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Herbal Remedies for Iron Toxicity

According to James F. Balch and Mark Stengler, authors of "Prescription for Natural Cures," iron toxicity can lead to an increased risk of heart disease and even cancer. In addition, in small children, iron toxicity can cause intestinal tract damage, liver failure, nausea, vomiting, shock and even death. Excessive iron can also be constipating and irritating to the digestive tract. Though several of these problems associated with excess iron can be potentially serious, herbal remedies can help if you think you might be ingesting too much iron.

  1. Herbal Supplements

    • First, check your iron supplement. Men should only take 10 mg of iron a day. Women with a normal menstrual cycle or no cycle at all should also take 10 mg a day. Women with heavy menstrual cycles should take 20 mg a day.
      To lower iron levels, Balch and Stengler recommend taking dandelion root. In addition to lowering iron levels, dandelion root will also help reduce any constipation you might be having as a result of your excess iron. Take 250 to 500 mg of dandelion root every day, or you could take two ml with a meal once a day.
      Take milk thistle. Known for its ability to reduce constipation and help the liver adequately dispose of excess iron, milk thistle comes in tincture, capsule and tablet form. When you have too much iron, you might develop iron deposits in your liver. Milk thistle will regenerate and protect liver cells.

      Though it's not a long-term solution for effectively removing excess iron from your body, you could also try the herbal laxative cascara sagrada. Take 250 mg once a day or 2.5 ml of a tincture. Take the tincture two to three times a day for maximum relief.

    Another Option for Serious Iron Toxicity

    • If you've tried herbal remedies and are still experiencing symptoms of iron toxicity, make sure to call your doctor. She might choose to give you the injection Deferoxamine, which is used to remove excess iron from the body. The Mayo Clinic says that this injection might be necessary for acute iron poisoning, particularly poisoning in small children. It could also be beneficial for people with anemia who have had several blood transfusions. Deferoxamine should only be given by your doctor.

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