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List of herbs with known adverse effects

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This is an incomplete list, which may never be able to satisfy particular standards for completeness. You can help by expanding it with reliably sourced entries.

This is a partial list of herbs and herbal treatments with known or suspected adverse effects, either alone or in interaction with other herbs or drugs. Non-inclusion of an herb in this list does not imply that it is free of adverse effects. In general, the safety and effectiveness of alternative medicines have not been scientifically proven^[1] and remain largely unknown.^[2] Beyond adverse effects from the herb itself, "adulteration, inappropriateformulation, or lack of understanding of plant and drug interactions have led to adverse reactions that are sometimes life threatening or lethal."^[3]
Most of the adverse effects stated in this list are associated with only a small percentage of cases; they should be understood as potential risks rather than as certainties.

Contents

• 1 Herbs, treatments, and constituents with known or suspected adverse effects
• 2 Herbs with adverse drug interactions
• 3 Herbal plants associated with allergic reactions
• 4 See also
• 5 References

Herbs, treatments, and constituents with known or suspected adverse effects[edit]

Name	Other common names	Scientific name	Adverse effects
Aconite	monkshood, wolfsbane, aconitum[4]	Aconitum spp.	Heart palpitations and arrhythmias, hypotension, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, respiratory system paralysis, death[4][5]
Aloe vera juice	medicinal aloe	Aloe vera	"abdominal pain, diarrhea, potentially carcinogenic, with others can potentiate cardiac glycosides and antiarrhythmic agents"[3]
Anthroid laxatives			"abdominal pain, diarrhea, potentially carcinogenic, with others can potentiate cardiac glycosides and antiarrhythmic agents"[3]
Areca nut	Betel nut	Areca catechu	"deterioration of psychosis in patients with preexisting psychiatric disorders";[5] known carcinogen contributing to cancer of the mouth, pharynx, esophagus and stomach when chewed.[6]
Aristolochic acid (contained in herbs in the genusAristolochia e.g. Aristolochia serpentaria (Virginia snakeroot), Aristolochia reticulata (Texas snakeroot) and in Chinese herbs such as Aristolochia fangchi andAristolochia mandshurensis (banned in China and withdrawn from Chinese Pharmacopoea 2005; Stephania tetrandra and Magnolia officinalis do not contain aristolochic acid).			Kidney toxicity[5] associated with kidney failure; associated with development of cancer, particularly of the urinary tract, known carcinogen[7][8]
Atractylate		Atractylis gummifera	Liver damage,[3] nausea, vomiting, epigastric and abdominal pain, diarrhoea, anxiety, headache and convulsions, often followed by coma[9]
Ayurvedic remedies			Heavy metal poisoning[5]
Bitter orange			'Fainting, arrhythmia, heart attack, stroke, death'[4]
Broom	Broom Flower, Dyers Broom, Dyer's Greenwood, Dyer's Weed, Dyer's Whin, Furze, Green Broom, Greenweed, Wood Waxen[10]	Genista tinctoria[10]	Uterotonic properties,[5] nausea vomiting, and diarrhea,[10] contraindicated for pregnancy and breast feeding[10]
Buckthorn bark and berry		Rhamnus frangula	"abdominal pain, diarrhea, potentially carcinogenic, with others can potentiate cardiac glycosides and antiarrhythmic agents"[3]
Cascara Sagrada bark		Rhamnus purshiana	"abdominal pain, diarrhea, potentially carcinogenic, with others can potentiate cardiac glycosides and antiarrhythmic agents"[3]
Chaparral	creosote bush, gobernadora, larreastat[4]	Larrea tridentata, Larrea divaricata[4]	Liver damage,[3][4][5] kidney problems,[4] Hypotension in cancer patients[3]
Chinese herbal mixtures			Heavy metal poisoning[5]
Coltsfoot	coughwort, farfarae folium leaf, foalswort[4]	Tussilago farfara	Liver damage, cancer[4]
Comfrey	comphrey, blackwort, common comfrey, slippery root[4]		Liver damage,[4][5] cancer[4]
Country mallow	heartleaf, silky white mallow	Sida cordifolia	"Heart attack, heart arrhythmia, stroke, death"[4]
Dan Shen	Red sage, Chinese sage, tan shen	Salvia miltiorrhiza	Potentiates warfarin activity, leading to excessive anticoagulation and bleeding[3][11]
European Mistletoe		Viscum album	Toxic to cardio and central nervous systems, gastrointestinal bleeding[3]
Ephedra	ma huang	Ephedra sinica	Agitation and palpitations,[3] "hypertension, irregular heart rate, insomnia, nervousness,tremors and seizures, paranoid psychoses, heart attacks, strokes, and death",[1][12] kidney stones[12]
