More Americans are turning to herbal supplements to cure what ails them but a new study says they may contain dangerous toxins.

A study in the Journal of the American Medical Association, says 21% of plant-based medications contain lead, mercury and arsenic.

Doctor Betty Ann Peters of the Wausau Wellness Center says all medications, including prescriptions contain toxins, but most are flushed out of the body through the liver.

Peters, has a PhD in the study of Naturopathic medicine, and says most toxins are present at very low levels in herbal medications.

"It's a possibility because of ground water contaminants, air contaminants, that you can find these substances in herbal medicines, but they are more concentrated in other things you would use. "

Peters recommends buying herbal supplements from reputable companies.

"We screen the companies we order from to make sure they are using third party testing on their products to make sure toxic levels are low and there are no contaminants to harm people. "

Peters says if you think you may have been exposed to toxins talk to your doctor about having a hair test to measure the amount in your body.

For more information on the study click on the link to the Journal of the American Medical Association.

For more information on the Wausau Wellness Center call (715) 842-7237.