More often than not when one thinks of an herb or herbal remedy of some sort it has the thought of being something that would be safe to take no matter what.

This is just not the case. Even water in excessive amounts can be poisonous and harmful or even deadly to the body. Knowing what type of herbs you have and any side effects is critical.

An article entitled Beware! Herbal remedies don’t guarantee safety by The Times of India points out. This commentary comes from a study published in the EMBO Journal. In this they discuss the plant aristolochia which has been shown to cause aristolic acid nephropathy (AAN). This can then lead to interstitial nephritis, renal failure and even cancer of the urinary tract.

Yes, that is right, a simple herb can lead to all of these problems. The article also does note that the renal problems occurred in those who were genetically susceptible. This means that it is not necessarily a bad herb to take, but it might not be the right herb for you. Be sure to do your homework before you dive into any aristolochia or herbal blends that may contain it.

It is interesting that this is an herb that has been around and used for 2000+ years by the Egyptians, Romans, Greeks and even by Traditional Chinese Medicine today. However, it has not been classified as an adaptogen. This is important to note since part of the definition of an adaptogenic herb is that it must be non-toxic or not harmful in any way to the body. Because of this they will be generally safe herbs to use on a daily basis for prolonged periods of time.

This is not the first herb to go under such scrutiny and certainly will not be the last. It could have been that there were a lot of people that did not follow the proper directions of the herb and either took too much or for too long of a prolonged period of time. Either way, you must keep doing your homework, seeing how something feels for you and consulting a doctor or other practitioner prior to taking an herb or health food that you are not sure about.

Do not let an article or publication like this stop you from trying new health foods. You might miss the one that really changes your life.

Have a Great Day!

Nick Horowski