Consuming food supplements or tea that contain the herbs Huperzia serrata, Tabernanthe iboga or Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera) can be harmful to health. RIVM has identified the risks of these herbs and advises consumers, and especially pregnant women, against using products that contain them.
How many people use these herbs is unknown. Food supplements that contain Huperzia serrata or Tabernanthe iboga are mainly sold online. Food supplements that contain Ashwagandha are also available in drugstores. Tea that contains Ashwagandha is mainly sold online.
Harmful effects of Ashwagandha
Little scientific research has been conducted into the harmful effects of Ashwagandha. However, physicians in the Netherlands and other countries have reported cases of poisoning among people who had consumed these supplements. This included harmful effects in the liver. In some countries, such as China and India, Ashwagandha was used in the past to induce abortion, among other things. It is not known how often this was done or whether Ashwagandha is still being used for this purpose. This particular effect of Ashwagandha has not been studied.
Given that the effects can be serious and may occur even when people use the product as instructed on the packaging, RIVM advises against consuming food supplements that contain Ashwagandha. For lack of further information, it is assumed that this conclusion also applies to tea that contains Ashwagandha.
Harmful effects of Huperzia serrata
Scientific research has shown that Huperzia serrata can have harmful effects. People who have consumed it may have symptoms such as muscle weakness, abdominal cramps, diarrhoea, increased salivation, blurred vision, lacrumation and signs of paralysis. There are also indications that Huperzia serrata is harmful to the health of the unborn child. These health effects can occur even when people use the amount recommended on the packaging. That is why RIVM advises against consuming food supplements that contain Huperzia serrata.
Harmful effects of Tabernanthe iboga
Scientific research has shown that Tabernanthe iboga can disturb hearth rhythm. In the most serious cases, this can be fatal. There have been dozens of cases worldwide of people who died after consuming this herb, including several cases in the Netherlands. Other side effects include nausea, acute psychoses, epileptic seizures and hallucinations.
Given that the effects can be very serious and may occur when people use the product as instructed on the packaging, RIVM advises against consuming food supplements that contain Tabernanthe iboga.
RIVM carries out these risk assessments on behalf of the Ministry of Health, Welfare and Sport. Reports about three other food supplements will follow this spring.