Toxicity of medicinal herbal preparations.

Many people, especially those living in rural areas, are turning to the use of yesterday's remedies--medicinal herbs. Plants contain many active ingredients that can provoke adverse reactions when medicinal herbs are used improperly. Drug-plant interactions may also occur. Unfortunately, the subtle side effects of many medicinal herbs are not generally known. The physician must be aware of the possibility that a patient may be suffering from an adverse reaction to a medicinal herbal remedy.