The National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM) warns Tuesday against food supplements and tea with St. John’s wort. New research shows that the herbal preparation can have harmful effects on health, the RIVM reports.
For example, people use herbal preparations containing St. John’s wort to help them sleep better. It is unknown how many people use it.
The RIVM also conducted research in 2015, and already stated that the herb was certainly not recommended in combination with medicines. “For example, it reduces the effectiveness of chemotherapy or drugs against fungal or viral infections,” the institute concluded at the time. However, a new study now shows that the use of St. John’s wort can be harmful even without combination with medication.
The National Poisons Information System (NVIS) and side effects center Lareb received complaints about burned skin when people sat in the sun after using the herb. “Other complaints such as dizziness, diarrhea and anxiety can also occur”, according to the RIVM.
Anton Rietveld, head of the Food Safety Department at RIVM, states that for food supplements and tea it is not known from what dose St. John’s wort can be harmful. Moreover, dietary supplements – unlike medicines – are not tested or required to be scientifically researched.
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