Herbal Remedies: What Are the Dangers?

Herbal remedies are often considered harmless. Even if they don’t work, some users reason, what harm could herbs do?

Plenty, according to a study published recently in the Annals of Internal Medicine. A study by French researchers found seven cases of hepatitis associated with people who had taken the herb germander in capsule form or herbal tea. Germander is often used as a weight loss aid, but not commonly sold in the United States, according to the American Herbal Products Assn. (“Herbs are generally safe,” says group spokesman Christopher Hobbs. “Probably 95% of the herbs sold are very safe and can be taken without fear of side effects.”)

How to minimize the danger? Two experts elaborate:

Ryan Huxtable, professor of pharmacology, University of Arizona, Tucson

“Don’t give herbs to babies, because they lack the enzyme defense mechanisms to protect against potentially toxic chemicals. All cases of herb toxicity we have investigated here involve babies or older people who lack normal defenses or people who abuse the herbs.

“Do not take a large quantity of any herbal preparation. Do not take herbs if you are pregnant, nursing or trying to become pregnant. Do not take anything containing the herb comfrey. Comfrey has toxic alkaloids which can damage the liver. . . . Comfrey capsules and pills which contain comfrey root are very dangerous. Less so but still potentially dangerous is comfrey tea.”

John Penny, Medication Information Service , Los Angeles Free Clinic

“Make sure you know what you are taking. When getting herbal information be sure you hear it from a reliable source--a doctor or a specialist in the field, not your neighbor.

“You might be allergic to one of the ingredients. Check with your doctor before taking herbs.

“A lot of people go to other countries to get natural herbal products. That, too, can be dangerous.”