Can you take too many herbal supplements?

Question

i'm reading a book which describes the benefits of a lot of herbs, and a lot if then sound like something i would want to take...Ginko, Ginseng, Echinacea...the problem is that the recommendations are take 3 pills 3 times a day or take four capsules daily...i don't even think i can physically make myself take that many pills! i know some come in tea form, but even then it says you must drink 3-4 cups. is this good for you? is it too much? and what about these herbs mixing with e/o?

Answer 1

You can take too many herbal supplements, but it wouldn't be fatal. It'd probably just make you feel a little funny.

Also, make sure you eat food with them! They won't be able to supplement what isn't there. :)  

Answer 2

drinking tea actually dehydrates you, because it encourages your system to pass the contents straight through and not absorb it. you actually need to increase your water intake. Taking pills of any kind is not natural on your internal organs. They are condensed with chemicals and other things your body organs work to filter and pass through. While the benefits of herbs have been known for years and years and used in traditional medicine, they dont pact much of a punch on a modern diet which is loaded with high sugar, salt, fat or caffine. So if your interested in improving your functions try a reboot of the system and think of plenty fresh fruit and veges, fish, lan meats and wholegrains. Add with lots of water if you havnt all ready to rid yourself of toxins and you will find that herbal supplements in todays world are a bit of a joke.

Answer 3

Yes, it is certainly possible to take too many herbal supplements, or too much of a particular one.

You may take too many in the sense that they may interact with each other, or may interact with other types of medication you are taking. The effects of some could also compound with the effects of others, making the overall changes in your body stronger than they should be.

As far as taking too much of a particular herb, you simply need to know the proper dosage, and take into consideration whether that should be changed based upon your personal health, age, and any other factors.

Remember also that not all herbs should be taken indefinitely. Many of them, over time, will leave traces that accumulate in the body. If you take the herbs for too long without the proper break in between, it is possible to have a similar side effect as if you had "overdosed" on those herbs.

Be sure to read more about the herbs you may use, and get professional advice where necessary.

Answer 4

Herbs are a joke.  Dont waste your time or money.  If they were as good as the claimed to be, dont you think everybody would be taking them daily?

Answer 5

you can take too many yes, you need to make sure that they do not interact with each other. You should always consult someone who is knowledgeable before you get started.

Herbal supplements are wonderful if you can find a pure source.

Good vitamin supplements are also derived from nature and with todays diets and fad foods we are lacking a lot of vitamins and being fed an enormous amount of chemicals.