Harmful Effects of Herbs
Recent surveys indicate that more than 50% of the population use some form of complementary and alternative medicine. In the United States, the sale of herbal medicines now exceeds $4 billion per year. Marketing campaigns often imply that any natural product is safe. However, herbal medicines are classified as dietary supplements and do not have to be proven safe before being released into the marketplace. Many herbs have been associated with adverse effects due to assay interference, herb-therapeutic drug interaction, or organ toxicity. The following list was compiled to provide a quick reference.
|
Common Name |
Other Names |
Intended Use |
Adverse Effects |
|
Aristolochic Acid |
Snakeroot, birthroot, snakeweed, sangree root, serpentary, wild ginger |
traditional Chinese herbs |
nephrotoxicity, carcinogenic |
|
Bitter Orange |
Citrus aurantium, zhi xhi, zhi oiao, zhiqiao, kijitsu, neroli oil, Shangzhou, |
weight loss, stimulant, athletic performance |
tachycardia, vasoconstriction, hypertension, stroke |
|
Borage oil |
Borago officinalis, bee plant, bee bread, ox’s tongue, starflower oil |
rheumatoid arthritis, hypertension |
hepatotoxicity, lower seizure threshold, increase warfarin effect |
|
Cat's Claw |
Uncaria tomentosus, Una de gato, hawks claw |
anti-viral, prevent colds & flu, chronic fatigue syndrome |
hypotension, diarrhea, increase warfarin effect, inhibit CYP3A4 |
|
Chan Su |
Chinese toad auricular glands |
tonsillitis, sore throat, palpitations, heart tonic |
vasoconstriction, hypertension, arrhythmia, digoxin immunoreactivity |
|
Chaparral |
Larrea tridentata, creosote bush, jarilla, greasewood, hediondilla |
anti-neoplastic, anti-oxidant, arthritis remedy, cleansing tonic |
cholestatic hepatotoxicity, nephrotoxicity, carcinogenic |
|
Comfrey |
Symphytum officinale, knitbone, nipbone, black root, bruisewort, consolidae radix |
inflamed joints, wounds, gout, fractures, thrombophlebitis |
hepatic veno-occlusive disease |
|
Dan Shen |
Salvia miltiorrhiza |
angina pectoris, cardiovascular diseases |
digoxin immunoreactivity, increase warfarin effect, platelet inhibition, fibrinolysis |
|
Dong quai |
Angelica senensis |
menopause & menstruation |
increase warfarin effect |
|
Echinacea |
Purple cone flower |
colds, flu, URI, UTI, immune stimulant |
allergic reactions, nausea, myalgia, hepatitis |
|
Ephedra |
Ma huang |
weight loss, stimulant, athletic performance |
arrhythmia, hypertension, stroke |
|
Evening Primrose |
Oenothera biennis, primrose oil |
breast tenderness, PMS |
lower seizure threshold |
|
Feverfew |
Tanacetum parthenium, Chrysanthemum |
headaches, migraines, menstrual cramps, arthritis |
increase warfarin effect |
|
Garlic |
Allium sativum |
lower blood pressure & cholesterol |
increase warfarin effect, platelet inhibition |
|
Germander |
Teucrium chamaedrys |
weight loss, general tonic |
cholestatic hepatotoxicity |
|
Ginger |
motion & morning sickness |
increase warfarin effect |
|
|
Ginkgo biloba |
Maiden hair tree |
forgetfulness, mental focus, tinnitus, claudication |
increase warfarin effect, platelet inhibition, hypertension, seizures |
|
Ginseng |
Eleutherococcus senticosus (Siberian), Panax ginseng (Asian) |
stress, endurance |
decrease warfarin effect, digoxin immunoreactivity, hypoglycemia, Stevens Johnson, schizophrenia |
|
Green tea |
Camellia sinensis |
cancer prevention, heart tonic, nausea & vomiting |
decrease warfarin effect |
|
Kava kava |
Piper methysticum, kawa, ava, awa, gea ,gi, kao, kew, malohu, yagona, sakau |
anxiety, insomnia |
hepatoxicity, parkonsonism, GABA receptor blockade, calcium & sodium channel blockade |
|
Kelp |
anti-inflammatory, thyroid tonic, metabolic tonic |
hyperthyroidism |
|
|
Licorice root |
anti-inflammatory, peptic ulcers |
aldosteronism, hypokalemic myopathy, hypertension, increase warfarin effect |
|
|
Lobelia |
Lobelia inflata, Pokeweed, Indian tobacco, cardinal flower, asthma weed |
anti-viral, anti-neoplastic |
arrhythmia, respiratory failure |
|
Lu Shen Wan |
heart tonic |
falsely elevated digoxin levels |
|
|
Mistletoe |
digestive aid, sedative, heart tonic |
hepatotoxicity |
|
|
Moonflower |
Daturia inoxia |
hallucinogen |
seizures, hallucinations, coma |
|
Oleandrin |
Nerium oleander, dogbane, Thevetia peruviana, rose laurel |
cancer, HIV, hepatitis, psoriasis, rheumatoid arthritis |
arrhythmia, contact dermatitis, digoxin immunoreactivity, N&V, diarrhea, salivation, altered mentation |
|
Passion flower |
Passiflora incarnata |
insomnia, anxiety |
arrhythmia, drowsiness |
|
Pennyroyal |
Mentha puleguim, Hedeoma pulegoides, squawmint, mosquito plant, tickweed |
induce menstruation, abortifacient, gout, fleas |
hepatoxicity, nephrotoxicity, seizures |
|
Pentagyn |
Gynostemma pentaphyllum, Jiaogulan, miracle grass, Xianxio, Southern Ginseng |
lower BP & cholesterol |
increase warfarin effect, nausea, diarrhea |
|
St. John's Wort |
Hypericum perforatum, goat weed |
mood disorders, depression |
induces CYP3A4 & P-glycoprotein drug transporter, increased drug clearance, lower therapeutic drug levels |
|
Saw Palmetto |
Serenoa serrulata, Sabal serrulata, saw tooth palm |
BPH, polycystic ovary syndrome, hirsutism |
5-alpha reductase inhibition, testosterone metabolism inhibition |
|
Skullcap |
Scutellaria laterifolia, pimpernel, hoodwort, monkey flower, mad-dog weed, quaker bonnet |
insomnia, irritability, nervousness, snakebites, rabies |
hepatotoxic, giddiness, stupor, confusion, seizures |
|
Valerian root |
Valeriana officinalis, capon's tail |
Insomnia, anxiety |
neurotransmitter inhibition by enhancing GABA, tachycardia, hypotension, headache, delirium |
|
Yohimbe |
Corynanthe yohimbe, Pausinystalia yohimbine, yohimbehe, johimbe |
aphrodesiac, impotence |
Tachycardia, hypertension, urinary retention |
