Ask a Healer Natural Supplements Series

Natural Supplement Side Effects and Cautions - Remedies that are natural may have side effects too
copyright, Neva J. Howell

If you take herbal remedies, vitamins or minerals, you may be doing so with very little concern about side effects. That's with good reason since most whole plant herbal remedies and most vitamins and minerals, taken as directed, are safe.

We hear a lot more about side effects from prescription drugs than we will likely ever hear about natural supplements.

However, almost every substance that can be taken into the body or applied to the skin deserves caution in certain situations, at certain dosages or in combination with certain other substances, including prescription drugs.

These pages are not intended to be an exhaustive list of all potential side effects. Please do your own research and I encourage you never to let a single website be the only source of information you depend on, no matter how good that website may be.

Talk to your pharmacists, the owners at the local health food store, friends and family who may use the same natural supplements you are thinking of using, etc. Get a broad base of information.

General Supplement Cautions which always apply:

Regardless of the condition referenced, and to save a lot of typing, if you are pregnant, breastfeeding or nursing, you should check with your doctor before adding ANYTHING new to your health regimen, without exception.

Why these lists are not exhaustive:
In addition to drawing on my decades of personal experience with herbs, vitamins and minerals when writing a new article for the wellness library, I typically research a minimum of a dozen online and/or offline resources for a broad range of information.

However, tracking down every known or potential side effect would take more time than I've personally got. For example, when I google the search term side effects turmeric, I get 179,000 references. Even if I bracket the search term like so: "side effects turmeric", I still get 170,000 references. If I search for side effects with aloe vera, google pulls over 400,000 resources.

Obviously, an exhaustive list of potential side effects for any given herb, vitamin or mineral is beyond the scope of one person on one website so I've focused on some of the more common and/or dangerous side effects.

To get you started .... Common side effects and cautions from natural supplements:

Aloe Vera > Acai Juice > Beta Glucans > Goji Juice > Holy Basil > Mangosteen Juice > Miracle Mineral Supplement > Noni Juice > Pomegranate Juice > Spirulina > Tumeric > Wolfberry

This is an ongoing project so if you do not see the supplement you were looking for listed above, please email me and I will research and add it next. contact information

Help for Chronic Sinus Problems: Do you suffer from chronic sinus allergies, congestion or infections? Have you been told that your sinus problems are the result of allergies? Find out why the Mayo Clinic says that probably isn't the cause. Have you tried drugs or steroids but didn't like the side effects such as hoarseness, throat irritation and mood swings? Read about safe home remedies for clearing sinus infections without side effects.

Health Disclaimer: This information about side effects is not meant to be exhaustive. The health information on Ask a Healer is educational in nature and never presented as any type of substitute for any needed medical attention. Be wise with your health.