Which? Are herbal supplements safe for you to take?
Nov 3, 2025
Join consultant dietitian Sophie Medlin, founder of City Dietitians, and public health nutritionist Shefalee Loth for a deep dive into the world of herbal supplements. They discuss the allure and risks of botanical claims, highlighting the lack of safety regulations and the potency of common herbs like echinacea and turmeric. Discover why social media fuels misinformation, the real effects of medicinal mushrooms, and critical interactions with medications. Their insights help clarify when herbal remedies can be beneficial and when they might be harmful.
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Botanicals Are Not The Same As Vitamins
- Herbal and botanical supplements come from plants, herbs or spices rather than isolated vitamins or minerals.
- They sit in a 'natural' umbrella but differ from standardised vitamins like vitamin D or magnesium.
Popularity Fueled By Lower Oversight
- Botanicals gain popularity partly because they are less regulated and social media amplifies bold, unproven claims.
- That grey area encourages hype despite limited evidence.
Regulation Lag Creates A Wild West
- There are no authorised health claims for many botanicals because the regulatory process has stalled for decades.
- That regulatory gap lets companies make unverified claims more easily than for vitamins and minerals.