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Herb and Spices Uses, Claims, and Risks
One has to remember even though herbs are natural that doesn't always necessarily prove their safety any more than laying in a bed of poison ivy would benefit your skin. Herbal supplements are not regulated by the FDA. Having said that though there are a lot of herbs that are generally considered safe, and may have great health benefits. It pays to do lots of research, and talk to your doctor about any herbal supplements you might be considering taking. Below are just some well known herbs with their uses, claims, and possible risks.
| Herbs | Claims and Uses | Risks |
| Aloe (gel) | promotes wound healing | generally considered safe |
| Black cohosh | ease menopause symptoms | may cause clotting in blood vessels of the eye change the curvature of the cornea |
| Chamomile (flowers) | relieve indigestion | generally considered safe |
| Chaparral (leaves and twigs) | slow aging, cleanse blood, heal wounds, cure cancer, treat acne | acute, toxic hepatitis; liver damage |
| Comfrey (leafy plant) | soothes nerves | liver damage |
| Cumin | enhance memory and relieve stress | |
| Echinacea (roots) | alleviate symptoms of colds, flus, and infections; promote wound healing; boost immunity | generally considered safe; may cause headache, dizziness, nausea |
| Ephedra | promote weight loss | rapid heart rate, tremors, seizures, insomnia, headaches, hypertension |
| Feverfew | prevent migraine headaches | generally considered safe; may cause mouth irritation, swelling, ulcers, and GI distress |
| Garlic (bulbs) | lower blood lipids and blood pressure, testosterone booster | generally considered safe, may cause garlic breath, body odor, gas, and GI distress; inhibits blood clotting |
| Ginger | prevent motion sickness nausea | generally considered safe |
| Ginkgo (tree leaves) | improve memory, relieve vertigo | generally considered safe, may cause headache, GI distress, dizziness; may inhibit blood clotting |
| Ginseng (roots) | boost immunity, increase endurance | generally considered safe; may cause insomnia and high blood pressure |
| Goldenseal (roots) | relieve indigestion, treat urinary infections | generally considered safe, not safe for people with hypertension or heart disease |
| Kava | relieves anxiety, promotes relaxation | liver failure |
| Saw Palmetto | relieves symptoms of enlarged prostate; diuretic; enhance sexual vigor | generally considered safe, may cause nausea, vomiting, diarrhea |
| St. John's wort (leaves and tops) | relieve depression and anxiety | generally considered safe; may cause fatigue and GI distress |
| Valerian (roots) | calm nerves, improve sleep | long term use associated with liver damage |
| Yohimbe (tree bark) | enhance male performance | kidney failure, seizures |
Possible Herb Drug Interactions
Some herbs and their possible interactions with drugs. As always it is recommended that a person talk to their doctor about any herbal supplement and do research as much as possible.
| Herb | Drug | Interaction |
| American ginseng | estrogens, corticosteroids | enhance hormonal response |
| American ginseng | breast cancer therapeutic agent | synergistically inhibits cancer cell growth |
| American ginseng, karela | blood glucose regulators | affect blood glucose |
| Echinacea (possible immunostimulant ) | cyclosporine and corticosteroids (immunosuppressants) | may reduce drug effectiveness |
| Evening primrose oil, borage | anticonvulsants | lower seizure threshold |
| Feverfew | aspirin, ibuprofen, and other nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs | Negates the effect of the herb in treating migraine headaches |
| Feverfew, garlic, ginkgo, ginger, and Asian ginseng | warfarin, coumarin (anticlotting drugs, blood thinners) | Prolong bleeding time; increase likelihood of hemorrhage |
| Garlic | protease inhibitor (HIV drug) | may reduce drug effectiveness |
| Kava, valerian | anesthetics | may enhance drug action |
| Kelp (iodine source) | synthroid or other thyroid hormone replacers | interferes with drug action |
| Kyushin, licorice, plantain, uzara root, hawthorn, Asian ginseng | digoxin (cardiac antiarrhythmic drug derived from the herb foxglove) | interfere with drug action and monitoring |
| St. John's wort, saw palmetto, black tea | Iron | tannins in herbs inhibit iron absorption |
| St. John's wort | protease inhibitor (HIV drugs, warfarin (anticlotting drug), digoxin (cardiac antiarrhytmic drug) oral contraceptives, tamoxifen (breast cancer drug) | may enhance or reduce drug effectiveness |
| Valerian | barbituates | causes excessive sedation |
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