How to use herbal medicines safely

To ensure that you are using botanical medicines safely and effectively, observe the following precautions:

• Don’t use herbal preparations to self-treat serious medical conditions or persistent symptoms.
• Don’t give children herbal remedies without medical supervision. * Don’t take herbal medicines if you are pregnant or a nursing mother.
• Tell your doctor about any herbal remedies you are taking, because herbs can interact with conventional drugs.
• Never take more than the recommended dosage of an herbal preparation. Stop taking the herbal immediately if you notice an adverse reaction, and report any negative reactions. Purchase herbal preparations from reliable, trustworthy sources.
• When taking laboratory or drug tests, advise the person administering the test of any herbal preparations you are taking. These herbs can trigger false findings in tests for drug abuse and can invalidate routine lab tests.