There is no such thing as a side-effect. Any medicinal, be it an herb, a pharmaceutical, a vitamin, a food, etc., has only a set of actions, or effects. Side-effects are just those effects we do not like, but there is nothing “side” about them. We discuss this in Chinese medicine as indications and contra-indications. If something about an herb is contra-indicated for a particular person, either it cannot be used or the formula in which it is given must be modified to account for this. Administering medicine that causes harm is poor medical treatment, and is prohibited in Chinese medicine.