Name

Reported Adverse Reactions

Belladonna

This herb has been known to cause dilated pupils, blushing of the skin, dry mouth, rapid heart beat, confusion, nervousness, and hallucinations. High doses can cause death. Belladonna may also slow movement of food and medication through the stomach and therefore some medication may be absorbed more slowly.

Bitter orange (Citrus aurantium, green orange, kijitsu, Seville orange, zhi oiao, zhi xhi)

High blood pressure; increased risk of heart arrhythmias, heart attack, and stroke similar to Ephedrine.

Black Cohosh

Numerous cases of liver toxicity worldwide.

Chaparral (Larrea divaricata, creosote bush, greasewood).

Abnormal liver function or damage, often irreversible; deaths reported.

Comfrey (Symphytum officinale, ass ear, black root, blackwort, bruisewort, consolidae radix, consound, gum plant, healing herb, knitback, knitbone, salsify, slippery root, symphytum radix, wallwort)

Abnormal liver function or damage, often irreversible; deaths reported.

Coral Calcium

Primarily a fraudulently promoted product but has also been known to contain a significant amount of heavy metals, including lead. Adverse reactions include shortness of breath, hives and swelling, especially with regard to individuals who are allergic to shellfish.

Country Mallo (Heartleaf)

This chemical contains Ephedra which is known to cause high blood pressure, heart related irregularities, heart attack, seizures, stroke and psychosis.

Ephedra (sida cordifolia, ma huang, epitonin)

Contains sypathomemetic chemicals that can cause death, irregular heart rate, cardiac arrest, myocardial infraction, stroke, seizure and psychosis

Germander (Teucrium chamaedrys, wall germander, wild germander)

Abnormal liver function or damage, often irreversible; deaths reported.

Jin bu huan

Life threatening arrhythmia where rapid onset of central nervous system and respiratory development in three unrelated children in Colorado during a 1993 investigation of jin bu huan tablets

Kava (Piper ethysticum, ava, awa, gea, gi, intoxicating pepper, long pepper, malohu, maluk).

Abnormal liver function or damage, occasionally irreversible; deaths reported.

Lobelia (Lobelia inflata, asthma weed, bladderpod)

Breathing difficulty, rapid heartbeat, low blood pressure, diarrhea, dizziness, tremors; possible deaths reported

Pennyroyal oil (Hedeoma pulegi-oides mosquito plant, pudding grass).

Liver and kidney failure, nerve damage, convulsions, abdominal tenderness, burning of the throat; deaths reported.

Scullcap (Scutellaria lateriflora, blue pimpernel, helmet flower, hoodwort).

Abnormal liver function or damage.

Yohimbe

Change in blood pressure, heart arrhythmias, respiratory depression, heart attack; deaths reported.