Herb Interactions
Please click here for an intuitive herb interaction chart.
A health-care revolution has taken place throughout the world, as more and more people choose to take responsibility for their own health and wellbeing and in the millions, people are seeking alternative health therapies and modalities. The use of traditional herbals and modern nutritionals such as vitamins and minerals is on the increase, and the WHO estimates that up to 80% of the world's population use herbal medicine for primary health care.
This is certainly true in South Africa, where up to 85% of South Africans turn to traditional or complementary medicine for preventative and primary health care. The core reason for the increase in the use of 'natural' medicine, is that more and more people realize that there is no such thing as an essential drug.
Drugs don't play a normal role in human biology. Health problems are not caused by drug deficiencies. People are increasingly aware that drugs, although beneficial and important in certain medical conditions and emergencies, have also the potential for serious side effects which can harm the body with long term use, so, many people are taking responsibility for their own health, most particularly with preventative health care objectives in mind. Furthermore, the information age empowers more and more people with education and knowledge around health care that provides a forum for informed health care choices.
Do you worry that the herbal remedies, high potency vitamins, and supplements you're taking could interact with prescription drugs? Well, you are sensible and correct to question the safety profile of herbs, foods, drugs when taken in combination with each other. Herb, nutrient, drug interactions are rare but can happen. A new 2004 review published in Archives of Internal Medicine shows that in 94% of cases, these interactions are fortunately, not serious. Many people have the mistaken notion that, being natural, all herbs and foods are safe. Certain foods should not be eaten in excess, and certain herbs cannot be supplied over the counter due to their potential toxicity. Having said that, on the whole Herbs and Food have an excellent safety profile, - however, pharmaceutical drugs do not. If you read the product insert of a drug, you will note warnings of possible drug interactions, often with other drugs, together with a list of contra-indications. Very often, medicines may interact with herbs and foods and this could result in serious side reactions. It is always a good practice to tell your doctor or health care practitioners what you are taking so that they can advise you of possible complications, in case there is potential for any drug / food / herb / nutrient interaction.
All of Bioharmony's products contain a caution / warning list of possible interactions or contra-indications and this enables you to make informed choices before you use each individual product.
The following list is examples of the known negative interactions between the herbs, nutrients, and prescription medications you may be taking. Ultimately, the decision to use herbal or nutraceutical supplements while on prescription medications is a personal one, and it is strongly recommended that you inform your health care professional of your intent to do so, in order to safely assess the potential for adverse reactions.
Alcohol is a drug that interacts with almost every medication, especially antidepressants and other drugs that affect the brain and nervous system. What alcohol does, is tend to increase the depressive effects of medications such as benzodiazepines, antihistamines, antidepressants, antipsychotics, muscle relaxants, narcotics, or any drug with sedative actions.
Some dietary components increase the risk of side effects. Theophylline, a medication administered to treat asthma, contains xanthines, which are also found in tea, coffee, chocolate, and other sources of caffeine. Consuming large amounts of these substances while taking theophylline increases the risk of drug toxicity.
Certain vitamins and minerals impact on medications too. Large amounts of broccoli, spinach, and other green leafy vegetables high in vitamin K, which promotes the formation of blood clots, can counteract the effects of heparin, warfarin, and other drugs given to prevent clotting.
Garlic capsules combined with diabetes medication can cause a dangerous decrease in blood sugars. Some people who are sensitive to garlic may experience heartburn and flatulence. Garlic has anti-clotting properties. You should check with your doctor if you are taking anticoagulant drugs.
Dietary fiber also affects drug absorption. Pectin and other soluble fibers slow down the absorption of acetaminophen, a popular painkiller. Bran and other insoluble fibers have a similar effect on digoxin, a major heart medication.
Grapefruite Juice is one food that interacts with prescription drugs. Grapefruit juice causes some drugs to be absorbed too quickly - a dangerous effect for people taking drugs with high potential for toxicity or serious side effects. Don't drink grapefruit juice if you take calcium channel blockers for high blood pressure. The combination can be fatal! Grapefruit juice can also have dangerous interactions with drugs for allergies like Claritin and Allegra, antihistamines like Benadryl, and high blood pressure drugs. Grapefruit juice may interact with organ transplant drugs, estrogens and oral contraceptives, anti-anxiety medications, Methadone, Viagra, HIV drugs, seizure drugs and statin drugs for high cholesterol. Note: While grapefruit juice has the reputation for interactions, the fruit may have the same effect if consumed in large amounts.
Aged Cheese (brie, parmesan, cheddar and Roquefort), fava beans, sauerkraut, Italian green beans, some beers, red wine, pepperoni and overly ripe avocados should be avoided by people taking MAO antidepressants. The interaction can cause a potentially fatal rise in blood pressure.
A special note on antidepressant MAO drugs (mono amine oxidase inhibitors): MAO's are a rare class of drugs known to have interactions with foods. People taking MAO inhibitors for depression should avoid foods high in tyramine like cheese, sausage, alcohol, legumes, fish, sauerkraut, soups, and yeast extracts, and the herbs ginseng and scotch broom.
Fizzy, caffeinated beverages and asthma drugs taken together can cause affect the nervous system and cause restlessness or hyperactivity. Those taking Tagament , quinolone antibiotics and even oral contraceptives should be aware these drugs may cause their cup of coffee to give them more of a Java jolt than they expected.
Grilled meat can lead to problems for those on asthma medications containing theophyllines. The chemical compounds formed when meat is grilled somehow prevent this type of medication from working effectively, increasing the possibility of an unmanageable asthma attack.
Gingko Biloba is a popular herb that is widely used to help reduce age-related problems like poor circulation, heart disease, tinnitus and impotence, ginkgo is best known as an effective herbal 'brain booster' against memory deterioration. While generally very safe, ginkgo's blood-thinning effects can interact with some anticoagulants like Warfarin and antiplatelet drugs, and over-the-counter drugs like aspirin or ibuprofen. Many experts feel this interaction is actually minor and only occurs in very small percentage of people taking the herb. Still, it is not advised to take ginkgo before surgery without medical supervision.
As can be seen by the above examples, the effect of a drug can be either increased or decreased in the presence of other factors in the diet, including herbal use. We have still so much to learn about how herbs, foods and nutrients interact with powerful prescription medicines. Although it is likely that most such factors have little or no influence on drug metabolism, continued research will add to our knowledge of such interactions and responsible food and supplement manufacturers, like BIOHARMONY, will be expected to inform their customers of any new findings. There is now an ongoing interest in other drugs that are suspected of interacting with certain specific herbs, with most contemporary emphasis on the use of herbs with blood-thinning drugs such as warfarin. Although the current concerns are either conceptual or based on isolated and inconclusive reports, it is advisable to inform your prescribing doctor or pharmacist that you are using herbs when taking pharmaceutical medication. Still, by and large, research show that most negative interactions occur when people use highly potent standardized herbs, take extremely large doses of herbs or nutrients, or combine herbs and nutrients with drugs that have innate toxic properties and serious side effects.
The decision to use herbs for their health promoting value is, aswith all health decisions, a personal one. There are, however, many good reasons to consider herbal and other natural products as complements to your own health care. The best reason, however, may be the fact that vitamins, herbs and herbal products, with their incredibly wide use throughout time and place, continue to provide real health benefits while maintaining a remarkable safety profile.
Please click here for an intuitive herb interaction chart.