Safety Guidelines for Herbs

NOTE: Pictures shown on this page are of potentially dangerous plants!

Agar agar should be ingested only with adequate liquid. Not for use by persons with bowel obstruction.

Agnus castus is not to be used during pregnancy.

Alfalfa products not recommended for use by persons taking blood thinning agents.

Aloe should not be used if you have or develop diarrhea, loose stools or abdominal pain. if you are pregnant, nursing, taking medication or have a medical condition, consult your physician before using this product. (NOTE that this refers to aloe products which do not have the laxative components removed. Juices such as George's have the laxative components removed and can be used in large amounts as desired. Aloe capsules are usually sold as laxatives and are extracts of the bitter, laxative components and can cause cramping and diarrhea with even small amounts.)

Angelica is not to be used during pregnancy or by persons taking blood thinning agents. Avoid prolonged exposure to sunlight.

Arnica is for external use only. May cause allergic dermatitis with extended use or in sensitive persons.

Arthritis Tea (Devils Claw) is not recommended for use by persons with ulcers.

Ashwangandha is not to be used during pregnancy.

Barberry is not to be used during pregnancy.

Black Cohosh is not to be used during pregnancy or while nursing.

Black Walnut is not recommended for long term use.

Bladderwrack is not to be used during pregnancy or while nursing, or by persons with hyperthyroidism.

Blessed Thistle is not to be used during pregnancy.

Blood Root is not to be used during pregnancy.

Blue Cohosh is not to be used during pregnancy.

Boldo is not to be used by persons with gallstones, serious liver conditions or obstruction of the bile duct.

Borage is not recommended for long term use. Not to be used during pregnancy or while nursing.

Broom is not for use by persons taking MAO inhibitors or with high blood pressure.

Buckthorn should not be used if you have or develop diarrhea, loose stools or abdominal pain. Consult your physician. If you are pregnant, nursing, taking medication or have a medical condition, consult you physician before using this product.

Calamus is not recommended for internal use.

Canada Snakeroot should be used with caution. Avoid excessive or long term use. Not to be used during pregnancy.

Cascara should not be used if you have or develop diarrhea, loose stools, or abdominal pain. Consult your physician if you have frequent diarrhea. If you are pregnant, nursing, taking medication or have a medical condition, consult your physician before using this product.

Catnip is not to be used during pregnancy.

Chapparal is not for use in large amounts by persons with pre-existing kidney disease and liver conditions, such as hepatitis and cirrhosis.

Coltsfoot should be used with caution. Avoid excessive or long term use. Not to be used during pregnancy or while nursing.

Comfrey is for external use only. This herb should not be used on abraded skin and should not be used on unbroken skin for prolonged periods. Not to be used during pregnancy.

Coptis is not to be used during pregnancy.

Cornflowers are not to be used during pregnancy.

Cramp bark is not recommended for use by persons with ulcers.

Culvers Root is not to be used during pregnancy.

Dong quai is not to be used during pregnancy or by persons taking blood thinning agents.

Dyers broom is not to be used during pregnancy.

Elecampane is not to be used during pregnancy or while nursing.

Eucalyptus is not to be used by persons with inflammatory diseases of the gastrointestinal and bile ducts and severe diseases of the liver.

Euphorbia Herb may cause nausea and vomiting.

Gentian is not to be used by persons with ulcers or when stomach irritation or inflamation is present.

Goldenrod: Persons with chronic kidney disorder should consult a health care practitioner before use.

Goldenseal should be used with caution. Avoid excessive or long term use. Not to be used during pregnancy.

Guar should only be ingested with adequate liquid. Not for use by persons with bowel obstruction.

Helonious Root is not to be used during pregnancy.

Hemlock Bark is not to be used during pregnancy.

Hops are not recommended for use by persons suffering from depression.

Horehound is not to be used during pregnancy.

Hydrangea should be used with caution. Avoid excessive or long term use.

Juniper Berries are not to be used for more than six weeks in succession. Persons with inflamatory kidney disease should not use this herb. Not to be used during pregnancy.

Lemon grass is not to be used during pregnancy.

Licorice is not for prolonged use except under the supervision of a qualified health practitioner. Prolonged use may cause hypertension, edema, headache, vertigo and potassium depletion. Not for use by persons with hypertension, hypokalemia, edema, cirrhosis of the liver and cholestaatic liver disorders, and diabetes. Not to be used during pregnancy.

Lobelia may cause nausea and vomiting if ingested. Not to be used during pregnancy.

