Medicinal herbs that can be dangerous - turmeric, St. John's wort, green tea extract & kava - side effects & what you should definitely pay attention to

Medicinal herbs that can be dangerous - turmeric, St. John's wort, green tea extract & kava - side effects & what you should definitely pay attention to

Natural herbs can be just as effective as OTC medications, but that doesn't mean they're without risks. Here you can find out which medicinal herbs could do more harm than good.

Many complaints – such as sore muscles, a weak immune system, lack of sleep and anxiety – can be alleviated with natural remedies. More than one-third of American adults use some form of complementary and alternative medicine (most commonly natural supplements), according to the National Institute of Health. While herbal remedies have become increasingly popular in the Western world for some time, native cultures have been using natural remedies for centuries. Modern herbs continue to be generally safe, but we may not harvest or consume them like our ancestors did, which is where things start to get dangerous. ((link removed))

The plant strains that are bred, the harvesting method, and the dosage in which they are taken are not necessarily the same as when the plants were first used medicinally, explains Michael Tims, Ph.D. , academic director of the herbal program at the Maryland University of Integrative Health. Because the FDA classifies herbs as “dietary supplements,” it only assumes responsibility for regulating the safety of each ingredient. This means that adulterated formulas are not necessarily monitored as closely as traditional prescription medications. (Source)

“Herbs need a proven safety record for the FDA to approve their use,” explains Tims. For traditional herbs, their use over thousands of years as an epidemiological pathway is enough to earn them the FDA's GRAS ("generally recognized as safe") designation or recognition as "herbs in commerce" under the Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act. New dietary ingredients require a much more robust presentation of data to prove their safety, he adds. While the FDA oversees the safety of individual ingredients, most of the responsibility for safety and compliance lies with the manufacturer.

The bigger problem: Some herbs interact with prescription and OTC medications, something indigenous cultures have never had to worry about, Tims says. While herbs can significantly improve your health, certain combinations can have harmful effects. For example, researchers at the Baylor College of Medicine recently found that around 5 percent of people who take a supplement of the herbal aristolochia, traditionally used to increase sex drive, boost immune function and support menstruation, experience side effects as serious as cancer of the kidneys, liver and bladder. It is the responsibility of dietary supplement manufacturers to report these side effects to the FDA so that they can reconsider their position. ((link removed))

Fortunately, the FDA has banned all products that may contain the harmful Aristolochia herb, as well as other plants that have been shown to be toxic. But the Baylor study authors warn that herbal remedies pose a global health risk, and in fact, there are still a handful of natural treatments in the U.S. that can be harmful. Here are four of the biggest threats to watch out for.

1. Medicinal herb: Kava

Kava effect & application

This herb is sometimes referred to as the “rush pepper” and has been used by Polynesians for centuries for its hypnotic and sedative properties. The Western world recognized the herb's ability to relieve stress, anxiety and insomnia in the 1990s. A 2007 in American Family Physician  published study recommended short-term use of kava for moderate anxiety disorders. (Source)

Kava side effects

As the herb's popularity (often taken as a drink) increased, reports of liver damage also increased — enough that Canada and a handful of European countries banned the supplement in the early 2000s. The US never did this, and some countries such as Germany have since lifted the ban.

What makes kava dangerous?

“The problem is not necessarily the herb itself, but how it is used and how it deviates from tradition,” says Tims. Breeders and producers began using black kava, which was easier to harvest than the traditional white variety. They started using shavings and plant parts that had not been used before. and they began extracting it in a non-traditional way that focused less on water-soluble lipids and changed the way our bodies absorb the herb. Additionally, the plant was absorbed at such a rate that, when combined with other factors such as drugs and excessive alcohol consumption, it tore apart people's livers.

2. Medicinal herb: green tea extract

Green tea extract effect & application

Green tea is one of the best herbs for your health. For the most part, the antioxidants in the drink help reduce the risk of heart disease, obesity, diabetes and cancer, among other things. And the popularity of green tea extract in weight loss supplements has skyrocketed in recent years. ((Link removed), (Link removed))

Green tea extract side effects

The American College of Gastroenterology released a warning in 2014 saying the herb can be toxic and can actually cause liver failure if the supplement form is taken in high doses. The herb can also be dangerous when combined with certain medications such as amphetamines or prescribed medications such as MAOI antidepressants and quinolone antibiotics, which interact with the natural caffeine in the extract to overstimulate your body and increase high blood pressure, nervousness and headaches. (Source)

What makes green tea extract dangerous?

It's hard to know because while the potential problems with green tea have been reported, most have not been verified.  “There are natural differences in tea – whether it was harvested during the monsoon season, for example – as well as differences in the way it is extracted,” says Tims. The problem could also be caused by excessive caffeine (the tea already contains some, but weight loss supplements often do more to boost metabolism) or an overload of EGCG and other catechins, which give the herb its detoxifying power.

3. Medicinal herb: St. John's wort

St. John's wort effect & application

St. John's wort is a highly effective natural antidepressant. Its chemical composition promotes the absorption of important neurochemicals such as serotonin, dopamine and norepinephrine.

St. John's wort side effects

The happiness-inducing herb is also known to reduce the effectiveness of certain prescription medications. According to a 2012 in Planta Medica According to a published study, more than 70 percent of all prescription medications are affected by St. John's wort in one way or another. An Australian study last year also found that St. John's wort can sometimes cause side effects similar to those experienced by people taking Prozac, namely anxiety, panic attacks, dizziness, nausea and spikes in blood pressure. ((link removed), source 2)

What makes St. John's wort dangerous?

St. John's wort binds to enzymes in the liver, some of which are the same enzymes that other medications bind to. This crossover changes the chemical structure of the second drug, creating the potential for you to reach a toxic dose very quickly or, conversely, never reach an effective level, explains Tims. The most common problem: The plant makes contraception less effective. Women taking both St. John's wort and oral contraception are reporting an increase in irregular bleeding and, more alarmingly, an increase in unplanned pregnancies. ((Link removed), (Link removed))

4. Medicinal herb: Turmeric (turmeric)

Turmeric effect & application

The extraction of this root is done both for its anti-inflammatory properties to relieve problems such as constipation and for its antimicrobial properties to prevent cold and upper respiratory tract infections. If you think you've never taken it, check your natural allergy medication - goldenseal is often formulated with echinacea.

Turmeric (turmeric) side effects

While the herb is great at fighting infections, it also reduces the activity of two main enzymes that help your body remove toxins and medications, CYP3A4 and CYP2D6, according to the aforementioned study by Planta Medica . Additionally, the Cleveland Clinic warns that goldenseal can affect blood pressure and increase the risk of bleeding if you take blood-thinning medications like warfarin. ((Link removed), (Link removed))

What makes turmeric dangerous?

The herb can affect how quickly your body processes and removes active ingredients from medications and other herbs. A 2008 in Molecular Nutrition & Food Research published study found that this agent affects these enzymes so strongly that researchers recommend people limit themselves to prescription drugs that are metabolized by CYP2D6, such as serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), beta-blockers, opiates and antiarrhythmics. ((link removed))