[Fwd: 10 Common Herbal Mistakes...and how to avoid them...]

[Guest guest]

---

10 Common Herbal Mistakes...and how to avoid them...

Date:

Sat, 24 Oct 2009 20:34:37 -0700 (PDT)

From:

mary braun

10

Common Herbal Mistakes--

And How

to Avoid Them

By Wong,

About.com

Updated: June 24, 2008

About.com Health's Disease and

Condition content is reviewed by our Medical Review Board

See More About:

supplement

safety

chamomile

supplement-drug

interactions

supplement

side effects

When it comes to the herbs you're taking, are you unwittingly making

mistakes that could harm your health? Here's a rundown of the 10 most

common herb mistakes.

1) You drink chamomile tea without knowing

what medications it interacts with.

Although most people think of chamomile tea as being harmless, it can

have some serious side effects if it's combined with certain

medications.

For example, a case report published in the April 2006 issue of the Canadian

Medical Association Journal

describes a 70-year-old woman who, while being treated with the drug

warfarin, was admitted to hospital with internal bleeding after having

used chamomile tea and body lotion for cold symptoms.

Tip Take a look at this list

of drugs that can interact with chamomile.

2) You're tired all the time so you turn to

herbs and other natural products to boost your energy.

Constant

weariness, tiredness, or lack of energy warrants a trip to your primary

care provider, not the health food store. Although diet and supplements

may help, the first step is make sure that the cause of the fatigue

isn't an underlying illness, such as:

Anemia

Asthma

Sleep disorders such as obstructive sleep

apnea

Hypothyroidism

Chronic

fatigue syndrome

Depression

Fatigue can also be a symptom of other conditions such as infectious

diseases (e.g. mononucleosis),

heart

failure, diabetes,

liver or kidney

disease, 's disease,

Autoimmune diseases (e.g. lupus),

cancer, malnutrition,

or due to medication side effects.

Tip

See your primary health provider first. He or she will ask you

questions and make sure you have the proper laboratory and/or imaging

tests to rule out these conditions. Then you can think about natural approaches.

3) You take herbs, supplements, and/or drugs

that together may increase your risk of bleeding.

Anticoagulant

drugs such as aspirin

or warfarin

(commonly referred to as "blood-thinners") prevent the formation of

blood clots inside arteries, reducing the risk of stroke and heart

disease. When they are combined with herbs and supplements that also

have an anticoagulant effect, they can increase the risk of bleeding:

aloe

vera

chamomile

coenzyme

q10

danshen

feverfew

garlic

ginger

gingko

ginseng

saw

palmetto

goji

devil's

claw

dong quai

fish oil

willow

bark

Tip

If you are taking more than one of these herbs or are taking them

warfarin, aspirin, or other anticoagulants, or if you are

self-prescribing any of these herbs, consult a licensed holistic

practitioner (such as a naturopathic doctor) for guidance. Be sure to

inform your family physician of all herbs and supplements you are

taking. Blood tests called the prothrombin

time and international normalized ratios (PT/INR) can be used to assess blood clotting.

4) You quit your coffee or soda habit in favor

of lots of yerba mate and energy beverages.

Yerba

mate is the coffeehouse "it" drink. Widely consumed in Central and

South America, it's often touted as a healthier alternative to coffee,

a herbal tea that energizes without causing jitters. However, yerba

mate has been associated with esophageal,

oral,

lung,

and bladder cancers

in several research studies. Although studies have found it's really

only a risk for people drinking huge amounts of the tea (greater than 1

liter a day) or very hot tea, it should be avoided until more evidence

is in.

Energy drinks, such as Red Bull, Monster Energy Drink,

Full Throttle, contain caffeine and a slew of vitamins and herbs. One

of the biggest concerns is that we just don't know enough about the

combined effects of these ingredients. Many ingredients are believed to

work synergistically with caffeine to boost its stimulant power. Most

of them contain loads of sugar and are really no better than soda.

What you need to know about energy drinks.

