Some herbals may threaten fertility

Test-tube studies indicate that some popular over-the-counter herbal remedies, such as echinacea and St. John's wort, may impair fertility or induce mutations in sperm.

References:

1999. Popular herbs may impair fertility. American Society for Reproductive Medicine News Release. Feb. 22.

Ondrizek, R.R., et al. 1999. An alternative medicine study of herbal effects on the penetration of zona-free hamster oocytes and the integrity of sperm deoxyribonucleic acid. Fertility and Sterility 71(March):517.

Sources:

Richard R. Ondrizek
Loma Linda University School of Medicine
Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics
Loma Linda, CA 92950

From Science News, Vol. 155, No. 13, March 27, 1999, p. 207. Copyright © 1999, Science Service.

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