Herbal supplements' illegal ingredients pose health risk, experts warn

Unlicensed medicines used in obesity or erection remedies could lower blood pressure or raise chances of heart attack

Many herbal supplements, including for obesity and erectile dysfunction, contain hidden unlicensed pharmaceutical ingredients that could endanger people's health, experts have warned.

The research team, from Queen's University Belfast, Kingston University in London and the life sciences testing company LGC, concluded that not only do such supplements often make unverified claims as to their benefits but some have illegal ingredients which could pose a threat - potentially causing low blood pressure or an increased risk of heart attacks.