Lovage is not recommended for use by persons taking blood thinning agents. This product may cause a skin rash. Discontinue use if a rash occurs.

Lycii berries are not to be used during pregnancy.

Mace in large quantities may cause dizziness, stomach pains, rapid pulse, nausea, anxiety, liver pain, double vision and coma.

Maidenhair fern is not to be used during pregnancy. Large doses may act as an emetic.

Mandrake is to be used only under the supervision of an expert qualified in the appropriate use of this substance.

Milkweed is not to be used during pregnancy. Large doses may act as an emetic.

Mistletoe is not for use by persons with protein hypersensitivity and chronic-progressive infections such as tuberculosis and AIDS.

Motherwort is not to be used during pregnancy.

Mulberry twig slices are not recommended for use by persons taking blood thinning agents.

Mugwort is not to be used during pregnancy.

Myrrh in not to be used during pregnancy.

Nutmeg in large amounts may cause dizziness, stomach pains, rapid pulse, nausea, anxiety, liver pain, double vision and coma.

Oregon grape root is not to be used during pregnancy.

Parsley root is not to be used during pregnancy or by persons with inflamatory kidney disease.

Peach bark and leaf is not to be used during pregnancy.

Pennyroyal is not to be used during pregnancy.

Periwinkle is not for use by persons with low blood pressure or hypotension.

Pleurisy is not to be used during pregnancy.

Poke root is to be used only under the supervision of an expert qualified in the appropriate use of this substance.

Prickly ash bark is not to be used during pregnancy.

Psyllium should only be ingested with adequate liquid. Not for use by persons with bowel obstruction.

Quassia is not to be used during pregnancy.

Queen of the Meadow should be used with caution. Not to be used during pregnancy or while nursing.

Red Clover is not to be used during pregnancy or by persons taking blood thinning agents.

Red Yeast Rice should not be used if you are at risk of liver disease or have any history of liver disease. Do not use if pregnant or nursing.

Rehmannia Root is not for use by persons with diarrhea and indigestion.

Rhubarb Root should not be used if you have or develop diarrhea, loose stools or abdominal pain. Consult your physician if you have frequent diarrhea. If you are pregnant, nursing, taking medication or have a medical condition, consult your physician before using this product.

Rue is not to be used during pregnancy or by persons taking blood thinning agents.

Safflower is not to be used during pregnancy or by persons with hemorrhagic diseases or peptic ulcers. Ingestion of this herb may prolong blood coagulation time.

Sarsaparilla Root, Indian is not recommended for use by persons taking blood thinning agents.

Sassafrass Root should be used with caution. Avoid excessive or long term use.

Scarlet pimpernel is to be used only under the supervision of an expert qualified in the appropriate use of this substance.

Senega snake root is not for use by persons with gastritis or ulcers.

Senna should not be used if you have diarrhea, loose stools or abdominal pain. Consult your physician if you have frequent diarrhea. If you are pregnant, nursing, taking medication or have a medical condition, consult your physician before using this product.

Sheep sorrel is not recommended for use by persons with a history of kidney stones.

Shepards purse is not to be used during pregnancy or by persons with a history of kidney stones.

Stevia is only for use as a dietary supplement.

Stillingia Root is not to be used during pregnancy or while nursing.

Tansy is not to be used during pregnancy.

Tonka beans are only for use as an aromatic fixitive in potpourris or other crafts. Not for internal use.

Uva Ursi Leaf is not to be used during pregnancy, contraindicated in kidney disorders, not for prolonged use without consulting a practitioner.

Tree Peony is not to be used during pregnancy.

Blue Vervain is not to be used during pregnancy.

Vervain is only to be used as a flavoring agent in alcoholic beverages.

Vetiver is not to be used during pregnancy.

White oak bark should not be applied to extensively damaged skin.

White Pine Bark is only to be used as a flavoring agent in alcoholic beverages.

Wild Cherry Bark should be used with caution. Avoid excessive or long term use.

Woodruff is not recommended for use by persons taking blood thinning agents.

Wormwood should be used with caution. Avoid excessive or long term use. Not to be used during pregnancy.

Wormwood combination blend should be used with caution. Avoid excessive or long term use. Not to be used during pregnancy.

Yarrow is not to be used during pregnancy.

Yellow dock root is not recommended for use by persons with a history of kidney stones.

Yohimbe bark is contraindicated in existing liver and kidney diseases and in chronic inflammation of the sexual organs or prostate gland. Not recommended for excessive or long term use; may potentiate pharmaceutical MAO-inhibitors.