The "dangers" Of Herbal Medicines: Expert Available For Comment

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9th February 2010, 01:39pm - Views: 662





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The “dangers” of herbal medicines 



Expert available for comment –


Research published in the Journal of Forensic Sciences has examined the risks of  

herbal medicines, finding some can be dangerous and even lethal.


University of Adelaide forensic pathologist Roger Byard found some herbal

products were contaminated, others posed serious health risks and many common

herbs could cause severe side-effects when used with conventional medicine.


RMIT University complementary medicine expert, Professor Marc Cohen, says

while there could be dangers involved with the use of herbal medicines, these

should not be overstated.


“We need to keep perspective – the risks associated with herbal medicines have to

be compared to the severe side-effects suffered each year by people taking

pharmaceutical drugs,” Professor Cohen said.


“While contamination is a serious issue, very few people are affected by

contaminated herbal medicines.


“Compare this to food contamination, which leads to thousands of people falling ill

with food poisoning every year.


“Herbal medicines may be natural but they are potent and it is vital for practitioners

in the industry to be highly trained, to ensure they are well versed in possible side-

effects and the risks of interactions with other drugs.


“There are significant risks when mixing herbal medicines with conventional drugs

and people taking any kind of natural supplement must be encouraged to disclose

this to their doctor.”


Professor Cohen is the co-author, with RMIT’s Dr Lesley Braun, of Herbs and

Natural Supplements: An Evidence-Based Guide (3rd Edition, Elsevier Science,

2010).


He is an Expert Advisor to the Therapeutic Goods Administration’s 

Complementary Medicine Evaluation Committee and a member of the National

Institute of Complementary Medicine Consultative Committee and the National

Health and Medical Research Council Grant Review Panel.


The Foundation Professor of Complementary Medicine at RMIT, he is available for

interview on the potential dangers, risks and side-effects of herbal medicines.


For interviews: RMIT University’s Professor Marc Cohen, (03) 9925 7440 or

0439 446 688.


For general media enquiries: RMIT University Communications, Gosia

Kaszubska, (03) 9925 3176 or 0417 510 735.

9 February, 2010






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