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Maximum Daily and Weekly Doses and Contra-indications of Herbs
 © Chanchal Cabrera MSc, MNIMH, AHG

 

Tinctures made to 1:5 strength 

Max dosage in mLs. 3 x daily

weekly  
Achillea millefolium Yarrow  3 50  
Acorus calamus Sweet Flag 0.3 - 2 35  
Aesculus hippocastanum Horse Chestnut 2.5 50 do not use > 3 months
Agrimonia eupatorium Agrimony 4 85  
Agropyron repens Couch Grass 5 100  
Alchemilla arvensis Parsley Piert 5 100  
Alchemilla vulgare Ladies Mantle 5 100  
Aloe vera Aloe (Barbadoes) 3 60  
Allium sativum Garlic 5 100  
Althea officinalis  Marshmallow root 5 100  
Anemone pulsatilla Pasque Flower 1 20  must be used dried
Angelica archangelica Angelica 2.5 50  
Angelica sinensis Dong quai  2 50 do not use during pregnancy or with heavy bleeding
Apium graveolens Celery 5 80  
Arctium lappa Burdock 1 - 4 80  
Arctostaphylos uva-ursi  Bearberry 2 30 do not combine with cranberry juice
Artemisia absinthium Wormwood 1 20 do not use during pregnancy
Asclepias tuberosa Pleurisy root 4 80  
Astragalus membranaceous Milk Vetch 3 60  
Avena sativa Oat seed 5 100  
         
Ballota nigra Black Horehound 2 40  
Baptisia tinctoria Wild Indigo 2.5 50  
Berberis aquifolium Oregon Grape 5 100  
Berberis vulgaris Barberry 3 60  
Betula alba Silver Birch 5 100  
Borago officinalis Borage 3 60 do not use with liver damage or during pregnancy
         
Cactus grandiflorus Cactus 2 40  
Calendula off. Marigold 5 100  
Capsella bursa-pastoris Sheperd's Purse       
Capsicum minimum (1:3) Cayenne 0.5 10  
Carbenia benedicta Blessed Thistle 4 80  
Cardomom co. conc. Cardamom 2 50  
Carduus marianus Milk Thistle 4 80  
Carum carvi Caraway 3 60  
Caulophyllum thalictroides  Blue Cohosh 3 60 avoid during pregnancy 
         
Cetraria islandica Iceland Moss 5 100  
Chamaelirium luteum False Unicorn 3 60   
Chamomilla recutita German Chamomile 5 100 may cause allergies in sensitive individuals
Chelidonium majus Celandine 2 50  
Chionanthus virginica Fringetree 2 40  
Cimicifuga racemosa Black Cohosh 3 60  
Cola vera Kola 3 60 avoid in people sensitive to caffeine
Collinsonia canadensis  Stone Root 5 100  
Commiphora molmol Myrrh 2 30  
Convalleria majalis Lily of the Valley  1 20 use with caution - may precipitate digitalis toxicity
Crataegus oxycanthoides  Hawthorn 5 100  
         
Daucus carota Wild Carrot 5 100  
Dioscorea villosa  Wild Yam 5 100 do not use during depressive PMS
         
Echinacea angustifolia Purple Cone Flower  5 100 may be contra-indicated in auto-immunity
Eleutherococcus senticosis  Siberian Ginseng  5 100  
Ephedra sinica Ma Huang 2 50 avoid during hypertension
Equisetum arvense Horsetail 2 50 reputed to cause thiaminase deficiency in high doses
Erythrea centaurea Centaury 5 100  
Eschscholzia california Californian Poppy 3 60  
Eupatorium perfoliatum Boneset 4 80  
Eupatorium purpureum Gravel Root  3 60  
Euphorbia hirta Spurge 2 40  
Euphrasia spp. Eyebright 5 100  
         
Filipendula ulmaris Meadowsweet 5 100  
Foeniculum off. Fennel 3 60  
Fucus vesiculosis Kelp 5 100  
Fumaria off.  Fumitory 4 80  
         
Galega off. Goat's Rue 2 40  
Galium aparine Cleavers 5 100 may be contr-indicated in lymphatic cancers
Gentiana lutea Yellow Gentian 2 40  
Geum urbanum Avens 5 100  
Ginkgo biloba Ginkgo 2 50  
Glechoma hederacea Ground Ivy 5 100  
Glycyrrhiza glabra Licorice 3 60 do not use during pregnancy or hypertension, may cause water retention
Grindelia camporum Tarweed 1 20  
Guaiacum off. Guaiacum 2 50  
         
