8 Dangerous Supplements

Dietary supplements are a booming industry, often marketed as quick fixes for everything from weight loss to muscle gain, mental clarity, and sexual performance. While many supplements offer real benefits when used correctly, others can pose serious health risks—especially when misused, taken in high doses, or combined with other medications.

Here are 8 potentially dangerous supplements that could negatively impact your health—and how they do it.

1. Yohimbe

Used for: Fat loss, erectile dysfunction, athletic performance

Health Risks:

• Increases heart rate and blood pressure

• Can cause anxiety, heart palpitations, and even heart attacks

• May lead to kidney failure or seizures in high doses

Why it’s dangerous: Yohimbe affects the central nervous system and cardiovascular system, and its effects can be unpredictable, especially in people with underlying conditions.

2. Kava

Used for: Anxiety, stress relief, insomnia

Health Risks:

• Liver toxicity, including hepatitis, cirrhosis, and liver failure

• Interactions with alcohol or sedatives can intensify side effects

Why it’s dangerous: Kava has been banned or restricted in several countries due to its potential to cause severe liver damage, even with short-term use.

3. Ephedra (Ma Huang)

Used for: Weight loss, increased energy, athletic performance

Health Risks:

• High blood pressure, strokes, seizures, and heart attacks

• Banned by the FDA in 2004 due to numerous deaths

Why it’s dangerous: Ephedra is a potent stimulant that can overstimulate the heart and central nervous system, with sometimes fatal consequences.

4. Aconite (also known as Wolfsbane or Monkshood)

Used for: Pain relief, inflammation, traditional remedies

Health Risks:

• Cardiac arrhythmia, respiratory failure, death

• Toxic even in small doses

Why it’s dangerous: Aconite is one of the most poisonous plant-based substances and should never be ingested without medical supervision.

5. Bitter Orange (Synephrine)

Used for: Weight loss, appetite suppression, athletic performance

Health Risks:

• Can raise heart rate and blood pressure

• Increases risk of heart attack and stroke, especially when combined with caffeine

Why it’s dangerous: Often used as a “natural” replacement for banned substances like ephedra, but carries many of the same risks.

6. Comfrey

Used for: Wound healing, inflammation, internal ulcers

Health Risks:

• Contains pyrrolizidine alkaloids that can cause liver damage

• Potentially carcinogenic

Why it’s dangerous: Internal use is particularly risky, and comfrey is banned in many countries for use in oral supplements.

7. DMAA (1,3-dimethylamylamine)

Used for: Pre-workouts, fat burners, energy boosts

Health Risks:

• High blood pressure, chest pain, shortness of breath

• Linked to cardiac arrest, particularly during physical exertion

Why it’s dangerous: This synthetic stimulant has been linked to multiple deaths and is banned by several sports organizations and health agencies.

8. Colloidal Silver

Used for: Immune support, infection control

Health Risks:

• Causes argyria (irreversible blue-gray skin discoloration)

• Can damage kidneys, liver, and nervous system over time

Why it’s dangerous: There’s no proven benefit, and long-term use can lead to serious toxicity without any medicinal upside. Saying that, some alternative medicine practitioners use Colloidal Silver with great effect, so you may want to consult them for more information.