Herbs really helped me!

[zuikis]

I made some remedies from recipes that I got from www.herbalmedicinerecipes.com and it really helped me with my heart. But I was wondering if there are any side effects from herbs? I went to FDA website and it says that herbs are not controlled substances so I assume they are mostly safe? Let me know if you have any info.

[Barbarella]

Below is one paragraph out of all the side effects the Mayo Clinic listed.  They list it under "Coenzyme 10".  I had the flu like symptoms, fatigue, insomnia, skin itching.  Mine were not mild and brief but stayed with me.  I never dreamed in my wildest dreams that CQ10 could have caused it.  I almost stopped my BP meds and Zocor, but my husband insisted since I take these meds for 4 yrs that these would not all of a sudden cause all these side effects. I then almost forced myself to look for side effects of CQ10 since I never heard of side effects from CQ10.  I thought it was safe.  I finally found the side effects listed with the Mayo Clinic.  Like I said before I stopped taking CQ10 immediately and three days later all the side effects were gone.  The fatigue and flu like symptoms were the worst.  Read below from the Mayo Clinic.  Did the heart supplement you are taking contain "Valerian Root" besides the CQ10?  Valerian Root has listed "palps" as one of the side effects.


As listed on the Mayo Clinic's website:

There are few serious reported side effects of CoQ10. Side effects are typically mild and brief, stopping without any treatment needed. Reactions may include nausea, vomiting, stomach upset, heartburn, diarrhea, loss of appetite, skin itching, rash, insomnia, headache, dizziness, irritability, increased light sensitivity of the eyes, fatigue, or flu-like symptoms.

[chrisr]

Do you mind listing the side effects of CQ10?
I have been taking a heart supplement containing CQ10 and have had some unexplained side effects including palps and premature beats for which CQ10 has been recommended. I have also not seen side effects listed anywhere.
thanks,
ChrisR

[Barbarella]

"Valerian Root" for example which is suppose to calm people down can cause palpitations.   I took that one time when I had PVC's and before I ever was on any meds.  My PVC's increased big time.  I didn't want to believe it was from the Valerian Root since that is suppose to calm you, and after all a harmless herb so I thought.  My husband insisted to research it, and look it up, and sure enough I found it where it mentioned "palpitations" among other side effects.  I will never take that stuff again.

CQ10  which is so highly praised gives me side effects.  It took me a long time to figure that one out.  Nowhere but the Mayo Clinic has got the side effects listed, and I had almost all of them.  Stopped taking it, and three days later was my old self again.

Yet my BP meds and statins cause me no side effects whatsoever.

[FLBrat]

I would also make sure to check interactions.   Lots of foods are not controlled, but you have to watch for interactions with them also.  (Grapefruit and heart meds for instance.)

[often]

Actually, you need to be careful with herbs...some of them are actually harmful if taken with certain drugs, or taken in inappropriate quantities.  Some are not so good to take with certain ailments.  The fact that they are not controlled has nothing to do with their safety.  You might want to check with your doc, or with a site like mayo clinic or the nimh.