What You Don't Know About Herbalism Will Kill You

What you don't know will kill you. It's a simple phrase but one that many today discard. Anyone that plays with herbs and doesn't bother to actually study the plants, roots and barks involved can accomplish just that. They can kill you!
Herbs are not just food supplements. They are not harmless. You have to study many years with much vigor and intensity before you begin to take them yourself let alone recommend them to another.

There is a big movement within the world today towards the old ways of herbal remedies and treatments. The bad part is that many people forget that herbs are medicines. They are as strong and potent as what your doctor might prescribe.
If you don't do the research or know the herb you are recommending then you are putting others or yourself in more danger than you may realize.

To demonstrate my point, the FDA has logged more than 2,500 reports of side effects and 70 deaths associated with dietary supplements, 900 of the illnesses and 44 deaths were thought to be a result of taking products containing ephedrine-like stimulants. These numbers may not concern you especially when you spread them out over a year and over only one country. But when you stop to think that many don't even tell their doctors what herbal or other supplements they are taking then one begins to understand that these numbers are just the tip of a very large ice berg.

Here are some things that you might want to consider next time you decide taking an herbal supplement is for you:
Ephedra can be bought under the names of ma huang, epitonin and sida cordifolia. It contains stimulant ephedrine which is currently banned in several states. Federal limitations on this supplement are now pending as it can cause heart palpitations, psychosis, heart attacks and stroke. You should stop using this at least 24 hours before surgery.

Chaparral is sold as both a tea and pills. When used in a tea the herb is nontoxic. However, in pill form it can cause acute toxic hepatitis. (liver disease)

Comfrey one of the worlds favorite little herbs, used to heal wounds topically or to heal ulcers internally contains alkaloid substances associated with occlusion of the veins, is toxic to the liver and may even be carcinogenic. Comfrey is actually banned in Canada and restricted in Germany. Care should be taken as Comfrey tends to be confused with nightshade and foxglove by inexperienced herbalists.

The ever popular dieter's teas contain such herbs as senna, aloe, rhubarb root, buckthorn, cascara, and castor oil, all of which are laxatives. When taken in excessive amounts they can cause disruptions in potassium levels and also disrupt the heart. They also cause excessive diarrhea, vomiting, constipation, and fainting, as well as death in at least 4 young women documented today.

Pennyroyal is a member of the mint family and can induce a miscarriage; women have died after using Pennyroyal to induce abortions.

Licorice root when eaten with laxatives hastens the loss of potassium which can be fatal.

Flax seed can delay the absorption of other medications.

Kava Kava can increase the effects of alcohol and some drugs for psychiatric disorders. This herb is used to help with insomnia and also to help with stress and anxiety and is used to calm the body. It is in fact a mild sedative and should not be taken a week before surgery and for several days after. This also applies to Valerian another herb used to promote sleep and relaxation.

Garlic and Ginko Biloba both increase the circulation and interfere with the clotting properties of blood and could cause severe bleeding. Needless to say you shouldn't take either of these for at least a week if you are going in for surgery. Garlic also contains sulfar anyone allergic to sulfar can die from garlic.

Echinacea promotes healing and fights infection. This herb boosts your immune system and impairs immune suppressive drugs. It can be deadly when taken before any transplant surgery. This herb also increases resistance to upper respiratory infections; however, continued use actually decreases its effects.

Ginseng taken to improve health and well being and also used to reduce stress interferes with the clotting of blood and should not be used at least a week before surgery.

St. John's Wort is used for anxiety and depression. The herb also alters the rate of metabolism of other drugs and may either increase or decrease the desired effect. The herb should not be used for at least 5 days before surgery. Anyone with an allergy to ragweed should totally avoid St. John's Wort as it could have serious or even fatal side effects. This herb can also cause skin burns in light skinned people because it contains hypersen, a photosensitizing substance that reacts with light.

Feverfew should never be taken with blood thinners or anyone with any kind of bleeding disorder. This is also true of Vitamin K and Ginko Biloba.

Fenugreek contains compounds coumarin and nicotinic acid these will effect heart rate, blood pressure, blood sugar and other bodily functions. Fenugreek also when taken in very large doses will cause a breast feeding mothers milk to smell like maple syrup and in turn the baby too will begin to smell like maple syrup this can cause a misdiagnosis of 'maple syrup urine disease', a serious metabolic disorder.

This herb is also related to peanuts which are the food most likely to cause an allergy. The possibility of an allergic reaction in a baby is quite high and many cases of colic, stomach upset and diarrhea have been reported among babies whose mothers take fenugreek.

Ginko Biloba should never be taken with blood thinners or anyone with any kind of bleeding disorder. This herb dilates blood vessels and improves blood flow to your brain and aids in circulation in your legs however, it can cause gastrointestinal problems, headaches and allergic skin reactions.
Lobelia also called Indian Tobacco is used in low doses as a mild stimulant and to help open airways and ease breathing. Too large a dose can cause convulsions, coma and death.

Metatonin is an hormone produced by the body is often used to help promote sleep however it causes seizures in small children.

Some of these may or may not be known to you. If you haven't researched even the most commonly used herb, then you really have no idea what you are telling your friends, family and yourself to take. Research, research and more research, know your herbs and all their drawbacks.