This section provides information about current safety issues associated with herbal medicines.
- Advice to manufacturers, suppliers and practitioners of herbal medicine
It would be helpful if you could note information about each safety issue and follow any advice or requests which are made to protect public safety. - Advice to consumers
On any issue where no specific advice is given to consumers please follow this general advice if you are currently taking the product: -
- you are advised to discontinue use and consult your pharmacist or doctor
- when speaking to your doctor of pharmacist you may find it helpful to take a copy of this MHRA advice about the product with you
- you should continue to take any medication prescribed by your doctor.
In 2008 the Herbal Medicines Advisory Committee, (the body that provides independent expert advice to the Government on herbal medicines) asked the MHRA to make available an updated summary document: Public Health Risk with Herbal Medicines: an Overview
(782Kb) (July 2008). The aim of doing this is to promote wider understanding of herbal safety issues.
Latest herbal safety updates
27 Jan 2012 | Consumers are advised not to take unlicensed Butterbur (Petasites hybridus) herbal remedies
The MHRA has recently become aware that unlicensed herbal products containing butterbur (Petasites hybridus) are being marketed in the UK and is warning consumers about the risks associated with the use of these products.
15 Dec 2011 | MHRA issues apology to Cambridge Commodities Ltd for incorrectly implicating them in Black Cohosh product withdrawal
MHRA issues apology to Cambridge Commodities Ltd for incorrectly implicating them in Black Cohosh product withdrawal.
09 Dec 2011 | FSC Black Cohosh product withdrawn from the market
In response to an urgent notice issued by the MHRA, Bee Health Ltd has agreed to stop marketing FSC Black Cohosh 1000 mg due to concerns about the high dosage of black cohosh in the product.
01 Dec 2011 | Health Sciences Authority in Singapore warns of four adulterated herbal products
Health Sciences Authority in Singapore has issued a press release warning the public of four adulterated health products which have been found to contain undeclared pharmaceutical medicines.
10 Nov 2011 | Department of Health in Hong Kong finds undeclared pharmaceutical ingredients in herbal remedy Cardiotium
The Department of Health in Hong Kong have recalled and issued a warning not to use the herbal product specified below the herbal remedy Cardiotium, which is marketed as treating coronary heart disease, as it would found to contain undeclared pharmaceutical ingredients.
Herbal skin creams warnings and alerts
Herbal slimming products warnings and alerts
Herbal erectile/sexual dysfunction product warnings and alerts
Go to herbal erectile/sexual dysfunction product warnings and alerts
