Herbal Supplement Side Effects, Interactions and Warnings

Here are some of our top pages that cover side effects, interactions, and warnings about common herbal products.

We try to update this as frequently as possible, but please let us know if something looks outdated, or you have an interesting insight beyond what we have already written.

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New Updated Gingko Biloba Page

Check out our new updates about Gingko Biloba here.

This plant is truly impressive for a variety of its properties, including the following:

• Cognitive Function and Memory
• Circulation
• Eye Health
• Antioxidant Properties
• Mood and Anxiety

Like many of the useful herbs shown in our index below, it has been verifiably used for centuries, and probably even millenia.

Alfalfa Aloe Angelica Arnica Ashwagandha Astragalus Barberry Bayberry Bearberry Bee Pollen Bilberry Bitter Melon Bitter Orange Black Cohosh Black Currant Seed Bladderwrack Bloodroot Blue Cohosh Blue Flag Boswellia Burdock Bromelain Calendula Calamus Cardamom Cascara Sagrada Catnip Cat’s Claw Cayenne Celery Chamomile Chaparral Chasteberry Cinnamon Clove Coenzyme Q10 Coleus Forskohlii Coltsfoot Comfrey Cramp Bark Cranberry Creatine Damiana Dandelion Devil’s Claw DHEA Dong Quai Echinacea Elderberry Elecampane Ephedra Eucalyptus Evening Primrose Oil Eyebright Fennel Fenugreek Feverfew Flax Foxglove Garlic Gentian Ginger Ginkgo Ginseng Goat Weed Goldenseal Gotu Kola Grape Seed Green Tea Guarana Guggul Hawthorn Hoodia Gordonii Hops Horsetail Horse Chestnut Hyssop Juniper Kava Kava Kelp Lemongrass Lemon Balm Licorice Lobelia Marshmallow Meadowsweet Melatonin Melissa Milk Thistle Mistletoe Motherwort Mugwort Myrrh Nettle Nutmeg Oregon Grape Osha Parsley Passionflower Peppermint Pine Bark Prickly Ash Quercetin Red Clover Reishi Sandalwood Sarsaparilla Saw Palmetto Schisandra Senna Skullcap Slippery Elm Spirulina St. John’s Wort Tea Tree Turmeric Uva Ursi Valerian Vervain White Willow Wild Cherry Wild Yam Yarrow Yellow Dock Yerba Santa Yohimbe Yucca

Other Pages: Herbal Side Effects, Interactions and Warnings Supplement Side Effects, Interactions and Warnings Prescription Drug Interactions and Warnings Prescription Information Resources Disease Information

Has the manufacturer performed research on this specific product, or is that manufacturer using “borrowed research?”

A manufacturer may make broad claims about, for example, the benefits of St. John’s Wort in general but not mention the dosage or purity of their tablets. Just because it’s been proven by a clinical study that a certain formulation is beneficial, it doesn’t mean that any product containing St. John’s Wort will follow what the study claims.

Does the product label have outrageous claims? Avoid any product that makes promises no product can possibly live up to. There are no herbal cancer cures, fountains of youth, or weight-loss miracles. Remember the old adage that we’ve all heard: if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.

Is the manufacturer reputable?

You’ll need to do your homework, but it’s important to buy herbals only from companies you can trust to provide a safe and effective product. Talk with your pharmacist about the different products available.

Certain joint pain creams, for example, might no actually help to reduce your joint pain. There are companies like Hondrostrong, however, that actually have legitimate ingredients and manufacturing practices.

Does the supplement contain multiple individual ingredients?

If a supplement product contains multiple individual bio-active ingredients, you may want to take time to perform research on each of those specific substances. Remember that each ingredient could itself be the cause of various problems.

Does the product label give complete information about standardized formulations?

You need this information to know how much of the active ingredient you are taking and that the same amount of this ingredient is present in each tablet.

Do the labels have comprehensive warnings of any possible side effects?

Know what adverse effects to look for before you start taking any herb or herbal product. The label should also tell you if the product is not safe for pregnant women and for people with chronic conditions.

Does the product give you clear dosage instructions?

Too much of even a good thing can do you harm. Too little can waste your money. Herbal products should not be used by children because their effects and proper dosages are unknown.

If you use vitamins or herbal supplements, be sure to tell your doctor and pharmacist, especially if you are pregnant, planning to be or breastfeeding. Some could interfere with your prescribed treatment.