The Hazard Content of Cadmium, Lead, and Other Trace Elements in Some Medicinal Herbs and Their Water Infusions

Table 1

Summary of the medicinal herbal samples, their common and scientific names, and sources and their recommended medicinal uses.

Sample code	Brand name	Number of samples	Common name	Scientific name	Product of (source)	Medicinal uses (claimed on the manufacturers’ packaging)
H1	Teebah	4	Sage	Salvia officinalis	Jordan	Digestive problems, depression, memory loss, diarrhea, bloating, and overproduction of perspiration
H2	Ibn Sina	2	Cumin	Cuminum cyminum	Syria	Antiflatulence antispasmodic and diuretic menstruation
H3	Al-Bothoor	2	Oliban	Boswellia carterii	Egypt	Chest coughs, nausea, indigestion, and hypertension
H4	Al-Khodary	4	Chamomile	Matricaria recutita	Jordan	Anti-inflammatory, sleep aid, treatment for fevers, colds, and stomach ailments
H5	Al-Nakhah	3	Peppermint	Mentha piperita	Jordan	Irritable bowel syndrome and colonic spasms, functional dyspepsia, and enhancement of gastric emptying
H6	Al-Rawabi	2	Cinnamon	Cinnamomum cassia	Jordan	Control of blood sugar levels, powerful anti-bacterial agent, and natural disinfectant
H7	Al-Attar	2	Anise	Pimpinella anisum	Syria	Remove phlegm and catarrh in the bronchial passageways, relieve asthma symptoms, indigestion and stomach pain, and mouth freshener
H8	Bint -Alreef	2	fennel flower; (black seed)	Nigella sativa	Jordan	Healing for all diseases
H9	Al-Nakhah	2	Ginger	Zingiber officinale	Jordan	Inflammation of the colon, asthma symptoms, pain during menstruation, high blood pressure chronic inflammation, and relief of nausea
H10	Al-Rawabi	3	Thyme	Thymus vulgaris	Jordan	Kidney problems, muscle pain, chronic fatigue, parasites, anxiety, and headache
H11	Al-Bothoor	2	Roselle	Hibiscus sabdariffa	Egypt	High blood pressure, coughs, and colds
H12	Ibn Sina	2	Lemon Balm	Melissa officinalis	Syria	Nervous agitation, urinary spasms, functional gastrointestinal complaints, sleep disorders, and menstrual cramps
H13	Bint -Alreef	2	Fenugreek	Trigonella foenum-graecum	Jordan	Laxative, digestive aid, remedy for coughs and bronchitis, and increases in breast milk production
H14	Teebah	2	Cardamom	Elettaria cardamomum	Jordan	Digestion problems, common cold, cough, and bronchitis
H15	Al-Nakhah	3	Roots of shirsh zallouh	Ferula hermonis	Jordan	Enhance sexual performance
M1	Al-Attar	3	Herbal tea (zhourat) mixture		Syria	Antimicrobial, antiviral, and inflammation of gastric mucosa
M2	Al-Attar	2	Herbal mixture	—	Syria	Sedative of renal colic
M3	Al-Attar	2	Herbal mixture	—	Syria	Sedative allergic asthma
M4	Al-Attar	2	Herbal mixture	—	Syria	Coughing
M5	Al-Attar	2	Herbal mixture	—	Syria	Cold
M6	Al-Attar	2	Herbal mixture	—	Syria	Inflation and gases
M7	Al-Attar	2	Herbal mixture	—	Syria	Laxative
M8	Ibn Sina	2	Mixed Chinese herbs	—	Syria	Slimming