Relatively toxic herbs:
Aconitum napellus
1-2 drops maximun dose
Toxic signs:
prickling and tingling sensations
Numbness
Labored breathing
Decrease temperature
Decreased blood pressure
Arrhythmias
Shortness of breath
Aletris farinose (true unicorn)
Contraindicated in pregnancy
Arnica Montana
Topical use only
Can add to topical products, salves for example
Do not use on broken skin
Artemesia absinthum
Contraindications: High doses and chronic use
GI hyperacidity
Ulcers
Gastritis
Never use as essential oil – neurotoxic
Atropa Belladonna
Contraindications:
Lacation/Pregnancy
Prostate issues
Acute glaucoma
Pulmonary edema
GI stenosis
Increased heart rate
Arrhythmias
1-30 drops in 4 ounces of water maximum dose
Toxic signs:
dilated pupils
Dry mouth, eyes, throat
Tachycardia
Urinary retention
Constipation
Hot, dry flushed skin
Baptisia tinctoria
Don’t used long term
Toxic signs:
anorexia
Nausea/vomiting
Hypersalivation
Tachypnea (Tachy = fast, pnea = breath)
Tachycardia (cardia = heart beat)
Breathing issues
In large doses Baptisia is caustic and can burn.
Bryonia tinctoria
Contraindicated in lactation and pregnancy
Toxic signs:
Dosage:
GI upset
Decreased pulse and body temperature
Headache
Delirium
Weakness
1-5 drops
Cactus gradnifolia
Stimulates sympathetic stimulant
Contraindicated:
Dosage:
Capsicum frutenscens
Contraindications:
Cassia species
Contraindications:
Pregnancy
Children
High doses
Hypertension – but it is also indicated for this
purpose so careful dosing is required.
15-30 drops
peptic ulcer
Hypertension
Insomnia
Dehydration
Applications near the eyes
pregnancy
Can be habit forming and can cause melanosis coli – staining of the colon
Caulophylum thalictroides
Contraindicated in pregnancy
Chelidonium majus
Contraindications:
Toxicity signs:
acute liver inflammation
nausea/vomiting
Burning in the mouth
Abdominal pain
Diarrhea
Cimicifuga reacemosa
Contraindicated in early pregnancy
Toxicity signs:
sedation
Blurred vision
Nausea/vomiting in large doses
Ephedra sinica
Contraindications:
Prostate issues
Hypertension
Diabetes
Coronary heart disease
Toxic signs:
nausea/vomiting
Vertigo
Sweating
Tachycardia
Dizziness
Do not combine with MAO inhibitors or hypertensive medications
Glycyrrhiza glabra
Contraindications:
Signs of toxicity:
Hypertension
Estrogen dependent cancers
Edema
Heart disease
Hypertension
Fatigue
Weight loss
Hydrastis Canadensis
Contraindicated in early pregnancy
Hyoscyamus niger
Contraindicated in acute angle glaucoma
Dosage:
2-10 drops of tincture
Hypericum perforatum
Contraindicated with MAO inhibitors and tyramine
May cause photosensitivity, but ok over broken skin
Iris versicolor
Contraindications:
Toxicity signs:
Doses more then 15 drops per day may be lethal
violent emetic action
Nausea/vomiting
Violent diarrhea
GI upset
Juniperus communis
Contraindications:
Kidney disease
Larrea tridentate
Contraindications:
chronic internal use
Can be hepatotoxid (toxic to the liver)
Lobelia inflata
Contraindications:
Toxicity signs;
lactation
Elderly
Chronic use
Debility
nausea
Vomiting
Melaleuca alterniflora (Cajeput)
Internally toxic
Pausinystalia yohimbe:
Contraindications:
Toxicity signs:
edema
Kidney disease
Psychiatric disorders
anxiety and panic attacks
Increased blood pressure/heart rate
Headaches
Palpitations
Phytolacca
Large doses are toxic – and will cause tingling
Piper methysticum
Contraindicated with anti-psychotic medications
Long term uses can cause skin ulcers
Pulsatilla vulgaris
Contraindications:
Toxicity signs:
Rauwolfia serpentine
Contraindications:
Toxicity signs:
Sassafras albidum
Contraindications:
pregnancy and lactation
Topical applications
hypersalivation
Abdominal pain
Nausea/vomiting
Arrhythmias
Mydriasis
lactation
may cause irreversible depression
Nausea/vomiting
Nightmares
Peptic ulcer disease
Parkinson’s
Drowniness
pregnancy
Lactation
Long term use
Abortifacient
Stillingia sylvatica
Contraindications:
long term internal use
Some say not to use with pregnancy
High doses
Thuja occidentalis
Possibly abortive, not for internal use
Essential oil contains Thujone with can irritate the kidneys
Tanacetum vulgare
Contraindicated:
Toxic signs:
pregnancy
abortifacient
Fetotoxic
May cause liver and kidney disease
Viscum album
Contraindicated:
high doses
Stop using if experiences nausea
Minimal Toxic Herbs
Achillea millefolium
Aesculus hippocastanum
Aloe vera – contraindicated in pregnancy (internally)
Angelica sinensis – may make menses heavier
Arctostaphylus uva-ursi – do not use with high doses cranberry juice
Asclepias tuberosa – pregnancy – can stimulate contractions
Aspidosperma quebracho
Berberis aquifolium – early pregnancy
Berberis vulgaris – late pregnancy
Brassica nigra – pregnancy, hypothyroidism
Echinacea – contraindicated with psoriasis
Eupatorium perfoliatum – can be toxic to liver/kidneys
Gentiana lutea – contraindicated in pregnancy and high blood pressure
Gingko – contraindicated with internal hemorrhagic stroke
Inula helenium – do not use topically – can cause a rash
Juglans nigra – use internally for short time only
Melilotus officianalis – do not use with anti-coagulants
Passiflora incarnata – may cause CNS depression in high doses
Pimipinella anisum – contraindicated in pregnancy
Populus tremuloides – ensure patient does not have salicylate sensitivity
Rhamnus purshiana – contraindicated with pregnancy, lactation, short term use
Salix alba/nigra – contraindicated with aspirin allergy, chicken pox
Smilax officianalis – contraindicated with kidney and liver disease
Turnera diffusa – hepatotoxic (damaging to the liver)
Tussilago farfara – contraindicated with liver disease, short term use only
Zingiber officianale – Contraindicated with hypertension, peptic ulcer disease, insomnia,
dehydration, may potentiate anti-coagulant therapy
Non-toxic herbs – but herbs with contraindications
Allium cepa/sativum – contraindicated with bleeding disorders, thyroid disease
Arctium lappa – contraindicated with psoriasis
Equisetum arvense – increase blood pressure and heart disease, can irritate kidneys with long
term use
Eleutherococcus senticosus – shouldn’t use consecutively for longer then 8 weeks
Humulus lupulus – long term use is estrogenic, topically can cause dermatitis
Marrubium vulgare – large doses can cause arrhythmias
Mentha piperita – contraindicated with mild rectal bleeding, GERD
Panax ginseng – contraindicated with psoriasis, short term use only
Quercus alba – large doses irritate kidneys and liver
Rosmarinus officianalis – contraindicated use of the oil in pregnancy
Salvia officianalis – contraindicated with lactation
Trifolium pratense – blood thinning properties so watch with people already on anticoagulants
Vaccinium oxycocus – contraindications with high doses of uva ursi, gout
Vitex – contraindicated in pregnancy