Use with caution
When using any herbal medicine recipes, you need to remember that many common medicinal plants are moderately toxic or have various contraindications to use. Do not rely on the imaginary harmlessness and safety of plant raw materials: if it is used incorrectly, it is easy to harm your health.
- Aloe arborescens
Excess of the dose when taken orally can provoke inflammation of the large intestine. Aloe preparations are contraindicated in pregnancy, menstruation, internal bleeding.
- Rhododendron tomentosum
Toxic. If you inhale essential oil vapors (for example, during the preparation of raw materials), you may experience headaches, dizziness, nausea, weakness, as well as a decrease in blood pressure; in severe cases, suffocation. When ingested with Rhododendron tomentosum, an overdose causes nausea, vomiting, inflammation of the gastrointestinal mucosa, tachycardia (palpitation of the heart), and headache.
- Glechoma hederacea
Overdose causes headache, abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting.
- Valeriana officinalis
Long-term use is contraindicated. In case of overdose (both in case of exceeding the dose, and in case of taking too long), nausea, headache, digestive disorders occur; nervous excitement, increased aggressiveness is possible; in severe cases, cardiac disorders occur.
- Melilotus officinalis
Contraindicated in pregnancy, kidney diseases. In case of overdose (including in case of prolonged use), it causes headache, dizziness, drowsiness, nausea, vomiting; in severe cases, liver damage is possible.
- Origanum vulgare
It is contraindicated in pregnancy (it has an abortive effect). It is not recommended for use with gastric ulcer and duodenal ulcer, gastritis with increased secretion of gastric juice.
- Hypericum perforatum
With prolonged use, it is possible to increase blood pressure against the background of spasms of blood vessels. Increases the sensitivity of the skin to sunlight; exposure to the sun during the use of Hypericum preparations can lead to dermatitis,burns, itching. It is not recommended to combine the use of Hypericum with the use of oral contraceptives. In case of overdose, disorders of the gastrointestinal tract (abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting) are possible.
- Urtica dioica
It is not recommended for hypertension, atherosclerosis, increased blood clotting.
- Schisandra chinensis
It is contraindicated in hypertension, cardiac disorders, insomnia, increased nervous excitability.
- Artemisia absinthium
Toxic. It is contraindicated in pregnancy and peptic ulcer of the stomach and duodenum. In case of overdose, convulsions, nervous excitement, hallucinations are possible. Long-term use of wormwood preparations can provoke mental disorders. Flowering wormwood is a strong allergen.
- Paeonia anomala
Toxic. Contraindicated during pregnancy and lactation. Overdose leads to inflammation of the gastrointestinal mucosa, abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, and digestive disorders.
- Leonurus cardiaca
It is not recommended for use with low blood pressure.
- Equisetum arvense
It has an irritating effect on the kidneys, is contraindicated in pyelonephritis, exacerbation of kidney stones.
It is clear that this is not an exhaustive list. Be careful; when deciding on the use of medicinal plants, be sure to familiarize yourself with possible side effects and contraindications; also consider the possibility of individual intolerance and allergic reactions. Take care of your health!