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| Herb Side Effects |
Aloe is in many products for upset stomachs, inflammation, etc. A potentially harmful chemical contained in aloe can also transfer into breast milk. Artimisia annua (Sweet Annie)- Abdominal pain, Diarrhea Nausea, Flu symptoms, Decreased appetite, Dermatitis. Ashwagandha may induce abortion. Extreme caution. Cascara- contains anthrones, which may cause vomiting and intestinal cramps. Excessive use can cause diarrhea and weakness. Cascara has been associated with cholestatic hepatitis. The FDA says that is not safe as a stimulant laxative. Ephedra (ma huang)- Hypertension, insomnia, arrhythmia, nervousness, tremor, headache, seizure, cerebrovascular event, myocardial infarction, kidney stones. Fenugreek- Doses of 100 g/day cause flatulence, diarrhea, other GI symptoms. Bleeding, bruising, hypoglycemia. Repeated topical use can cause skin sensitization. Inhalation of the powder can cause asthma and allergic symptoms. Kava- Sedation, oral and lingual dyskinesia, torticollis, oculogyric crisis, exacerbation of Parkinson's disease, painful twisting movements of the trunk, rash. Abnormal liver function or damage, occasionally irreversible; deaths reported. Androstenedione (a steroid) (4-androstene-3, 17-dione, andro, androstene)- Presents increased cancer risk, decrease in HDL cholesterol. Aristolochia (birthwort, snakeroot, snakeweed, sangrel, asarum canadense, wild ginger. Also in Chinese herbal products labeled fang ji, mu tong, ma dou ling, and mu xiang.)- Extreme caution: can be an unlabeled substitute for other herbs,eg: akebia, asarum, clematis, cocculus, stephania, and vladimiria species.) A potent human carcinogen; kidney failure, sometimes requiring transplant; deaths reported. Bitter orange(Citrus aurantium, neroli oil, Seville orange, shangzhou zhiqiao, zhi oiao, zhi xhi)- Risk of high blood pressure; increased risk of heart arrythmias, heart attack, stroke. Black cohosh- No conclusive evidence that black cohosh is effective for menopausal symptoms. Don't confuse with blue cohosh. Gastrointestinal upset, hepatotoxicity. Blue cohosh- Nausea, vomiting, dizziness, smooth muscle (such as the uterus) contractions Borage- Constipation, Liver damage if taking borage oil for prolonged periods of time. May cause premature labor. Burdock (gobo)- induces low blood sugar (hypoglycemia). Burdock tea has been contaminated with belladonna. Those allergic to chrysanthemums may exhibit cross-sensitivity to burdock. Can cause uterine stimulation. Cats Claw- Diarrhea, low blood pressure. Patients w/ systemic lupus erythematosus experienced acute kidney failure after using cat's claw. Chamomile: Allergic reactions can occur, abdominal cramps, tongue thickness, tightness in the throat, swelling of the lips, throat and eyes, itching all over the body, hives, and blockage of the breathing passages. Chaparral (Larrea divaricata, creosote bush, greasewood): Abnormal liver function or damage, often irreversible; deaths reported. Chasteberry- Headaches, stomach upset, nausea, rash, temporary redness, itching, and hives, agitation. Chrysanthemum- Contact dermatitis, hypersensitivity reaction, photosensitivity. Comfrey (Symphytum officinale, salsify, slippery root, symphytum radix, wallwort) Abnormal liver function or damage, often irreversible; deaths reported. Dandilion- Heartburn, Stomach inflammation, mild diarrhea, contact dermatitis. Devils Claw- Diarrhea, slowed heart rate (bradycardia), dispepsia, upset stomach. Echinacea- Headache, dizziness, nausea, constipation, mild stomach pain, dermatitis, rare serious allergic reaction. Feverfew-Stomach ache, Mouth ulcers may result from chewing Withdrawals may develop after chronic use, including muscle stiffness, anxiety, moderate pain, headache, nausea, and vomiting. Makes alergies worse. Garlic produces a chemical called allicin, which seems to make it a possibly effective treatment for conditions including high cholesterol, high blood pressure, hardening of the arteries (atherosclerosis), fungal infections on the skin and preventing tick bites. Germander (Teucrium chamaedrys, wall germander, wild germander)- Abnormal liver function or damage, often irreversible; deaths reported. Common: Weight loss, fatigue, nausea, vomiting, anorexia, anemia, muscle weakness. |
