FAQ Herbs
What is an herb?
An herb is a plant or plant part used for its scent, flavor or therapeutic properties. Many herbs have been used for a long time for claimed health benefits. They are sold as tablets, capsules, powders, teas, extracts and fresh or dried plants. However, some can cause health problems, some are not effective and some may interact with other drugs you are taking.
Are herbal health products and supplements safe because they’re natural?
Not necessarily. After all, many plants are poisonous! Also due to defective manufacturing process many of herbal products are contaminated with heavy metals like mercury, lead, arsenic etc, even other contain metal like silver and gold above recommended dosage and some product has its origin from stone corals etc. These types of products are highly nephrotoxic.
They might contain other ingredients, such as plant pollen, that could make you sick. Sometimes they contain drugs that aren’t listed on the label, such as steroids or estrogens. Some of these products may even contain pesticides.
So better consult your physician before using them or you may damage your liver and kidney.
Do extra precaution needed with some health problems whiletaking herbal products and supplements?
Yes. Herbal products and supplements may not be safe if you have certain health problems particularly:
· Blood clotting problems
· Epilepsy
· Psychiatric problems
· Parkinson’s disease
· Liver problems
· Stroke
· Thyroid problems
If you are going to have surgery, then your doctor must know if you use herbal products. Herbal products can cause excessive blood loss during surgery and problems with anesthesia.
Which botanical products may pose a health risk?
Following botanical products are known to produces serious side effects :
Aloe Vera:A cancer therapy that used injections of acemannan, a mucopolysaccharide derived from aloe vera, caused several deaths. Potential toxicities exist when taken orally.
Bitter Melon: Red arils (the covering on the seed) are reportedly toxic in children, causing vomiting, diarrhea, and death. Ingestion of vicine (from the seed) may cause favism characterized by headache, fever, abdominal pain, and coma.
Borage: May contain small amounts of the alkaloid amabiline, which is toxic to the liver. Risk of liver damage increases with length of exposure and cumulative dose consumed. Borage oil products should be certified free of unsaturated pyrrolizidine alkaloids (UPAs) down to the level of 0.5-1 ug/g.
Chaparral Tea: Severe liver toxicity, requiring liver transplantation in some cases. The FDA issued a health warning urging withdrawal of these products in 1992.
Comfrey: Toxic to the liver.
Horse Chestnut: Raw horse chestnut seeds are classified by the FDA as unsafe; many of its constituents are considered toxic, such as the glycosides and the saponins.
Jin Hu Huan: Can cause hepatitis and dangerously slow heart rate.
Kava: May cause liver toxicity, including one reported death and several cases that required liver transplantation.
Lobelia: In high doses, causes vomiting, rapid heartbeat, breathing problems, coma, and death.
Pau d'arco: Its quinone components are known to have toxic effects.
Rhubarb: Chronic consumption can cause kidney and liver damage from its oxalate content.
Sassafras: Contains safrole and has caused liver cancer in animal models. It is classified as a carcinogenic (cancer-causing) substance. Risk increases with length of exposure and amount consumed. Toxic reactions include liver cancer and death.
Tea Tree Oil: When taken orally, coma and neutrophil leukocytosis (abnormal elevation of white blood cell count) can occur.
Yohimbe: Has caused seizures, kidney failure, and death.
Which supplements might cause dangerous interactions or increase bleeding?
The following agents have been reported to interfere with anticoagulants:
Bilberry: Inhibits platelet aggregation
Butchers Broom: Contains coumarins
Chamomile : Contains coumarins
Dong Quai: Contains coumarins
Forskolin: Inhibits platelet aggregation
Ginkgo: Inhibits platelet aggregation.
Licorice: Contains coumarins.
Red Clover: Contains coumarins.
Reishi Mushroom: Contains coumarins.
Willow Bark : Aspirin like effect, aspirin has its origin from this plant
Do any botanicals interfere with the metabolism of drugs?
To maintain the proper metabolism of certain drugs by cytochrome p450 (a liver enzyme), patients should discontinue use of the following agents. Increased metabolism of a drug reduces its concentration in the blood and may reduce its effectiveness. Decreased metabolism of a drug increases its concentration in the blood and can lead to toxicity or increased side effects.
Essiac: A case of decreased clearance (removal from the blood) of an experimental chemotherapy is reported in a single patient taking Essiac. This may be due to inhibition of cytochrome p450 isoenzymes, hindering their ability to metabolize the chemotherapy agent.
Garlic: May induce the cytochrome p450 3A4 isoenzyme, resulting in enhanced metabolism (and decreased effectiveness) of certain drugs.
Ginkgo: Preliminary evidence suggests that ginkgo can affect the cytochrome enzymes 1A2, 2D6, and 3A4. However, data are controversial regarding whether ginkgo induces or inhibits individual enzymes.
Ginseng (Siberian): Inhibits metabolism of certain medications, leading to higher medication levels in the blood, possibly by inhibition of cytochrome p450 2C19.
Goldenseal: May inhibit the 3A4 isoenzyme resulting in increased blood levels of certain medications.
Milk Thistle: Inhibits cytochrome P-450 3A4. Although no interactions have been reported, inhibition of drug metabolism may occur for several constituents (e.g. ketoconazole, itraconazole, erythromycin, triazolam).
St. John's Wort: Induces cytochrome isoenzyme 3A4, enhancing metabolism of certain medications and reducing their concentration in the blood.
Turmeric: In vitro studies indicate inhibition of cytochrome P450 1A1, which may result in increased blood levels of certain medications.
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