Medical herbalist Dr. Benjamin Anim issues a critical public health clarification: even natural, beneficial herbal medicines carry potential side effects.
The discussion, which aimed to demystify the safety profile of plant-based remedies, began with a direct question: Do herbal medicines have side effects? Dr. Anim’s response was immediate and unequivocal. “Okay, so I would say yes because pharmacologically every drug should have a side effect,” he stated, establishing a foundational principle of pharmacology that applies to all medicines, regardless of their origin.
He clarified that while these side effects are “mostly minimal or insignificant,” there are notable exceptions. “Though there are some that may be very prominent… They do have side effects,” he emphasized. A significant part of the problem, according to Dr. Anim, is the public perception of safety.
While acknowledging that our grandparents often prepared and consumed herbal concoctions without apparent issue, he cautioned against continuing this practice without expert guidance. “That’s why we are medical herbalists. That’s why we are here,” Dr. Anim explained.
We know the right doses to give you at any point in time.” To underscore his point, he invoked the famous 16th-century adage by the physician Paracelsus: “Everything we take inside is a poison. Every drug we take inside is a poison. What makes a drug… is when you have the right dosage.”
Dr. Anim provided a key scientific explanation for why historical use often seemed problem-free: the concept of therapeutic index. This index measures the safety margin of a drug. “Most herbal medicines have a very wide therapeutic window or therapeutic index,” he said.
This means the difference between an effective dose and a toxic dose is large, making acute overdose less common than with orthodox medicines, which often have a “very narrow therapeutic window.” However, he issued a stern warning: this inherent buffer is not a license for self-prescription. “That doesn’t give the guarantee that people can just take it anyhow, no.
Maybe in the long run… you are going to see the signs or symptoms of the necessary side effects.” His final advice was clear and direct. “If you want to take herbal medicines, please meet a medical herbalist or a Professional. He will know the right herbal medicines to give you.
He will know the right dosage to give you.” The takeaway from Dr. Anim’s expert insight is that respect for botanical medicine’s power—both its benefits and its potential risks—is the first step toward safe and effective use.