Flavonoids (contained in many medicinal plants)[5]	Vitamin P, citrin	Flavonoids, bioflavonoids	Hemolytic anemia, kidney damage[5]
Germander		Teucrium	Liver damage[3][5]
Ginger			May alter bleeding time[13]
Ginkgo biloba			Bleeding[12][13]
American Ginseng	American Ginseng, Canadian Ginseng, Ginseng, Ginseng Root, North American Ginseng, Occidental Ginseng, Ontario Ginseng, Panax quinquefolium, Panax quinquefolius, Red Berry, Ren Shen, Sang, Shang, Shi Yang Seng, Wisconsin Ginseng[14]	Panax quinquefolius	"Hypertensive and chronotropic activities, may increase digoxin levels",[3] diarrhea, itching, insomnia, headaches, nervousness, rapid heartbeat, hypertension or hypotension, breast tenderness, vaginal bleeding. Very rarely Stevens–Johnson syndrome, liver damage, severe allergy has been reported[14] May lower blood sugar excessivley in combination with diabetes medication.[14] Contains a chemical linked to possible birth defects.[14] May worsen hormone sensitive conditions such as breast cancer, uterine cancer, ovarian cancer, endometriosis, and uterine fibroids.[14] Insomnia.[14]
Goldenseal	Orange-root, Orangeroot,	Hydrastis canadensis	Uterotonic[3]
Greater celandine	celandine	Chelidonium majus	Liver damage[4]
Guarana		Paullinia cupana	Agitation and insomnia[3]
Guar gum	guaran		Obstruction of gastrointestinal tract[5]
Gugulipid	Guggal, Guggul, Mukul myrrh tree	Commiphora mukul	"Headache, nausea, hiccups, diminished efficacy of other cardiovascular drugs including diltiazem and proranolol"[3]
Hawthorn	Common hawthorn, may, mayblossom, maythorn, quickthorn, whitethorn, motherdie, haw	Crataegus monogyna	"Potentiates digitalis activity, increases coronary dilation effects of theophylline, caffeine, papaverine, sodium nitrate, adenosine and epinephrine, increase barbituate induced sleeping times"[3]
Horse chestnut	Conker	Aesculus hippocastanum	Liver toxicity, allergic reaction, anaphylaxis[3]
Kava	awa, kava-kava[4]	Piper methysticum	Potentates CNS sedatives,[3] "sedation, oral and lingual dyskinesia, torticollis, oculogyric crisis, exacerbation of Parkinson's disease, painful twisting movements of the trunk, rash",[12] liver toxicity[4][13]
Khat		Catha edulis	Chronic liver dysfunction[3]
Liquorice root		Glycyrrhiza glabra	Hypokalemia, hypertension, arrhythmias, edema[5]
Lobelia	asthma weed, pukeweed, vomit wort	Lobelia Inflata	Toxicity, rapid heartbeat, hypotension, coma, death[4]
Milk thistle		Silybum marianum	Mild laxative, allergy[5]
Pennyroyal		Mentha pulegium	Liver damage[3][5]
Peony	Bai Shao, Chi Shao, Chinese Peony, Common Peony, Coral Peony, Cortex Moutan, European Peony, Jiu Chao Bai Shao, Moutan, Mu Dan PI, Peony Flower, Peony Root, Piney, Radix Peony, Red Peony, Shakuyaku, Shao Yao, Tree Peony, Ud Saleeb, Udsalam, Udsalap, White Peony[15]	Radix Paeoniae, Radix Paeoniae Alba, Radix Paeoniae Rubra, Paeonia, Paeonia alba, Paeonia lactiflora, Paeonia mascula; Paeonia obovata; Paeonia officinalis; Paeonia suffruticosa, Paeonia veitchii, Paeoniae Flos, Paeoniae Radix[15]	May slow clotting; contraindicated for people with bleeding disorders and before and after surgery. May induce uterine contractions; contraindicated when pregnant or nursing.[15]
Pyrrolizidine alkaloids (contained in comfrey, borage, senecio, coltsfoot, and others)			Liver damage[5]
Reserpine		Rauvolfia serpentina	"Sedation, inability to complete tasks, mental depression, nasal congestion, increased gastric secretion and mild diarrhea"[3]
Safrole		Sassafras albidum	Liver damage[3]
Saw palmetto		Serenoa repens	"rare and mild gastrointestinal upset, headaches, diarrhea, gynecomastia, paroxysmal atrial fibrillation, ventricular rupture and death in one patient"[3]
Senna		Senna alexandrina (Cassia senna)	"abdominal pain, diarrhea, potentially carcinogenic, with others can potentiate cardiac glycosides and antiarrhythmic agents",[3] liver damage[3]
St John's wort	Tipton's weed, Klamath weed	Hypericum perforatum	Photosensitization,[3][12] GI disturbances, "allergic reactions, fatigue, dizziness, confusion, dry mouth"[12]
Valerian	garden valerian, garden heliotrope, all-heal	Valeriana officinalis	"drowsiness, GI upset, headache, palpitations, insomnia",[3] oversedation, overstimulation[13]
Vasambu	sweet flag	Acorus calamus	Vomiting and nausea[16]
Yohimbe	yohimbine	Corynanthe yohimbe	rapid heart rate, hypertension, hypotension, heart problems, death[4]

