Herbal Remedies: What Works, What Risks, and What You Must Know Before Using Them

When people turn to herbal remedies, plant-based treatments used to support health or treat conditions. Also known as natural medicine, they’re often seen as safer than pills because they come from nature. But that’s a dangerous myth. Just because something is herbal doesn’t mean it’s harmless. Many herbs act like drugs in your body—and they can interfere with prescription medications in ways that are life-threatening.

Take Danshen, a Chinese herb used for heart health. Also known as Salvia miltiorrhiza, it can thin your blood just like warfarin or Eliquis. Mixing it with those drugs? That’s not a mild side effect—it’s a risk of internal bleeding. Or ashwagandha, an adaptogen often taken for stress and energy. Also known as Withania somnifera, it can push thyroid hormone levels too high if you’re already on levothyroxine. The result? Heart palpitations, weight loss, and anxiety you didn’t sign up for. These aren’t rare cases. They’re documented, preventable errors.

Herbal remedies aren’t regulated like drugs. That means what’s on the label isn’t always what’s in the bottle. Doses vary. Contaminants show up. And no one checks if it’s safe to mix with your blood pressure pill, antidepressant, or diabetes med. That’s why the FDA warns about supplement interactions, harmful overlaps between herbs and prescription medications. A 2022 study in the Journal of the American Pharmacists Association found that over 60% of adults taking prescription meds also used herbs—yet fewer than 15% told their doctor. That’s like driving blindfolded.

You don’t need to avoid herbal remedies entirely. But you do need to treat them like medicine. Ask yourself: Is this backed by real science? Could it clash with what I’m already taking? Who’s selling it, and do they have a reason to hide the risks? The posts below break down exactly which herbs are risky, which ones might help, and how to talk to your pharmacist before you take another pill—or tea.