Supplement ingredients to avoid

The US Consumers Union, an independent organisation that examines products to educate consumers, reviewed research to identify dangerous supplement ingredients. Here, the 12 they say you should snub...

UNSAFE: Keep your distance
Aconite A purple-flowered plant used in some traditional Asian medicines, as well as liniments for things like joint pain, inflammation and hair loss. It’s the most common cause of severe poisoning from herbs in Hong Kong. If that’s not enough to turn you off, it could cause vomiting, respiratory-system paralysis, heart-rhythm disorders and death. Er, give it a miss.

LIKELY UNSAFE: We advise boycotting
Colloidal silver A mineral used for rosacea, psoriasis and chronic fatigue. Australia’s Adverse Drug Reactions Advisory Committee has had reports of toxicity from colloidal silver ingestion. Dangers include turning your skin blue – forever. Not pretty, unless you’re a smurf.

Coltsfoot This herb has been used for lung and respiratory complaints like coughs, sore throats and asthma. Contains chemicals called pyrrolizidine alkaloids (PAs) that can damage the liver or cause the big, bad C.

Chaparral A shrubby plant made as a tea or in homeopathic preps for colds, weight loss, inflammation, cancer, detox, you name it. Australia’s Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) says there have been several reports of liver toxicity from chaparral.

Country mallow Claimed to treat respiratory problems and sexual probs, this weed’s also applied to skin for pain. It contains ephedrine, a stimulant that can cause heart attacks, stroke and death. It’s not considered a suitable medicine by the TGA.

Germanium Not to be confused with the plant geranium, this is a chemical element that may relieve inflammation and have antioxidant properties. But it’s been linked to more than 30 reports of kidney failure and death around the world.

Lobelia A plant genus used to treat coughs, bronchitis and asthma. It contains a chemical that acts like nicotine so it’s been used in some quit-smoking products. OD on this and you risk a fast heartbeat, very low blood pressure, coma and possibly death. Not ideal.

Comfrey This herb’s used as a tea for upset stomachs, coughs and bronchitis; a gargle for gum disease and sore throats; and it’s applied to the skin for wounds, joint inflammation and bruises. Like coltsfoot, it contains dangerous PAs. The TGA has outlawed
it for internal use.

POSSIBLY UNSAFE: Take at your own risk
Yohimbe An African tree bark that can up blood flow and nerve impulses to the genitals, mainly used for sexual dysfunction, but also weight loss and athletic performance. Warning: this can cause high blood pressure, rapid heart rate and heart problems.

Greater celandine A herb (not to be confused with “lesser celandine”) used for digestive tract problems, detoxification, high blood pressure and asthma; some apply it to warts and rashes, and to gums for tooth pain. Could cause liver damage.

Bitter orange A fruiting plant used for weight loss and allergies, it may be safe in food, but unsafe when taken as a supplement, especially combined with stimulants like caffeine. The US Consumer Union found it can trigger everything from migraines to strokes.

Kava Used in some meds to treat anxiety and respiratory tract infections, and to boost sexual desire. In 2002, the TGA’s Adverse Drug Reaction Unit got a report of a death due to acute liver failure associated with a kava-containing medicine.

* Adapted from the report for consumer reports.