Herbs with adverse drug interactions[edit]

Name	Other common names	Scientific name	Drug	Adverse effects
Cinchona bark		Cinchona pubescens	Warfarin	Possibly addictive[3]
Devil's Claw	grapple plant, wood spider	Harpagophytum	Warfarin	Addictive effects[3]
Ephedra			Caffeine, decongestants, stimulants[12]
Feverfew		Tanacetum parthenium	Aspirin	Addictive effects[3]
Garlic		Allium sativum	Warfarin	Addictive effects[3]
Ginger		Zingiber officinale	Warfarin	Addictive effect, causes iris bleeding[3]
Ginkgo biloba			Aspirin, warfarin, ticlopidine, clopidogrel, dipyridamole, garlic, vitamin E[12]	With aspirin - retards aspirin absorption[3]
Ginseng		Panax ginseng	Warfarin[12]
Papayaextract		Carica papaya	Warfarin	Damage to GI tract mucous membranes, Possibly addictive, purpura[3]
Kava			Sedatives, sleeping pills, antipsychotics, alcohol[12]
Pineappleenzyme		Ananas comosus	Bromelain	"Diarrhea, increased tendency for bleeding if used simultaneously with anticoagulants and inhibitors of thrombocytic aggregation due to modulation of the arachidonate cascade"[3]
Psylliumseed		Plantago spp	Coumarin derivates	Retards absorption of drug[3]
St John's wort	Tipton's weed, Klamath weed	Hypericum perforatum	Antidepressants,[12][13] warfarin, protease inhibitors for HIV, birth control, some asthma drugs, and many other medications[13]

Herbal plants associated with allergic reactions[edit]

Agnus Castus[5] Angelica[5] Aniseed[5] Apricot[5] Arnica[5] Artichoke[5] Asafoetida[5] Boneset[5] Cassia[5] Celery[5] Cinnamon[5] Cowslip[5]

Dandelion[5] Elecampane[5] Euphorbia[5] Feverfew[5] Fucus[5] Gravel root[5] Guaiacum[5] Holy Thistle[5] Hops[5] Hydrangea[5] Hydrocotyle[5] Juniper[5]

Lady's Slipper[5] Meadowsweet[5] Milk Thistle[3] Motherwort[5] Parsley[5] Pilewort[5] Plantain[5] Pulsatilla[5] Rosemary[5] Royal jelly[5] Tansy[5] Wild carrot[5]

Yarrow[5]

See also[edit]

• Alternative medicine
• Chinese classic herbal formula
• Herbalism
• Kampo herb list
• Medicinal mushrooms
• Medicinal plants of the American West
• List of branches of alternative medicine
• List of culinary herbs and spices
• List of plants used in herbalism