For example, Ginkgo contributes to the anticoagulant effect of certain drugs and may cause spontaneous bleeding. I can't stress enough, if people choose to take supplements, be sure to go to a responsible source and get credible references. Some supplements are touted as beneficial to men, such as yohimbe and creatine. Yohimbe has been promoted as enhancing the male libido, but there are no studies that back this up, Sprenger said. In fact, yohimbe is very toxic and considered dangerous.
Creatine is said to build muscle and energy during workouts.
Use of this supplement came to light when professional athletes were found to be using it as a way to prolong workouts. So far there have been no negative reports on creatine. Unlike prescription medicines, herbal products are not regulated by the Food and Drug Administration. This means they can be misidentified, contaminated or contain multiple ingredients, Marino said. Consumers who use dietary supplements should always read product labels, follow directions and heed all warnings.