Adverse drug reactions to Indian traditional remedies

Ayurveda is the traditional system of medicine of India more than 3000 years old and still practised extensively in India and neighbouring countries. There is little systematic information on adverse effects. The medicines themselves, based on plants and minerals, can cause serious adverse effects in some patients if used inappropriately, or can interact with conventional (allopathic) medicines to cause harm. There is also the possibility of misuse and mislabelling of Ayurvedic medicines, with consequent harm to patients. Better surveillance and more ready access to information on these drugs would help both traditional and conventional practitioners and their patients.