Postgrad Med. 1998 Jul; 104(1): 91-5, 99-100.

The dangers of using herbs. What your patients need to know.

Borins M.

Department of Family and Community Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Ontario, Canada. mel_borins@magic.ca

Herbal remedies are becoming increasingly popular among patients as treatment for such varied medical problems as arthritis, depression, diabetes, menstrual irregularity, and pulmonary conditions. However, there are many negative effects of herbal preparations. Dr Borins discusses the potential side effects of various herbs and the lack of standardization and control that can contribute to contamination and toxicity of herbal products.