QUESTION: Is it a good idea to take herbs every day, or should you cycle off and on?
ANSWER: Taking a break from herbal supplements is often a wise idea. Herbs can offer powerful natural medicine, but we don't know the cumulative effect of herbal therapies over months or years. Some herbs can definitely be toxic over time. Comfrey and chaparral, for instance, have questionable safety profiles and chaparral has been known to cause liver damage on occasion. Other herbs, such as ma huang—which contains the stimulant ephedrine and is used by some herbalists to treat asthma—are powerful, and long-term use is not recommended.
However, some herbs work best when they have a chance to influence the body gently over time. For instance, herbs that gently balance women's hormones, such as black cohosh or chasteberry, may need to be taken long term, especially during menopause. And herbs that treat prostate trouble, such as saw palmetto, may also need to be taken on a regular basis.
