According to Consumer Reports, these supplement ingredients are among those linked by clinical research or case reports to serious side effects. They worked with the Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database, an independent research group that evaluates the safety and effectiveness of nutritional supplements, to develop this list. Consumer Reports.org believe it’s wise to avoid all the ingredients on it. Unless otherwise noted, there’s insufficient evidence to rate their effectiveness for their purported uses. Dangers listed are not meant to be all-inclusive.

ACONITE (aconiti tuber, aconitum, radix aconiti)
Purported Uses – Inflammation, joint pain, wounds, gout.
Possible Dangers – Toxicity, nausea, vomiting, low blood pressure, respiratory-system paralysis, heart-rhythm disorders, death.
Comments – Unsafe. Aconite is the most common cause of severe herbal poisoning in Hong Kong.
BITTER ORANGE (aurantii fructus, Citrus aurantium, zhi shi)
Purported Uses – Weight loss, nasal congestion, allergies.
Possible Dangers – Fainting, heart-rhythm disorders, heart attack, stroke, death.
Comments – Possibly unsafe. Contains synephrine, which is similar to ephedrine, banned by the FDA in 2004. Risks might be higher when taken with herbs that contain caffeine.
CHAPARRAL (creosote bush, Larrea divaricata, larreastat)
Purported Uses – Colds, weight loss, infections, inflammation, cancer, detoxification.
Possible Dangers – Liver damage, kidney problems.
Comments – Likely unsafe. The FDA advises people not to take chaparral.
COLLOIDAL SILVER (ionic silver, native silver, Silver in suspending agent)
Purported Uses – Fungal and other infections, Lyme disease, rosacea, psoriasis, food poisoning, chronic fatigue syndrome, HIV/AIDS.
Possible Dangers – Bluish skin, mucous membrane discoloration, neurological problems, kidney damage.
Comments – Likely unsafe. The FDA advised consumers about the risk of discoloration on Oct. 6, 2009.
COLTSFOOT (coughwort, farfarae folium leaf, foalswort)
Purported Uses – Cough, sore throat, laryngitis, bronchitis, asthma.
Possible Dangers – Liver damage, cancer.
Comments – Likely unsafe.
COMFREY (blackwort, common comfrey, slippery root)
Purported Uses – Cough, heavy menstrual periods, chest pain, cancer.
Possible Dangers – Liver damage, cancer.
Comments – Likely unsafe. The FDA advised manufacturers to remove comfrey products from the market in July 2001.
COUNTRY MALLOW (heartleaf, Sida cordifolia, silky white mallow)
Purported Uses – Nasal congestion, allergies, asthma, weight loss, bronchitis.
Possible Dangers – Heart attack, heart arrhythmia, stroke, death.
Comments – Likely unsafe. Possible dangers linked with its ephedrine alkaloids banned by the FDA in 2004.
GERMANIUM (Ge, Ge-132, germanium-132)
Purported Uses – Pain, infections, glaucoma, liver problems, arthritis, osteoporosis, heart disease, HIV/AIDS, cancer.
Possible Dangers – Kidney damage, death.
Comments – Likely unsafe. The FDA warned in 1993 that it was linked to serious adverse events.
GREATER CELANDINE (celandine, chelidonii herba, Chelidonium majus)
Purported Uses – Upset stomach, irritable bowel syndrome, liver disorders, detoxification, cancer.
Possible Dangers – Liver damage.
Comments – Possibly unsafe.
KAVA (awa, Piper methysticum, kava-kava)
Purported Uses – Anxiety (possibly effective).
Possible Dangers – Liver damage.
Comments – Possibly unsafe. The FDA issued a warning to consumers in March 2002. Banned in Germany, Canada, and Switzerland.
LOBELIA (asthma weed, Lobelia inflata, pukeweed, vomit wort)
Purported Uses – Coughing, bronchitis, asthma, smoking cessation (possibly ineffective).
Possible Dangers – Toxicity; overdose can cause fast heartbeat, very low blood pressure, coma, possibly death.
Comments – Likely unsafe. The FDA warned in 1993 that it was linked to serious adverse events.
YOHIMBE (yohimbine, Corynanthe yohimbi, Corynanthe johimbi)
Purported Uses – Aphrodisiac, chest pain, diabetic complications, depression; erectile dysfunction (possibly effective).
Possible Dangers – Usual doses can cause high blood pressure, rapid heart rate; high doses can cause severe low blood pressure, heart problems, death.
Comments – Possibly unsafe for use without medical supervision because it contains a prescription drug, yohimbine. The FDA warned in 1993 that reports of serious adverse events were under investigation.
Source: Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database, Professional Version, June 2010
Read the full article here: Consumer Reports