Herbal safety advice

This section provides useful safety information for anyone using herbal medicines. The information provided will also be of use to anyone operating in the herbal medicines sector, including manufacturers, herbal practitioners, suppliers and retailers.

Objective
The MHRA's key objective is to protect public health. To help achieve this, the Agency wishes to inform consumers, companies and practitioners about herbal medicines that may pose a risk to human health. We hope that this section will help widen awareness of the safety issues sometimes raised by the use of herbal remedies, and in doing so, help to protect public health.

The information provided in this section covers for example, general advice on the Traditional Herbal Medicines Registration Scheme, potential side effects and interaction with other medicines, safety issues linked to the use of heavy metals, mis-identification of herbal ingredients and poor quality.

Contacts for further information
For more information on safety issues affecting herbal remedies please contact Leigh Henderson, telephone 020 7084 2156,  MHRA, Market Towers, 1 Nine Elms Lane, London SW8 5NQ.
For information on measures to improve the regulation of herbal remedies please contact Judith Thompson, telephone 020 7084 2945, e-mail judith.m.thompson@mhra.gsi.gov.uk, 16-161, MHRA, Market Towers, 1 Nine Elms Lane, London SW8 5NQ.  Alternatively, you may e-mail info@mhra.gsi.gov.uk.


Page last modified: 22 October 2007