1. Home
  2. Health
  3. Depression

How Safe Are Herbal Supplements?

By Nancy Schimelpfening, About.com

Updated August 24, 2006

About.com Health's Disease and Condition content is reviewed by the Medical Review Board

Question: How Safe Are Herbal Supplements?
Answer: The truth is, no substance is totally safe. Quantity makes all the difference. Small amounts of chlorine gas bind with sodium to form table salt. Pure chlorine gas inhaled in large quantities, however, is a deadly poison. Even a totally natural compound like Hypericin, the active ingredient in Hypericum, must be used with the same care exercised with any medicine. The following are general guidelines for safe and effective usage of Hypericum.

St. John's Wort Usage Guidelines

Explore Depression
About.com Special Features

Learn how you can reduce your your numbers with these nutrition and exercise tips. More >

Keep yourself, and your family, happy and healthy this fall with these tips. More >

We comply with the HONcode standard for trustworthy health information: verify here.
  1. Home
  2. Health
  3. Depression
  4. FAQs
  5. Supplements and Herbals
  6. FAQ: How Safe Are Herbal Supplements?>

©2009 About.com, a part of The New York Times Company.

All rights reserved.