Herbal Remedies - The Risks

My Weekly’s favourite GP from TV and radio writes for you

- Dr Sarah Jarvis

Lots of my patients are loath to take medication, yet will swallow herbal supplements with gay abandon. They assume that because they’re “natural” they must be side-effect free. But aspirin, the heart drug digoxin, and cancer chemotherapy drugs are derived from plants!

If you want to take herbal supplements, always read the label, and always, always check with your pharmacist if you’re taking prescribed medicines.

Where drugs are concerned, there’s no such thing as a “free lunch”. Pretty much all medicines have a range of side effects, and herbal remedies are no exception. So many patients don’t think to mention to their doctor or pharmacist that they’re taking a herbal supplement because they assume they don’t count.

They do! And the potential is even greater if you mix them with prescribed medicines.