Are the Herbal Medicines Safe?
Medical opinion is that any medicine has the potential to do harm and adverse reactions are a cost of medical therapy. It is not possible to eliminate the adverse reactions because these are part of the normal, pharmacological actions of all medicines or
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Are the Herbal Medicines Safe? Medical opinion is that any medicine has the potential to do harm and adverse reactions are a cost of medical therapy. It is not possible to eliminate the adverse reactions because these are part of the normal, pharmacological actions of all medicines or represent an indirect consequence of the principal action of the medicine. Such reactions, being pharmacologically predictable and dose-dependent, can be anticipated and also reduced by dose reduction but never eliminated. Therefore, the statement that medicines are safe and effective is very relative. On the other hand, there is a native view that what is "natural" can only be good and the belief that herbal medicines are completely innocuous in contrast to conventional medicines. The use of herbal medicines by millions of people since prehistory is an aspect emphasized by herbalists. Another point, for the safety reputation of herbs, is that herbal medicines promote healing responses rather than obstacle pathologies and this is because herbs have a complex chemical composition. It is also deduced that herbal medicines are free from adverse reactions, probably because they are not effective like conventional medicines. It is not easy to give satisfactory answers to these discrepancies and for the absence of serious information about adverse reactions and toxicity of herbs. Many herbal medicines widely available today have not been properly evaluated for untoward effects in clinical studies. Certainly there is substantial evidence for adverse reactions to herbal medicines (Table 5.1, p. 14). The situation is complicated in several ways: the sources of herbal material are diverse; the active (and toxic) components vary as a result of climate, soil quality, genetic factors and exposure to chemicals; quality control is lacking so that problems such as contaminations with heavy metals or microorganisms and adulteration with botanicals and/or chemicals may arise during preparation, storage or shipping; several common herbal medicines contain a mixture of herbal drugs and in F. Capasso et al., Phytotherapy © Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg 2003
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S. Are the Herbal Medicines Safe? Tabl. S.l
Some herbal medicines associated with adverse reactions Herbal Medicine Aloe gel Artichoke
Ginseng Goldenseal Guargum Uquorice
Indication/use Wound healing Uver and gallbladder complaints, choles1erol·!owering Expectorant. anti·inRammatory Blunt injuries Dyspeptic complaints Headache migraine Choiestl'fol-Ioweling. antihypertensive, arteriosclerosis Stimulant. tonic Digestive disorders Obesity Gastritis. coughlbronchitis
Ma huang Pennyroyal Saw palmeno
Stimulant. asthma Digestive diSOl'ders Proswic complaints, irritable bladder
Chaparral Comfrey Dandelion Feverfew Garlic
Adverse effect Allergic reactions Allergic reactions "Uver damage "Uver damage Allergic reactions Allergic reactions Allergic reaction, abdominal discomfort Mastalgia Excitatory SlateS, constipation "Obstruction of the GI tract "Hypokalemia, hypertension, arrhythmias, edema G
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