| Ginkgo can improve blood circulation, which might help the brain, eyes, ears, and legs function better. May be effective in improving thinking processes old age and young people; Raynaud's syndrome (a painful response to cold especially in the fingers and toes); leg pain when walking due to poor blood flow (claudication); vertigo and dizziness; premenstrual syndrome (PMS); improving color vision in people with diabetes; and treating some kinds of eye diseases (glaucoma and eye damage caused by diabetes). Ginkgo may effect how much insulin your body makes which might change how much insulin you need to inject. Also, Ginkgo and the pain reliever ibuprofen both can slow blood clotting, therefore, taking them together could thin the blood too much and increase the chance of bruising and bleeding.
Ginseng- Long term use may cause menstrual abnormalities and breast tenderness in some women. Ginseng is not recommended for pregnant or lactating women. Gotu Kola-Contact dermatitis, itching, Guggul- Headache, mild nausea, hiccups, and loose stools, Hypersensitivity rash. Kombuchu tea- Potentially fatal liver damage, intestinal upset Lobelia(Lobelia inflata, emetic herb, indian tobacco, wild tobacco)- Risk of Breathing difficulty, rapid heartbeat, low blood pressure, diarrhea, dizziness, tremors. Potentially fatal convulsions, coma Magnolia (Stephania)- Kidney damage (sometimes severe enough to require dialysis or transplant) Melatonin is a potent hormone. There is some concern that taking melatonin supplements might interfere with development in young adolescents. Milk Thistle- Diarrhea caused by mild laxative effect; uterine and menstrual stimulation. Nettle- capsules have been recalled due to lead contamination. Passion Flower- Dizziness, sedation, ataxia, allergic reaction, and impaired cognitive function Pennyroyal- Liver and kidney failure, nerve damage, abdominal tenderness, burning of the throat.. Potentially fatal convulsions, coma. Rhubarb-Chronic use: Abdominal cramps, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea leading to possible hypokalemia, anaphylaxis, renal and hepatic damage. Salvia divinorum (Diviner's sage) may result in loss of consciousness. Hallucination, nausea, dizziness, physical exhaustion, lung damage (when inhaled). Sassafras- has caused liver cancer in laboratory animals. Hot flashes, Profuse perspiration. At high doses or with cronic use, sassafras can cause hallucinations, high blood pressure, fast heart rate, liver cancer and death. Scullcap (Scutellaria lateriflora): Abnormal liver function or damage. Senna- Severe gastric irritation, diarrhea Stevia- Pregnant women should not consume this herb. Can cause nausea, stomach fullness. St. John's wort- Gastrointestinal disturbances, allergic reactions, fatigue, dizziness, confusion, dry mouth, photosensitivity. Valerian is safe for most people when used short-term, but can cause some side effects such as headache, excitability, uneasiness, and even insomnia in some people. Severe withdrawal symptoms. The long-term safety of valerian is unknown. White Willow, an herb traditionally used for fever, headache, pain, and rheumatic complaints may lead to gastrointestinal irritation, if used for a long time. It exhibits similar reactions as aspirin (aspirin is derived from white willow). Long term use may lead to stomach ulcers. Yerba Mate- Insomnia, anxiety, tremor, restlessness, agitation, nausea and vomiting, palpitations and headache. Yohimbe (Pausinystalia yohimbe)- Change in blood pressure, heart arrythmias, respiratory depression, heart attack; deaths reported.
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