Experts Warn of Dangerous Herbal Remedies

Herbal remedies are raising new concerns reported that researchers led by Dr. Noura Abou Zeinab have found evidence that some commonly used folk herbs may harm the liver or kidneys when used long‑term. This challenges the common assumption that natural equals harmless, even for herbs with a long tradition of use.
Experts emphasise that many herbal products lack scientific validation. A recent review of 46 herbal remedies available in a West African market found that — although most passed basic safety testing — none demonstrated proven efficacy against the illnesses they purported to treat. This means people may be exposing themselves to risk while getting no real benefit.
Further concerns include contamination, poor preparation standards, and dangerous interactions with regular medicines. For example, some herbs have been shown to interfere with heart‑disease or blood‑thinning medications. Additionally, certain botanical medicines may contain toxic compounds, or accumulate heavy metals, leading over time to serious organ damage such as liver or kidney failure — risks documented in several toxicology studies.
Given these risks, experts warn against using herbal remedies without medical oversight — especially for serious or chronic conditions. They call for stricter regulatory controls, better consumer awareness, and more scientific research to verify safety and effectiveness of herbal products.