Liver Toxicity and Herbal Medicine

In the last few months there have been three letters in The Lancet, follow-up articles in most of the national newspapers including The Times and The Sunday Times, and discussions on the Jimmy Young Show on the toxicity of herbal medicines and a potential link with liver fatality. Subsequently, rumours have been spreading as to inherent dangers in herbal prescriptions and possible restrictions to practice. Jackie Young reviewed the reports to date and interviewed Richard Blackwell, President of the Register for Chinese Medicine and Michael McIntyre, President of the National Institute of Medical Herbalists to establish the facts and clarify the precautions that are now being advised. Q. Have there been any actual fatalities linked to Chinese herbs?