Tip If you're looking for healthier drink

options consider water with a splash of pomegranate juice or cranberry

juice.

5) You take immune-boosting herbs like echinacea and goldenseal

with immunosuppressant drugs, such as corticosteroids.

Drugs

that suppress the immune system are used to prevent organ rejection

after transplant and to control the symptoms of autoimmune diseases

such as rheumatoid arthritis,

lupus,

and type 1 diabetes

(more autoimmune

diseases). Herbs that stimulate the immune system may counteract

these medications, resulting in transplant

rejection, an exacerbation of pre-existing autoimmune disease, or

precipitation of autoimmune disease in people genetically predisposed

to such disorders.

Tip If you are taking immunosuppressant

drugs such as the ones listed below, do not take the herbs alfalfa, astragalus, echinacea, ginseng, licorice root, or the mineral zinc.

Cyclosporine

Azathioprine

Corticosteroids such as prednisone

Methotrexate

6) You take herbal laxatives or "dieter's

teas" to induce regular bowel movements.

The herbs in these products, called anthranoid laxatives, include:

cascara

sagrada

rhubarb

aloe

senna

buckthorn

People can become dependent and use

them for weeks, months, or even years at a time. However stimulant

laxatives such as senna should not be used for longer than a week

without consulting a doctor or other health provider. Prolonged use may

cause the bowels to lose the ability to move on their own, and has been

linked to chronic diarrhea, muscle weakness, potentially dangerous

irregular heart rhythms, and kidney or liver impairment.

Tip

Talk with your primary care provider about weaning off laxatives

gradually and recovering normal bowel function. The key is to do it

slowly—usually in combination with a fiber supplement such as psyllium and adequate fluids.

7) You take herbs and supplements before or

after surgery.

Your

surgeon needs to know about all herbs and supplements you are taking to

prevent complications. Herbs and supplements can interact with

anaesthestics or cause excessive bleeding. Columbia University's

Department of Plastic Surgery recommends that all herbs and

supplements be discontinued 2 to 3 weeks prior to surgery. The herbs

they identified as some of the most risky yet commonly used include:

ginkgo

garlic

ginseng

ginger

glucosamine

and chondroitin

coenzyme

q10

saw

palmetto

omega-3 fatty acids, flax seed oil, fish oil

goldenseal

chamomile

kava kava

St.

john's wort

licorice

valerian

vitamin E

8) You don't tell your doctor about the herbs

or supplements you're taking or stop taking medications on your own.

A

1997 study by Eisenberg, MD, of Beth Israel Deaconess Medical

Center in Boston, discovered that almost half of Americans use some

form alternative medicine, only a third of them told their doctors.

Why is this? A survey published in the Journal of Family Practice

found patients didn't reveal their use of natural therapies because

they thought their doctors wouldn't be interested, were biased against

alternative therapies, or didn't know enough about them to comment.

However, there is increasing evidence that not

telling could have serious risks to your health. Many herbs interact

with common medications and medical procedures and may increase side

effects or reduce the effectiveness of your treatment.

Tips

Type

up a list of your current supplements, including the ingredients,

ingredient amounts, and how often you take them. Next time you go to

your family doctor, bring the list with you and ask that it be added to

your chart.

You may wish to consider consulting a licensed

natural practitioner who can inform you of any interactions.

When

asking your family doctor a question, frame your questions so they are

as specific as possible, such as "I am thinking of trying massage

therapy for my neck. Is there any reason why I shouldn't have it?" If

communication is difficult, consider whether it's in your best interest

to find a family doctor who is easier to talk with and is

non-judgmental about your choices.

9) You rely soley on the manufacturer's

website for information about safety and side effects.

You should know about potential side effects and safety concerns from

an independent resource that is current and is based on scientific

research. Some manufacturers will describe their products as natural

therefore safe, but some have the potential to cause serious adverse

effects if taken improperly.

