Herbalism: A Safety Guide

Herbalism, along with other complementary therapies, is a popular interest among Pagans and Wiccans. But it's important to remember that if you take an interest in herbalism there are a few issues you have to consider to protect your own safety. This article looks at how to stay safe when using herbal remedies.

The biggest and most dangerous misconception about herbalism is that because they are “natural” they are automatically safe, and have no risk of ill-effects. This is simply not true. Herbal remedies are drugs too. Just like prescribed medications they can have side effects, can interact with other drugs, and cause overdose. Despite the assumption that herbalism is “natural” and conventional medicine is “artificial”, there is no distinct qualitative difference between the substances used in herbalism and in pharmacology. In fact 25% of prescribed medications are derived from plant substances. Aspirin, for example, is derived from willow bark. Just because it comes from a plant doesn't mean aspirin won't kill you if you overdose on it. Diamorphine, otherwise known as heroin, is also a natural herbal extract.

Drug Interactions

One of the biggest risks in herbalism comes from interaction with other medications. If you are intending to take herbal remedies at the same time as prescribed medicines, then it is absolutely essential that you tell your GP or pharmacist what you are taking.

St John's Wort, a herb commonly used to treat depression, interacts with a number of prescribed medications, including antidepressants. If you take St Johns Wort at the same time as a conventional antidepressant, this can cause an unpleasant and potentially life-threatening condition called Serotonin Syndrome. This causes increased heart rate, shivering, sweating and dilated pupils in mild cases, and in severe cases can cause increased temperature and severely elevated heart rate and blood pressure, leading to shock and possible death. St Johns Wort also interacts with a wide range of other medications, including warfarin, digoxin, carbamazepine and phenytoin and many others. Oh, and it also reduces the effectiveness of oral contraceptives. Don't say I didn't warn you about that one.

Herbal remedies can also interact with illicit substances. Serotonin Syndrome can also be caused by taking LSD, cocaine or ecstasy at the same time as St Johns Wort. If you are taking a herbal remedy, do not take any illegal drugs.

Another possible hazard to watch out for when mixing prescribed and herbal medications is an effect referred to as “summation”. This is where you take two medications simultaneously for the same problem, and as a result you create an overdose. For example, if you're already taking a prescribed medicine to lower your blood pressure, then your doctor will have adjusted the dose to maintain your blood pressure at a normal level. If you then take a herbal remedy intended to lower blood pressure, then the pressure can drop to a dangerously low level. I really can't emphasise this enough: if you plan to take prescribed and herbal medications together, then your doctor or your pharmacist needs to know what you are taking.

Dosage and Quality

If you are using herbal remedies directly from the plant, it can be difficult to measure both the dose and the quality of what you are taking. Herbs that are sold as preparations in tablet form should have a standardised quantity of the active phytochemicals, and therefore are safer. However, some herbalists are philosophically opposed to the use of preparations, as they prefer to use the plant itself. Any herbal remedies obtained from a qualified medical herbalist will be from a reliable source. If you insist on growing or picking your own herbs, knowledge should be your safeguard. Find out as much as possible about the herb in question, including any potential risks or adverse effects.

Sources of Advice

Although herbal remedies are often sold in health food shops, do not rely on the advice of the people who work there. In a survey by Which? magazine, 21 researchers visited health food shops and asked for advice about herbal remedies. 5 of them were given incorrect or even dangerous advice. They are not doctors or pharmacists. They are shop workers.

Your main source of advice should be your GP or pharmacist. If you consult a medical herbalist, ensure that they are registered with the National Institute of Medical Herbalists.

Conclusions

When using herbal remedies, treat them as any other drug, and arm yourself with knowledge in order to protect yourself. Know what you're taking and what it can do to you. If you buy herbal remedies, ensure that you read the instructions carefully, just as you would with medications you get from the pharmacist. Be aware that some herbal remedies should be avoided during pregnancy.

Homeopathic remedies, due to their very diluted nature, do not usually have any side effects or drug interactions. However, the majority of randomised controlled trials into homeopathic medicines suggest that they have no clinical effect at all, other than as a placebo. My own opinion of homeopathy, based on both research and personal experience, is that it is simply a waste of money. Call me a narrow-minded bigot if you like, but if you will insist on taking homeopathic medicines, please do not rely on them to ensure your health.

I hope that you will use this guide to in order to gain the benefits of herbalism while avoiding the risks.

[Ed. – The website for the National Institute of Medical Herbalists is www.nimh.org.uk]

Phil Doré is in the final year of a BN (Hons) in mental health nursing. This article was inspired by incidents in his clinical practice where patients put themselves at risk with herbal remedies.