Hamamelis virginiana  Witch Hazel 3 60 do not use >2 months
Harpagophytum procumbens Devil's Claw 5 100  
Humulus lupulus Hops 2 40 do not use during depression 
Hydrangea arborescens Hydrangea 5 10  
Hydrastis canadensis Golden Seal 2 50 do not use during pregnancy or hypertension
Hypericum perforatum St. John's Wort 4 80 fresh extract may cause photosensitive dermatitis
Hyssopus off. Hyssop 5 100  
         
Inula helenium  Elecampane 5 100  
Iris versicolor Blue Flag 5 100  
         
Juniperus communis Juniper 2 40 do not use in cases of kidney infection, hypertension for > 6 weeks
         
Lactuca virosa Wild Lettuce 3 60  
Lamium album White Dead Nettle 5 100  
Larrea spp.  Chaparral 2 50 may be implicated in liver damage 
Lavandula off. Lavender 4 80  
Leonurus cardiaca Motherwort 5 100  
Ligusticum porterii Osha 3 60  
Lomatium dissectum Lomatium 4 80  
Lycopus virginicus Bugleweed 5 100 do not use in cases of hypothyroidism
         
Marrubium vulgare Horehound 5 100  
Medicago sativa Alfalfa 5 100  
Melilotus off. Melilot 3 60 do not use with pre-existing anti-coagulant therapy
Melissa off. Lemon Balm 5 100  
Mentha piperita Peppermint 3 60  
Menyanthes trifoliata Bogbean 3 60  
Mitchella repens Partridge Berry 4 80  
Myrica cerifera Bayberry 3 60  
         
Nepeta cataria Catnip 5 100  
         
Origanum vulgare Marjoram 5 100  
         
Panax ginseng Korean Ginseng 2 50 use periodically - 2 months on, 1 month off
Parietaria diffusa Pellitory of the Wall       
Passiflora incarnata Passion Flower 2 40  
Phytolacca spp. Pokeroot 0.4 10 potentially toxic, must be used fresh
Pimpinella anisum Anise 2 40  
Piscidia erythrina Jamaican Dogwood      
Plantago lanceolata Plantain 5 100  
Polygonum bistorta Bistort 3 60  
Populus tremuloides Balm of Gilead 5 100  
Potentilla erecta Tormentil 3 60  
Propolis Propolis 5 100  
Prunus serotina Wild Cherry 4 80  
         
Quercus rubra Red Oak 3 60  
         
Rhamnus purshiana Cascara sagrada 2 - 3/day 30 combine with a carminative, must be aged bark. Maximum use 2 months.
Rheum officinalis Turkey Rhubarb 2 40  
Rhus aromatica  Sweet Sumach 3 60  
Rosmarinus off. Rosemary 4 80  
Rubus ideaus Raspberry 5 100  
Rumex crispus Yellow Dock 5 100  
         
Salix alba White Willow 5 100 do not use in cases of gout.
Salvia off. Sage 4 80  
Sambucus nigra Elderflower 5 100  
Sanguinarea canadensis Blood Root 3 60  
Scrophularia nodosa Figwort 5 100  
Scutalleria lateriflora Skullcap 5 100  
Serenoa serrulata Saw Palmetto 2 40  
Solidago virgaurea Golden Rod 3 60  
Stachys betonica Wood Betony 5 100  
Stellaria media Chickweed 5 100  
Stillingia sylvatica Queen's Delight 4 80  
         
Tanacetum parthenium Feverfew 1 20 best used fresh
Taraxacum off. radix Dandelion (root) 5 100  
Taraxacum off. herba Dandelion (leaf) 5 100  
Thuja occidentalis Arbor vitae 2 40  
Thymus vulgaris Thyme 5 100  
Tilia europea Linden 5 100  
Trifolium pratense Red Clover 5 100  
Turnera diffusa  Damiana 3 60  
         
Urtica dioica Nettle 5 100  
Usnea spp. Usnea 5 100  
         
Vaccinium spp.  Bilberry 5 100  
Valeriana off. Valerian 3 60 occasionally causes excitability
Verbascum thapsus (leaf) Mullein 5 100  
Verbena off. Blue vervain 5 100  
Viburnum opulus Black Haw 5 100  
Vinca major Periwinkle 5 100  
Viola tricolour Heartsease 5 100  
Viola odorata Sweet Violet 5 100  
Vitex agnus-castus Chaste Berry 1 20  
         
Zanthoxylum spp. Prickly Ash 2 40  
Zea mays Corn Silk 5 100  
Zingiber off. Ginger 0.5 10  

 

 

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