Can taking too many herbal medicines have a bad effect on my body?

Question

I have a selection of 23 herbal remedies. if i take the recommended dose of each one, will that mess up my body and cause me problems? The herbal remedies are things like ginseng, ginkgo, saw palmetto, damiana etc.

Answer 1

if its herbal it should have no negative effects. Just make sure it's 100% natural. Most herbal medicines are combined with drugs that can in the long run be bad for your health. But if its all natural your body will take what it needs and dispose of the rest.

Answer 2

Unfortunately, yes.

For example, when I take Una de Gato (Cat's Claw) and Graviola together, I get really bad aches in my lower back. But, when I take them a couple of hours apart, it doesn't affect me at all.

Here's a good website that discusses many possible interactions between herbs, prescription drugs, and foods, along with some common side effects of herbal remedies.
http://www.holisticonline.com/Herbal-Med/hol_herb_med_reac.htm

Don't get me wrong, I eat herbal supplements like they're candy... I've just started to realize that there are some it's not good to take together.

But, don't forget, everyone is different. Some herbs effect people adversely, while others don't. (I have a lot of trouble with Valerian root, for example, it makes me really edgy.)

If you'd like a more professional opinion on this, a Western doctor wouldn't necessarily be my first choice. While their word is considered law by most people, I've found the majority of them dismiss herbal remedies as quackery, and there's nothing more degrading than walking out of a doctor's office after having been told to throw away all of your herbal supplements because they're worthless. (For the record, I've also been told by a doctor that information on the Internet is worthless, and that Googling symptoms instead of running straight to the doctor is akin to blasphemy). I don't go to the doctor anymore.


My honest advice is that if you want a true medical opinion on this matter, you should seek a naturopathic physician. They've had quite a bit of schooling on herbal remedies, and are a lot likely to dismiss them as bogus. They'll be able to tell you both the positive and negative side, and offer you advice on dosage frequency and interactions. If you don't know of a naturopathic physician in your area, a Google search of "naturopathic physician" + "(your state)" will typically bring up a directory.

If you don't want to go that route, let me ask you this: where do you buy your supplements? If it's at Wal-Mart or a drugstore like CVS, they won't likely be a lot of help, but if you actually buy them from an herb shop, it's likely that you'll be able to find someone certified in herbology behind the counter. They'll normally talk with you for free, and may even be able to provide you some literature on what you're taking.

Best of luck!

Answer 3

You need a good herbal reference book. Some herbs react violently with others. Some herbs are poison. Some herbs will make you vomit, some will make you pass out. You need to do some reading first. This is your body. Don't put something in it without knowing what it will do to you. If you don't want to read than I have no advice for you. Go to the health food store and ask for a good herbal book.

Answer 4

It could have a bad effect on your body. Many herbs interact with each other in a negative way, and they can also interact badly with medications. Some people cannot take herbs at all because of the bad side effects. It is wise to be very careful about what herbs you take. Don't just take them because someone says it is good for you. You need to learn all you can about an herb before you start taking it.

Answer 5

depends what the herbs are. a lot dont do anything at all so theyre fine. the herbs that are effective though in all reality arent mcuh different than conventional drugs. id decide which ones you really need and cut back if i were you...

contrary to popular opinion here, it doesnt matter if something is natural or synthetic, what matters is how it interacts with your body. natural does not neccesarily = good for you and synthetic does not neccesarily = bad for you. you CAN have adverse effects from medicinally active herbs

Answer 6

Yes, buy a book and make sure you understand herbal medicine and natural healing. I have found the books and tapes (both availabe free at a library) by Andrew Weil, MD. to be best. He goes into much detail in the book Spontaneous Healing. Here is his web site if you are interested in learning more. http://www.drweil.com/drw/ecs/index.html

Answer 7

yes this can be bad for you! you would have to tell us the exact herbal medications you are on and the prescribed drugs you also take... and also medical conditions you suffer from... all these factor in to whether or not the herb you are taking is safe... for example if you are on a blood thinner such as coumadin (warfarin) and take st. john's wort, you can cause the coumadin not to work, and cause DVT or deep vein thrombosis formation (a blood clot) this clot can break free and flow to your heart and KILL YOU!! this is just one of many examples i can give you of drug-herb interactions.... for herb-medical condition interaction....take st john's wort again.... a pt suffering from depression and especially those on SSRIs (selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitors) such as Zoloft, Prozac, paxil, lexapro, celexa, & luvox... can develop a fatal syndrome known as seritonin syndrome, where seritionin builds up on the brain.... st john's wort is not the only herb that can do this.. EVERY herb has its side effects, and where you are taking several you have to worry about herb-to-herb interactions that may harm you

i hope this helps.... talk to your pharmacist he should be able to explain exactly what can happen.... him knowing what all medications you take

also if you are a person that likes alternative medicine better than traditional medicine... you should look for an DO not a MD... MD is medical doctor... DO is doctor of osteopathic medicine (they specialize in alternative forms of medicine... such as herbs) DOs are very popular in the northern areas of the US... for example In Erie, Pa you have to hunt for a Doctor that is an MD not a DO!!!

good luck!

Answer 8

Herbal medications do have toxicity levels. If you also take medical medicines be sure to check with your doctor about items that may interfere with those medicines. Some may dangerously interact. Be honest with your medical doctor about which herbs and amounts you take.

Answer 9

Taking too much of anything will have a bad effect on your body especially concentrated herbs.
Taking too much water or a large handful of salt will kill you in about 1 -2 hours.

Answer 10

no.just see to it that it is natural n safe.usually no negative effects are there in herbs.consult ur doctor 4 dis.