Ingredients to avoid

• Heavy Metals: Excessive amounts of arsenic, lead and mercury have been found in some herbal products. Some, but not all, herbal product manufacturers have their raw herbs tested for heavy metal content.
• Prescription Drugs: Prescription drugs such as phenobarbital, ephedrine, chlorpheniramine, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, benzodiazepines, corticosteroids and methyltestosterone have been found in some herbal products, most often those manufactured overseas.
• Misidentified Herbs: The fact that some herbs can cause serious toxicity is well documented. The identification of raw herbs is traditionally made on the basis of appearance, taste, smell and feel. This may not be sufficient when the desired herb closely resembles a toxic botanical. In these instances, chemical analysis is required.