Herb Safety Information for Compounding Services

To ensure the safe use of herbal formulations, First Curve Apothecary requires that all custom formula requests, including refills, be submitted by the patient or client’s healthcare provider or herbalist who initially requested the custom formula. Therefore, when you want a refill, please contact your provider so that they can submit your request directly to us.

Side Effects

The historical record and modern research indicate that the herbs most often used for healthcare have an exceptional safety record. However, adverse events can occur after using any active substance. If you experience any adverse reactions, stop taking the custom formula immediately and seek advice from your practitioner. Side effects that have occasionally been reported after using herbs include headaches, skin rashes and digestive upsets. Such effects generally resolve rapidly, especially if the dosage is reduced or the herb is stopped. Allergic reactions are also very rare but have been reported, usually in individuals with contact allergy to specific plants.

Herb-Drug Interactions

Although speculative interactions between herbs and drugs are sometimes publicized, confirmed cases are rare. Nevertheless, some prescribed drugs are very strong and have a narrow range of safe dosage, which makes any interaction more risky. It is your responsibility as a patient/client to fully disclose any medications, herbs, and/or dietary supplements currently in use to your prescribing healthcare provider. It is also your responsibility as a patient/client to inform all other practitioners involved in your care – including your recommending herbalist – of any medications, herbs, and/or dietary supplements you are using so that the recommendations and formulations offered by your practitioners can be fully informed. If you experience any adverse reactions, stop taking the custom formula immediately and seek advice from your prescribing practitioner & recommending herbal provider. It is also encouraged to stop taking herbs at least 48 hours before surgical operation, and in the event of being prescribed anticoagulants, anti-epileptic drugs, and digoxin until expert advice is received.

Toxicity

At First Curve Apothecary, safety is of the utmost importance, and it is our business to stay current with the literature on herbal safety. We will not expose clients to plant doses known to have toxic effects. The organs that are most vulnerable to any potent substances are the liver and kidneys, and it will be important for you as a patient/client to divulge any previous history of disease in either of these organs to your prescribing healthcare provider and herbalist. Herbs should not be used in pregnancy or lactation without expert advice, and clients who become pregnant should stop taking herbs until advice is received. If you experience any adverse reactions, stop taking the custom formula immediately and seek advice from your practitioner.

Prior to taking any custom formula, all patients/clients are responsible for reading the specific information on the individual herbs in their custom formula available in the ‘Full Herb Safety Information Chart’ below.