedy for everything from rheumatism to STDs to skin conditions. Interestingly the oil contains safrole, which is used in the manufacture of the drug ecstasy. Safrole is also a known carcinogen and while banned by the FDA for use in food, it can still be found in health food stores and online.

If you are now convinced that researching potential herbal supplements is a good idea, here are some trusted web sites to help you.

American Botanical Counsel

Office of Alternative Medicine

Quack Watch