Herbal Ingredient: Comfrey
Possible Health
Hazards: obstruction of blood flow to liver, possibly leading to death
Herbal Ingredient: Slimming/dieter's
teas
Possible Health Hazards: nausea, diarrhea, vomiting,
stomach cramps, chronic constipation, fainting, possibly death (see "Dieter's
Brews Make Tea Time a Dangerous Affair" in the July-August 1997 FDA Consumer)
Herbal Ingredient: Ephedra (also known as Ma huang, Chinese
Ephedra and epitonin)
Possible Health Hazards: ranges from
high blood pressure, irregular heartbeat, nerve damage, injury, insomnia,
tremors, and headaches to seizures, heart attack, stroke, and death
Herbal Ingredient: Germander
Possible Health
Hazards: liver disease, possibly leading to death
Herbal Ingredient: Lobelia
(also known as Indian
tobacco)
Possible Health Hazards: range from breathing
problems at low doses to sweating, rapid heartbeat, low blood pressure, and
possibly coma and death at higher doses
Herbal Ingredient: Magnolia-Stephania
preparation
Possible Health Hazards: kidney disease,
possibly leading to permanent kidney failure
Herbal Ingredient: Willow bark
Possible Health
Hazards: Reye syndrome, a potentially fatal disease associated with
aspirin intake in children with chickenpox or flu symptoms; allergic reaction in
adults. (Willow bark is marketed as an aspirin-free product, although it
actually contains an ingredient that converts to the same active ingredient in
aspirin.)
Herbal Ingredient: Wormwood
Possible Health
Hazards: neurological symptoms, characterized by numbness of legs and
arms, loss of intellect, delirium, and paralysis
Herbal Ingredient: Vitamin B6 (in doses above 100 milligrams
a day)
Possible Health Hazards: balance difficulties, nerve
injury causing changes in touch sensation
Herbal Ingredient: Niacin (in slow-released doses of 500 mg
or more a day or immediate-release doses of 750 mg or more a
day)
Possible Health Hazards: range from stomach pain,
vomiting, bloating, nausea, cramping, and diarrhea to liver disease, muscle
disease, eye damage, and heart injury
Herbal Ingredient: Selenium (in doses of about 800
micrograms to 1,000 mcg a day)
Possible Health Hazards:
tissue damage
Herbal Ingredient: L-tryptophan (an amino
acid)
Possible Health Hazards: eosinophilia myalgia
syndrome, a potentially fatal blood disorder that can cause high fever, muscle
and joint pain, weakness, skin rash, and swelling of the arms and legs
(Source: FDA Statement before Senate Committee on Labor and Human Resources, Oct. 21, 1993)
FDA Consumer magazine (September-October 1998)
This is a mirror of the page at http://www.fda.gov/fdac/features/1998/dietchrt.html
Hypertext updated by ear 2001-JUN-20