Emergencies and Poisoning During Natural Treatments: What to Do and Who to Call

Urgent first

Suspected poisoning (US): call Poison Help at 1-800-222-1222. MedlinePlus says to call your local poison control center at that number right away if you suspect someone has been poisoned. [1] The service is free, expert and confidential, and an online tool is also available. [2]

Call 911 now if the person collapses, has a seizure, has trouble breathing or cannot be awakened. [2]

Call 911 for a possible severe allergic reaction (anaphylaxis), [3] a heart attack, [4] or stroke. [5]

Mental health crisis (US): the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline offers a counselor by call, text or chat, day or night. [6]

Outside the US, see poison help by country. Information only; this page does not replace medical care.

Why "natural" treatments can still cause emergencies

MedlinePlus says any substance can be poisonous if too much is taken, and that poisoning effects range from short-term illness to brain damage, coma and death. [1] The US FDA says some products promoted as "all-natural" have contained hidden, dangerously high doses of prescription drug ingredients. [7] NCCIH says some products sold as supplements, mainly for weight loss, sexual enhancement and bodybuilding, may contain prescription drugs not allowed in supplements or ingredients not on the label. [8] NCCIH also says more cases of acute liver damage in people taking dietary supplements are being reported, though it is still rare, and the injury can be severe. [8]

Signs that need emergency help

These come from MedlinePlus and are not complete lists.

Do not wait to see whether severe symptoms pass. Give emergency staff the names of everything taken, including herbs, supplements and any treatment you had at a clinic. Telling providers about every approach you use is NCCIH advice. [9] We give no first-aid steps beyond what the sources say here; follow the instructions you get from the poison center or emergency dispatcher.

Intravenous and clinic-based treatments

Proper evidence not found on this page for complication rates of specific clinic treatments such as IV drips; we looked at NCCIH and FDA pages for safety statements and found none for these treatments. See IV vitamin therapy and ozone therapy claims and detox programs and chelation claims. If you feel suddenly unwell during or after any treatment, treat it as an emergency and tell staff.

After the emergency

Tell your regular doctor. Consider reporting the product or practitioner; see reporting complaints and adverse events. More detail is at poisoning: what to do first and pet and animal poisoning.

Take extra care

Check with a clinician before using supplements if you are pregnant, nursing, giving them to a child, have medical problems, take medicines or are having surgery. NCCIH notes that supplements may interact with medications or pose risks in these situations, and that many have not been tested in pregnant women, nursing mothers or children. [8]