Using herbal medicines: Advice to consumers

This section provides advice on using herbal medicines.

General advice to consumers

• Remember that herbal remedies are medicines. As with any other medicine they should be used with care.
• Any medicine – herbal or otherwise – has the potential to have adverse effects.
• Before you take any herbal medicine you need to be sure it is the correct product for you.
• Remember that natural does not mean safe. Many plants can be poisonous to humans. Many pharmaceutical medicines have been developed from plants because of the powerful compounds they contain.
• Herbal remedies can interact with other medicines. This could result in the other medicines having reduced or enhanced effects, including side-effects. When consulting your doctor or pharmacist about your health always tell them about any herbal medicines you are taking.
• As with all medicines, keep herbal medicines out of the sight and reach of children.

Are any particular groups at risk?

• In many cases the safe use of herbal medicines has not been established in:
• • pregnant women
  • breastfeeding mothers
  • children
  • elderly.
    
    
• Therefore caution should be taken about use of herbal medicine in pregnancy, when breast feeding or in children/elderly.
• If you are due to have a surgical operation always remember to tell your doctor about any herbal medicines you are taking. Some herbal medicines could alter the effects of anaesthetics or other medicines during surgery.
• Anyone with a history of liver complaints or any other serious health condition is advised not to take any herbal medicine without speaking to their doctor first.

Which herbal medicines have been assessed by the Regulator?

• Look for PL or THR on the product labels. Herbal medicines licensed in the UK have a PL (product licence) number on the label.
• Traditional herbal medicines registered in the UK have a THR (traditional herbal registration) number on the label. The first registered products under this new scheme are expected to reach the UK market in the coming months.
• Both these kinds of medicines are regulated by the MHRA and meet assured standards.
• Other herbal medicines on the UK market have not been assessed by the MHRA.

How can I tell if an unlicensed medicine is made to acceptable standards?

• Consumers should be aware that unlicensed herbal medicine on the UK market have not been assessed by the MHRA as to their safety, quality or patient information.
• There is evidence that standards vary considerably in the unlicensed sector. It is likely that some companies manufacture products to good standards. However, there is also evidence of poor or patchy standards in parts of the sector. Information about this is regularly published on the MHRA’s website in 'Herbal Safety News'. I
• It is not generally possible for consumers to identify which unlicensed medicines are made to acceptable standards. However, there are a number of pointers, in particular from the product information, which may be indicative of poor or unreliable standards.

Advice for consumers when buying unlicensed herbal medicines

• Treat with caution claims about safety that are not backed by credible evidence. Be wary of products making claims such as :
• • The herbal remedy is “100% safe”
  • Herbal remedies are “safe because they are natural”
  • This herbal medicine “has no side effects”
  • “Chinese medicines will not interfere with the effects of any western medicine”
  • You can avoid Chinese medicines interfering with other medicines if you take them an hour apart.
    
    
• Be wary of any unlicensed medicine suggesting the consumer should stop taking, or change the dosage of, a prescribed medicine. The MHRA advise you not to follow such advice - you should always consult your doctor about making changes to your prescribed medication
• Treat with caution any unlicensed herbal medicine that makes medicinal claims for the product (that is claims to prevent, treat or cure illnesses). These claims will not have been assessed by the MHRA and could be misleading
• Be wary of any product if:
• • It is not labelled in English
  • It does not have information about safe usage
  • The herbal practitioner cannot or will not give a list of ingredients.
    
    
• Apparently similar unlicensed herbal medicines may be accompanied by different patient information. Do not assume that the medicine with fewer warnings is necessarily safer to use.
  

Buying herbal medicines over the Internet

• There is an international trade in poor quality unregulated herbal products. Unlicensed “herbal” products in the UK and elsewhere have been found containing banned pharmaceutical ingredients, heavy metals. Products may contain harmful herbs that are not permitted in the UK. Be aware that unlicensed herbal medicines manufactured outside the UK may not be subject to any form of effective regulation.
• If a product refers to licences granted in other countries there may be no guarantees that the product actually complies with requirements or that standards applied in other counties match those that a UK consumer would expect from regulated products.

What to do if you think you have had an adverse reaction to your herbal medicine?

• All medicines, including herbal medicines, may cause side effects or unwanted reactions.
• If you think you have had a reaction to your herbal medicine, you should discontinue use and tell your doctor or pharmacist.
• If you think you or someone else has had an unwanted or harmful reaction after taking a herbal medicine (commonly referred to as a suspected adverse drug reaction), we would like to know. This will help us give advice to other patients and healthcare professionals - and will help us make sure herbal medicines in the UK are safe.
• You can report a reaction yourself directly to us using a system called the Yellow Card Scheme.
• This can be done online or by filling out a paper yellow form which is available upon request by calling 020 7084 2000.
• Alternatively, you can ask your doctor or pharmacist to report the reaction us on your behalf.
• Any information received by us will be held in complete confidence and your personal details will not be given to anyone else without your permission.

Source: http://www.mhra.gov.uk