Warnings & safety information.
General safety notes for trade buyers and formulators across our full catalogue — not medical advice, and not a substitute for your own regulatory due diligence.
What this page is — and isn't.
This page summarises well-documented safety considerations, contraindications and known interactions for the ingredients in our catalogue, intended for trade buyers formulating finished products. It is not medical advice, is not exhaustive, and does not replace your own regulatory and safety assessment. Always verify against the current certificate of analysis for your batch, and consult a qualified regulatory or medical professional before finalising formulation, dosing or label claims.
Safety notes by product.
Organised by catalogue category, matching the range on our extracts page.
| Product | Key safety note | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Ashwagandha | May stimulate thyroid activity — caution advised for hyperthyroidism. Not recommended during pregnancy. Rare hepatotoxicity reports at high doses. | Caution |
| Rhodiola Rosea | Mild stimulant effect; best avoided in evening formulations. May interact with MAOI medication. | Caution |
| Panax Ginseng | May lower blood glucose — caution alongside diabetes medication. Mild stimulant effect; best avoided in evening formulations. Possible interaction with anticoagulant medication. | Caution |
| American Ginseng | Generally milder than Panax ginseng. Documented interaction with warfarin reported in case studies — caution alongside anticoagulant medication. | Caution |
| Eleuthero | Generally well tolerated. Caution advised for uncontrolled hypertension, and possible interaction with sedative or anticoagulant medication. | Caution |
| Holy Basil | May lower blood glucose — caution alongside diabetes medication. Not recommended during pregnancy. Possible interaction with anticoagulant medication. | Caution |
| Schisandra Berry | May affect the metabolism of certain pharmaceutical drugs via liver enzyme pathways — caution alongside prescription medication. Not recommended during pregnancy. | Caution |
| Astragalus Root | Immune-stimulating properties may not be appropriate alongside immunosuppressant medication or for autoimmune conditions — flag for relevant formulations. | Caution |
| Maca Root | Generally well tolerated. Some evidence of hormonal activity — caution for hormone-sensitive conditions. Novel Food status varies by market and preparation. | Caution |
| Suma Root | Limited modern safety data available relative to other adaptogens. General caution advised pending further research. | Caution |
| Gotu Kola | May cause mild gastrointestinal upset or headache at high doses. Rare reports of liver-related effects with prolonged high-dose use. | Caution |
| Licorice Root | Prolonged or high-dose use is well documented to raise blood pressure and deplete potassium. Not recommended for hypertension, pregnancy or cardiac conditions unless DGL (deglycyrrhizinated) grade is used. | Caution |
| Shilajit | Verify current COA for heavy-metal testing before sourcing — purification quality varies significantly by supplier. Caution for iron-overload conditions given mineral content. | Caution |
| He Shou Wu | Rare but well-documented reports of liver injury associated with this herb. Not recommended for those with existing liver conditions. | Caution |
| Cistanche | Limited modern safety data available. General caution advised pending further research. | Caution |
| Product | Key safety note | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Cordyceps Militaris | Generally well tolerated. Mild gastrointestinal effects reported occasionally. | Generally OK |
| Lion's Mane | Generally well tolerated. Rare allergic reactions in mushroom-sensitive individuals. | Generally OK |
| Reishi | Mild blood-thinning effect reported — caution alongside anticoagulant medication or before surgery. Not recommended during pregnancy. | Caution |
| Chaga | Contains oxalates — caution if prone to kidney stones. Immune-modulating effects may not be appropriate for autoimmune conditions or alongside immunosuppressant medication. | Caution |
| Turkey Tail | Generally well tolerated. Mild gastrointestinal effects reported occasionally at high doses. | Generally OK |
| Maitake | May lower blood glucose — caution alongside diabetes medication or anticoagulant medication. | Caution |
| Shiitake | Generally well tolerated as a standardised extract. Rare skin-reaction reports (shiitake dermatitis) are associated with raw or undercooked whole mushroom, not the standardised extract form. | Generally OK |
Safety practice that applies across the whole range.
Verify against the COA
Every batch is tested and documented — always check the current certificate of analysis for your specific batch before finalising a formulation or label claim. See Quality Assurance.
Pregnancy & breastfeeding
Several ingredients in our range are not recommended during pregnancy or breastfeeding. Ensure your own finished-product labelling carries appropriate consumer-facing guidance.
Medication interactions
Several ingredients may interact with common medication classes — anticoagulants, diabetes medication, thyroid medication and MAOIs among them. Flag these clearly where relevant to your formulation.
Responsible dosing
Formulate within the trade dose references stated on each product page. We don't provide personalised dosing advice — that's a decision for your own formulation and regulatory team.
Missing an interaction you need?
This page isn't exhaustive. If you need detailed interaction data for a specific formulation, contact us and we'll point you toward the relevant technical documentation.
Regulatory status varies by market
Some ingredients carry Novel Food or market-specific regulatory considerations that differ between the UK, EU and other markets. See below, and verify independently for your target market.
Where these products typically sit, UK & EU.
A general orientation, not a substitute for your own regulatory advice — classification and permitted claims can vary by market and by how an ingredient is used in your specific formulation.
Food supplement
The majority of our catalogue is supplied for use under food supplement frameworks (UK Food Supplements Regulations; EU Directive 2002/46/EC). No pre-market authorisation is typically required for established botanicals and nutrients, but health claims are tightly restricted.
Novel Food status
Ingredients not consumed to a significant degree in the EU before May 1997 may require Novel Food authorisation (Regulation (EU) 2015/2283) before they can be marketed in some formulations or markets. Check the EU Novel Food Catalogue directly, and ask us if you're unsure about a specific product.
Health claims are restricted
No claims may be made regarding diagnosis, treatment, cure or prevention of disease. Most botanical health claims sit on the EU's "on-hold" list rather than being formally authorised (Regulation 1924/2006) — keep finished-product marketing language within what's actually permitted in your target market.
Country-specific national lists
Several EU member states (and non-EU markets) maintain their own positive or negative lists for botanical ingredients that go beyond general EU law. Always check the specific requirements of each market you sell into.
About this page, answered.
No. This is general safety and interaction information for trade buyers formulating finished products, not medical or dietary advice for any individual. Always consult a qualified professional for anything medication- or condition-specific.
The status reflects whether a well-documented interaction or contraindication exists at all, not its severity or likelihood. "Caution" means review the specific note before finalising a formulation involving that ingredient — it isn't a ranking of how risky a product is relative to others.
Novel Food status depends on the specific ingredient, its source, and how it's used in your formulation, and it can change. We'll flag anything relevant when you enquire, but the EU Novel Food Catalogue remains the authoritative source — always verify directly for your target market.
Not directly — this page is written for trade formulators, not end consumers. Your consumer-facing label copy needs its own review against the regulations of your specific target market, typically with input from a regulatory consultant.
Contact us with the specific formulation context and we'll point you toward relevant technical documentation, or confirm what we can and can't provide for that ingredient.
We review and update this page as our catalogue changes and as new safety information becomes available. It reflects general knowledge at time of writing and should be treated as a starting point for your own due diligence, not a final source.
Ask us before you finalise a formulation.
If you need interaction data, a COA, or a regulatory position statement for a specific product, get in touch and we'll point you in the right direction.