For example, in a 2003 study published in the journal Obstetrics

and Gynecology,

Adrienne Fugh-Berman at Washington University states that "the

use of bust-enhancing products should be discouraged because of lack of

evidence for efficacy and long-term safety concerns." And yet these

pills are incredibly popular--they're one of the most searched-for

herbal pills on the web. Herbs used in many of these breast enhancement

pills (e.g. hops, fenugreek) have been found to have potent estrogenic

effects and may increase the risk of hormonal cancers such as

endometrial and breast cancer. What you

need to know about herbal breast enhancement.

10) You don't take your herbs and supplements

consistently.

It's important to take herbs and supplements regularly as recommended

in order to assess whether or not they are working. A common mistake is

to start taking a supplement, skip a day, then two, and then after a

while start taking another supplement because you haven't noticed an

improvement. If you're not consistent, you'll never know whether it's

effective.

Tip Get a day-of-the-week pill

organizer online or at your

local drug store.

 

"

It's by doing nothing in particular that you become nobody in

particular...."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~<< + >>~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

44,789 Americans die each year because they don’t have health

insurance...that's 123 American's a day...

But then why should

'Politicians' care, they have a job, job security and unlimited 

resources, and an excellent benefit package.

These horrifying

statistics only apply to their constituents who are making

unprecedented multi-billion dollar profits for the health-care industry

from our premiums and through denials of care...and if we start to mess with reforming

health-care, corrupt politicians who oppose health-care lose

very lucrative campaign funding keeping them in office.

They have forgotten

their oath of service, the truth, compassion, and the 73% of Americans

demanding healthcare reform and a public option...

---------------------------------------------

HillsdaleCoCommunityAwareness"

HillsdaleCoFreeSharing-FoodSharing

[Guest guest]

---

10 Common Herbal Mistakes...and how to avoid them...

Date:

Sat, 24 Oct 2009 20:34:37 -0700 (PDT)

From:

mary braun

10

Common Herbal Mistakes--

And How

to Avoid Them

By Wong,

About.com

Updated: June 24, 2008

About.com Health's Disease and

Condition content is reviewed by our Medical Review Board

See More About:

supplement

safety

chamomile

supplement-drug

interactions

supplement

side effects

When it comes to the herbs you're taking, are you unwittingly making

mistakes that could harm your health? Here's a rundown of the 10 most

common herb mistakes.

1) You drink chamomile tea without knowing

what medications it interacts with.

Although most people think of chamomile tea as being harmless, it can

have some serious side effects if it's combined with certain

medications.

For example, a case report published in the April 2006 issue of the Canadian

Medical Association Journal

describes a 70-year-old woman who, while being treated with the drug

warfarin, was admitted to hospital with internal bleeding after having

used chamomile tea and body lotion for cold symptoms.

Tip Take a look at this list

of drugs that can interact with chamomile.

2) You're tired all the time so you turn to

herbs and other natural products to boost your energy.

Constant

weariness, tiredness, or lack of energy warrants a trip to your primary

care provider, not the health food store. Although diet and supplements

may help, the first step is make sure that the cause of the fatigue

isn't an underlying illness, such as:

Anemia

Asthma

Sleep disorders such as obstructive sleep

apnea

Hypothyroidism

Chronic

fatigue syndrome

Depression

Fatigue can also be a symptom of other conditions such as infectious

diseases (e.g. mononucleosis),

heart

failure, diabetes,

liver or kidney

disease, 's disease,

Autoimmune diseases (e.g. lupus),

cancer, malnutrition,

or due to medication side effects.

Tip

See your primary health provider first. He or she will ask you

questions and make sure you have the proper laboratory and/or imaging

tests to rule out these conditions. Then you can think about natural approaches.

3) You take herbs, supplements, and/or drugs

that together may increase your risk of bleeding.

