Northern California ADLM Local Section May 2026 Meeting - Herbal Supplements: The Good, The Bad, and the Ugly Case Reports

Course overview

According to the WHO, approximately 80% of the world population relies on herbal medicines. In the U.S, more than half of adults use dietary supplements while 20-30% people concurrently take both prescription medications and supplements. Although the public considers herbal supplements safe and effective, many popular herbal supplements may cause significant liver damage and even death. While herbal supplements are regulated by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, it is not as strict as prescription or over-the-counter drugs. In addition, many herbal supplements may be purchased from other countries and can be contaminated with Western drugs and/or heavy metals such as lead, arsenic and mercury. In this session, the unexpected effects of herbal supplements on clinical laboratory test results and patients will be covered using interactive clinical case studies.