Safety
“In the end we will conserve only what we love.
We will love only what we understand.
We will understand only what we are taught.”
Baba Dioum
Do you know your herbs, their traditional actions and benefits? Do you know how safe they are and how to use them? Our expert insights articles take a look at safety issues facing herbalism.
Beyond Pills campaign: A call for herbal activism?
In an effort to reduce unnecessary prescriptions and promote selfcare, herbal medicine has much...
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Supporting doctors: How herbs can help reduce antibiotic overprescribing
The overuse of antibiotics leads to antibiotic resistance and higher risk of major health...
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The quiet ecocide of pharmaceutical pollution
We may be familiar with the impact of plastic, agrochemical, and human waste, but...
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Threats to ashwagandha safety: How do we respond to new reports of liver damage?
Evidence suggests that one of our most widely prescribed herbs, ashwagandha, poses a risk...
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A guide for herb-drug interactions
Herbalists and doctors alike have a responsibility to provide information on potential interactions and...
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The impact of pesticides on the gut microbiome: A closer look at health risks
Pesticides are heavily used in modern life, but what effect do they have on...
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The Register of Chinese herbal medicine’s response to media backlash against herbs
Herbal medicine often faces negative press, from ill-informed sources. The Register of Chinese Herbal...
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Give herbs a chance
There is a rise in complex chronic conditions. We explore how and why herbal...
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Should I self treat at home or consult a herbalist?
Herbal self-care is a life skill we believe everyone should have. However sometimes seeing...
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A guide to safe and sustainable foraging
Foraging has boomed in popularity in recent years as people seek to connect with...
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Herbal quality and safety: What to know before you buy
We explore what to look out for when buying good and safe herbal products.
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Toward a sustainable future for frankincense: An ancient medicine in a modern world
Dr. Anjanette DeCarlo and Stephen Johnson explore the many changes the sustainable trade in...
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A brief history of herbal quality assessment: From ancient Rome to 21st century mitochondria
Quality control has been an issue for as long as humans have used herbs...
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Kava: Mythical origins and epic coevolution
Origin Myths from various cultures and religions are fascinating examples of oral tradition. Bill...
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Botanical drugs and supplements that may be safe and useful in COVID-19
Mark Blumenthal explores the misapprehensions surrounding the safety and efficacy of herbal ingredients to...
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Traditional herbal medicine, pharmacognosy, and pharmacopoeial standards: A discussion at the crossroads
Despite the development of modern medicines in the past few hundred years, herbal medicine...
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Ephedra: ma huang or ephedrine? A lesson for herbal practitioners
Ephedra is a valuable herb. It is however banned in the USA. We take...
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Are herbs safe?
In this review we understand that herbs are not a public hazard, and that...
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Getting the dose right
Getting the dosage right is key to a successful treatment. Here we will look...
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The birth of nutraceuticals
Find out how nutraceuticals first evolved and are now a booming industry bringing the...
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