Anticoagulant

drugs such as aspirin

or warfarin

(commonly referred to as "blood-thinners") prevent the formation of

blood clots inside arteries, reducing the risk of stroke and heart

disease. When they are combined with herbs and supplements that also

have an anticoagulant effect, they can increase the risk of bleeding:

aloe

vera

chamomile

coenzyme

q10

danshen

feverfew

garlic

ginger

gingko

ginseng

saw

palmetto

goji

devil's

claw

dong quai

fish oil

willow

bark

Tip

If you are taking more than one of these herbs or are taking them

warfarin, aspirin, or other anticoagulants, or if you are

self-prescribing any of these herbs, consult a licensed holistic

practitioner (such as a naturopathic doctor) for guidance. Be sure to

inform your family physician of all herbs and supplements you are

taking. Blood tests called the prothrombin

time and international normalized ratios (PT/INR) can be used to assess blood clotting.

4) You quit your coffee or soda habit in favor

of lots of yerba mate and energy beverages.

Yerba

mate is the coffeehouse "it" drink. Widely consumed in Central and

South America, it's often touted as a healthier alternative to coffee,

a herbal tea that energizes without causing jitters. However, yerba

mate has been associated with esophageal,

oral,

lung,

and bladder cancers

in several research studies. Although studies have found it's really

only a risk for people drinking huge amounts of the tea (greater than 1

liter a day) or very hot tea, it should be avoided until more evidence

is in.

Energy drinks, such as Red Bull, Monster Energy Drink,

Full Throttle, contain caffeine and a slew of vitamins and herbs. One

of the biggest concerns is that we just don't know enough about the

combined effects of these ingredients. Many ingredients are believed to

work synergistically with caffeine to boost its stimulant power. Most

of them contain loads of sugar and are really no better than soda.

What you need to know about energy drinks.

Tip If you're looking for healthier drink

options consider water with a splash of pomegranate juice or cranberry

juice.

5) You take immune-boosting herbs like echinacea and goldenseal

with immunosuppressant drugs, such as corticosteroids.

Drugs

that suppress the immune system are used to prevent organ rejection

after transplant and to control the symptoms of autoimmune diseases

such as rheumatoid arthritis,

lupus,

and type 1 diabetes

(more autoimmune

diseases). Herbs that stimulate the immune system may counteract

these medications, resulting in transplant

rejection, an exacerbation of pre-existing autoimmune disease, or

precipitation of autoimmune disease in people genetically predisposed

to such disorders.

Tip If you are taking immunosuppressant

drugs such as the ones listed below, do not take the herbs alfalfa, astragalus, echinacea, ginseng, licorice root, or the mineral zinc.

Cyclosporine

Azathioprine

Corticosteroids such as prednisone

Methotrexate

6) You take herbal laxatives or "dieter's

teas" to induce regular bowel movements.

The herbs in these products, called anthranoid laxatives, include:

cascara

sagrada

rhubarb

aloe

senna

buckthorn

People can become dependent and use

them for weeks, months, or even years at a time. However stimulant

laxatives such as senna should not be used for longer than a week

without consulting a doctor or other health provider. Prolonged use may

cause the bowels to lose the ability to move on their own, and has been

linked to chronic diarrhea, muscle weakness, potentially dangerous

irregular heart rhythms, and kidney or liver impairment.

Tip

Talk with your primary care provider about weaning off laxatives

gradually and recovering normal bowel function. The key is to do it

slowly—usually in combination with a fiber supplement such as psyllium and adequate fluids.

7) You take herbs and supplements before or

after surgery.

Your

surgeon needs to know about all herbs and supplements you are taking to

prevent complications. Herbs and supplements can interact with

anaesthestics or cause excessive bleeding. Columbia University's

Department of Plastic Surgery recommends that all herbs and

supplements be discontinued 2 to 3 weeks prior to surgery. The herbs

they identified as some of the most risky yet commonly used include:

ginkgo

garlic

ginseng

ginger

glucosamine

and chondroitin

coenzyme

q10

saw

palmetto

omega-3 fatty acids, flax seed oil, fish oil

goldenseal

chamomile

kava kava

St.

john's wort

licorice

valerian

vitamin E

8) You don't tell your doctor about the herbs

or supplements you're taking or stop taking medications on your own.

