Using herbs medically without knowing their composition: are we playing Russian roulette?

Authors

Orly F. Kohn, Pritzker School of Medicine, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA.
Susie Q. Lew, School of Medicine and Health Sciences, George Washington University, Washington, DC, USA.
Steve Siu-Man Wong, Department of Nephrology, Scarborough Health Network, Scarborough, Canada.
Ramin Sam, San Francisco School of Medicine, Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA.
Hung-Chun Chen, Division of Nephrology, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan.
Jochen G. Raimann, Research Division, Renal Research Institute, New York, New York, USA.
David J. Leehey, Stritch School of Medicine, Loyola University Chicago, Maywood, Illinois, USA.
Antonios H. Tzamaloukas, Raymond G. Murphy Veterans Affairs Medical Center, University of New Mexico School of Medicine, Albuquerque, NM, USA.
Todd S. Ing, Stritch School of Medicine, Loyola University Chicago, Maywood, Illinois, USA.

Document Type

Journal Article

Publication Date

4-15-2022

Journal

Current medical research and opinion

DOI

10.1080/03007995.2022.2061706

Keywords

Complementary and alternative medicine; adverse reactions; blood; herbal medicine; kidney; liver; traditional medicine

Abstract

Herbal medicine, a form of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM), is used throughout the world, in both developing and developed countries. The ingredients in herbal medicines are not standardized by any regulatory agency. Variability exists in the ingredients as well as in their concentrations. Plant products may become contaminated with bacteria and fungi during storage. Therefore, harm can occur to the kidney, liver, and blood components after ingestion. We encourage scientific studies to identify the active ingredients in herbs and to standardize their concentrations in all herbal preparations. Rigorous studies need to be performed in order to understand the effect of herbal ingredients on different organ systems as well as these substances' interaction with other medications.

APA Citation

Kohn, O. F., Lew, S. Q., Wong, S. S., Sam, R., Chen, H., Raimann, J. G., Leehey, D. J., Tzamaloukas, A. H., & Ing, T. S. (2022). Using herbs medically without knowing their composition: are we playing Russian roulette?. Current medical research and opinion, (). http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/03007995.2022.2061706