Examples of popular herbal medicines* and associated risks
| Common name | Latin name | Indication | Adverse effects | Potential interactions with |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| *All examples are of well documented efficacy (data extracted from Ernst et al3). | ||||
| Garlic | Allium sativum | Raised blood cholesterol | Allergic reactions, nausea, heartburn | Anticoagulants, antidiabetics |
| Hawthorn | Crataegus spp | Heart failure | Nausea, dizziness, fatigue | Cardiac glycosides, antihypertensives, nitrates |
| Horse chestnut | Aesculus hippocastanum | Varicose veins | Pruritus, nausea, gastrointestinal symptoms | Anticoagulants |
| Kava | Piper methysticum Forster | Anxiety | Liver damage | Drugs acting on CNS |
| Maidenhair tree | Ginkgo biloba | Dementia, peripheral vascular disease | Gastrointestinal symptoms, diarrhoea, vomiting, allergic reactions | Anticoagulants |
| Saw palmetto | Serenoa repens Bartram | Benign prostate hyperplasia | Gastrointestinal complaints, dysuria, decreased libido | Hormonal drugs |
| St John’s wort | Hypericum perforatum | Mild/moderate depression | Gastrointestinal symptoms, allergic reactions, fatigue | All drugs metabolised by cytochrome P450 enzyme system |