Contraindications

This isn’t a complete list – So I urge you to be very cautious with herbs. This is a list of the contraindications I know about.

Pregnancy – Feverfew, Rosemary, Horsetail, Bay, Motherwort, Mugwort, Myrrh, Parsley, Pennyroyal, Sage, Goldenseal, Aloes, Autumn crocus, Barberry, Juniper, Male fern, Mandrake, Poke root, Rhubarb, Rue, Southernwood, Thuja, Wormwood, blue cohosh (Except final month), Angelica, Star Anise, Basil, celery, cinnamon leaf, Citronella, clary sage, Clove Cypress, Cumin, Fennel, Hyssop, jasmine, Labdanum, Lovage, Marjoram, Nutmeg, Peppermint, Rose, Snakeroot, Tarragon, Thyme, Uva Ursi, Periwinkle, Mistletoe, Burdock, Dogbane, Wild Indigo,
Heart conditions – Hawthorn (Which I have also seen as good for heart ailments), Hyssop, Mint, Ma Huang, Licorice, Horsetail, Horse Chestnut, Guarana, Ginseng, Yohimbe, Ashwagandha, Buckthorn, Cascara Sagrada, Lobelia, Wormwood

High Blood Pressure – Black Pepper, Hyssop, Lemon, lemongrass, Nutmeg, Rosemary, Sage, Thyme,

Low Blood Pressure – Chamomile, Lemonbalm, Lavender, Marjoram, Ylang Ylang

Depression – Hops, Valerian (If used for long periods of time)

Diabetes – Angelica (it increases the sugar in blood), (Juniper and Elecampane both contain insulin – so these might be contraindicated too), Chromium, Chromium Picolinate, Licorice, Gymne Sylvestre, Fenugreek, Ginseng,

Use Sparingly – Goldenseal, Echinacea, Horseradish, Wormwood, Horehound (It has a laxative effect), Burdock.

Not for internal use – Witchhazel, Thuja, Arnica

Ulcers – Horseradish

Not to be taken with meals – Rue

Kidney disease/complaints –Goldenrod, Horsetail, Juniper Berries, Uva Ursi, Yohimbe, Periwinkle

Homoeopathy (These react with some treatments) – Black pepper, Camphor, Eucalyptus, Peppermint

Avoid use with alcohol – Aniseed, Clary Sage, Fennel, Valerian, St. John's Wort, Kava Kava, Hop Flowers

Epilepsy – fennel, Hyssop, Sage, Rosemary, Evening Primrose, Milk Thistle, Wormwood, Horse Chestnut, Periwinkle, Lobelia, Ma Huang,

Not on broken skin - Arnica