Herb Safety Guidelines

Safety guidelines per the Botanical Safety Handbook, available through the American Botanical Council. Always consult your physician before ingestion of any herb product if you are pregnant, nursing, taking medication or have a medical condition.

 

A

• Aloe - Not to be used if pregnant.
• Angelica - Not to be used if pregnant.
• Arnica - For external use only.
• Ashwagandha - Not to be used if pregnant.

B

• Barberry - Not to be used if pregnant.
• Bentonite clay - Use with at least 8 oz. of water.
• Black cohosh - Not to be used if pregnant.
• Black walnut - Not for long term use.
• Bladderwrack - Not to be used if pregnant.
• Blessed thistle - Not to be used if pregnant.
• Bloodroot - For external use only.
• Blue cohosh - Not to be used if pregnant.
• Blue vervain - Not to be used if pregnant.
• Boldo leaf - Consult health practitioner before use.
• Borage - Not to be used if pregnant.
• Buckthorn - Consult health practitioner before use.
• Bupleurum - Consult health practitioner before use.

C

• Calamus - For external use only.
• Cascara sagrada bark - Consult health practitioner before use.
• Catnip - Not to be used if pregnant.
• Chaparral - Consult health practitioner before use.
• Chaste tree - Not to be used if pregnant.
• Coltsfoot - Not to be used if pregnant.
• Comfrey - For external use only.
• Cramp bark - Consult health practitioner before use.

D

• Devil's claw root - Consult health practitioner before use.
• Dong quai- Not to be used if pregnant.
• Dulse - Consult health practitioner before use.

E

• Elecampane - Not to be used if pregnant.
• Eucalyptus - Consult health practitioner before use.

F

• Frankincense - For external use only.
• French green clay - For external use only.

G

• Gentian - Consult health practitioner before use.
• Glucosamine - Do not use if allergic to shellfish.
• Goldenrod - Consult health practitioner before use.
• Goldenseal - Not to be used if pregnant.
• Guar gum - Use with at least 8 oz. of water.

H

• Horehound - Not to be used if pregnant.
• Horny goat - Not for long term use.
• Hydrangea - Consult health practitioner before use.

J

• Juniper - Consult health practitioner before use.

K

• Kava - Consult health practitioner before use.
• Kola nut - Consult health practitioner before use.

L

• Lemongrass - Not to be used if pregnant.
• Licorice - Consult health practitioner before use.
• Lobelia- Consult health practitioner before use.
• Lycii - Not to be used if pregnant.

M

• Mandrake - Consult health practitioner before use.
• Mistletoe - Consult health practitioner before use.
• Motherwort - Not to be used if pregnant.
• Mugwort - Not to be used if pregnant.
• Myrrh - For external use only.

O

• Oregon grape - Not to be used if pregnant.
• Osha - For external use only.

P

• Parsley - Not to be used if pregnant.
• Peach - Not to be used if pregnant.
• Periwinkle - Consult health practitioner before use.
• Pennyroyal - Not to be used if pregnant.
• Pleurisy - Not to be used if pregnant.
• Poke root - Consult health practitioner before use.
• Prickly ash - Not to be used if pregnant.
• Psyllium - Use with at least 8 oz. of water.

Q

• Quassia - Not to be used if pregnant.
• Queen of the meadow - Consult health practitioner before use.

R

• Red clover - Not to be used if pregnant.
• Rhubarb - Consult health practitioner before use.

S

• Safflower - Consult health practitioner before use.
• Sarsaparilla - Consult health practitioner before use.
• Sassafras - For external use only.
• Senna - Consult health practitioner before use.
• Sheep sorrel - Consult health practitioner before use.
• Shepards purse - Not to be used if pregnant.
• Spikenard - Not to be used if pregnant.
• St Johns - Consult health practitioner before use.
• Star Anise- recommended for external use.

T

• Tansy - Not to be used if pregnant.

U

• Uva ursi - Not to be used if pregnant.

W

• Watercress - Consult health practitioner before use.
• White Oak - Consult health practitioner before use.
• Wild cherry - Consult health practitioner before use.
• Wormwood - Consult health practitioner before use.

Y

• Yarrow - Not to be used if pregnant.
• Yellowdock - Consult health practitioner before use.
• Yohimbe - Consult health practitioner before use.