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Herbal tinctures can be dangerous
Last reviewed: 02.07.2025
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Medicinal plants are actively used to treat many diseases. Tinctures are prepared at home by yourself or purchased in pharmacies - pharmacology has long included such drugs in the list of effective and affordable medications. An undoubted advantage for most patients is that tinctures do not contain any chemical additives, since the main ingredients are medicinal herbs and alcohol. Therefore, there is no need to doubt the "naturalness" of tinctures.
However, there is a whole list of warnings concerning alcohol-based preparations. Thus, medical specialists do not recommend drinking herbal tinctures:
- patients with a tendency to alcohol dependence;
- in children under 16 years of age (permitted only in a dosage strictly prescribed by a doctor, with a limitation on the duration of administration);
- women during pregnancy or breastfeeding;
- patients who frequently drive or work with precision or potentially dangerous machinery that requires sufficient concentration;
- patients who, due to their professional activities, must be maximally concentrated and focused;
- patients prone to allergies;
- patients prone to mental disorders.
Certain pathologies of the digestive tract can also become a contraindication to the use of herbal tinctures. And the culprit in this situation is alcohol, which can irritate the mucous tissues of the stomach and intestines. In some patients, alcohol preparations even in small quantities provoke pronounced signs of intoxication.
In order to protect yourself from the negative consequences of taking medicinal tinctures, you must first consult with a doctor you trust. It is better to inquire in advance which alcohol preparation is suitable for you and which is not. The doctor will analyze your general health and assess all potential risks associated with the use of alcohol tinctures. It is no secret that it is better to prevent any negative consequences in advance than to try to get rid of an existing problem later.
It is also important to remember that certain types of medicinal herbs included in tinctures can cause an addictive effect when used systematically. This effect is also considered a serious problem. For example, addiction can be caused by sleeping pills, sedative herbs, which, when used for a long time, sometimes begin to have the opposite effect: the patient develops an anxious state, the heart rate increases. Therefore, the conclusion is obvious: even seemingly harmless medicinal tinctures are better taken after a doctor's prescription, rather than self-medication. The doctor will be able to determine the dosage and treatment regimen that is optimal for a particular case.
Information provided by the portal Hronica.info.
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