Adverse effects of herbal medicines
Start with the big picture
Herbal products may vary in phytochemical content and potency, making their effects difficult to predict. Toxicity can arise from intrinsic plant compounds, adulteration or contamination, substitution with a different species, and drug–herb interactions. The topic surveys hepatic, renal, cardiovascular, neurological, hematologic, and endocrine effects, alongside hypersensitivity, photosensitivity, and potential carcinogenicity. Examples include liver injury associated with certain herbs, bleeding risk when some products potentiate anticoagulants, and cardiovascular effects linked to sympathomimetic or aconitine-containing plants. The lesson also places these risks in the broader context of composition and quality control, mechanisms of toxicity, special populations, and surveillance, reporting, and regulation.
What you'll learn
- Explain how variable composition and poor quality control can contribute to herbal toxicity.
- Recognize major organ systems affected by herbal medicines and representative clinical effects.
- Identify contamination, adulteration, and misidentification as sources of toxic events.
- Describe how herbal products may interact with conventional medicines.
- Outline the role of surveillance and reporting in herbal pharmacovigilance.
Continue your study
Work through the complete notes and reinforce the topic with the study tools available in the full lesson.