A

1997 study by Eisenberg, MD, of Beth Israel Deaconess Medical

Center in Boston, discovered that almost half of Americans use some

form alternative medicine, only a third of them told their doctors.

Why is this? A survey published in the Journal of Family Practice

found patients didn't reveal their use of natural therapies because

they thought their doctors wouldn't be interested, were biased against

alternative therapies, or didn't know enough about them to comment.

However, there is increasing evidence that not

telling could have serious risks to your health. Many herbs interact

with common medications and medical procedures and may increase side

effects or reduce the effectiveness of your treatment.

Tips

Type

up a list of your current supplements, including the ingredients,

ingredient amounts, and how often you take them. Next time you go to

your family doctor, bring the list with you and ask that it be added to

your chart.

You may wish to consider consulting a licensed

natural practitioner who can inform you of any interactions.

When

asking your family doctor a question, frame your questions so they are

as specific as possible, such as "I am thinking of trying massage

therapy for my neck. Is there any reason why I shouldn't have it?" If

communication is difficult, consider whether it's in your best interest

to find a family doctor who is easier to talk with and is

non-judgmental about your choices.

9) You rely soley on the manufacturer's

website for information about safety and side effects.

You should know about potential side effects and safety concerns from

an independent resource that is current and is based on scientific

research. Some manufacturers will describe their products as natural

therefore safe, but some have the potential to cause serious adverse

effects if taken improperly.

For example, in a 2003 study published in the journal Obstetrics

and Gynecology,

Adrienne Fugh-Berman at Washington University states that "the

use of bust-enhancing products should be discouraged because of lack of

evidence for efficacy and long-term safety concerns." And yet these

pills are incredibly popular--they're one of the most searched-for

herbal pills on the web. Herbs used in many of these breast enhancement

pills (e.g. hops, fenugreek) have been found to have potent estrogenic

effects and may increase the risk of hormonal cancers such as

endometrial and breast cancer. What you

need to know about herbal breast enhancement.

10) You don't take your herbs and supplements

consistently.

It's important to take herbs and supplements regularly as recommended

in order to assess whether or not they are working. A common mistake is

to start taking a supplement, skip a day, then two, and then after a

while start taking another supplement because you haven't noticed an

improvement. If you're not consistent, you'll never know whether it's

effective.

Tip Get a day-of-the-week pill

organizer online or at your

local drug store.

 

"

It's by doing nothing in particular that you become nobody in

particular...."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~<< + >>~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

44,789 Americans die each year because they don’t have health

insurance...that's 123 American's a day...

But then why should

'Politicians' care, they have a job, job security and unlimited 

resources, and an excellent benefit package.

These horrifying

statistics only apply to their constituents who are making

unprecedented multi-billion dollar profits for the health-care industry

from our premiums and through denials of care...and if we start to mess with reforming

health-care, corrupt politicians who oppose health-care lose

very lucrative campaign funding keeping them in office.

They have forgotten

their oath of service, the truth, compassion, and the 73% of Americans

demanding healthcare reform and a public option...

---------------------------------------------

HillsdaleCoCommunityAwareness"

HillsdaleCoFreeSharing-FoodSharing

[Guest guest]

---

10 Common Herbal Mistakes...and how to avoid them...

Date:

Sat, 24 Oct 2009 20:34:37 -0700 (PDT)

From:

mary braun

10

Common Herbal Mistakes--

And How

to Avoid Them

By Wong,

About.com

Updated: June 24, 2008

About.com Health's Disease and

Condition content is reviewed by our Medical Review Board

See More About:

supplement

safety

chamomile

supplement-drug

interactions

supplement

side effects

When it comes to the herbs you're taking, are you unwittingly making

mistakes that could harm your health? Here's a rundown of the 10 most

common herb mistakes.

1) You drink chamomile tea without knowing

what medications it interacts with.

Although most people think of chamomile tea as being harmless, it can

have some serious side effects if it's combined with certain

medications.

For example, a case report published in the April 2006 issue of the Canadian

Medical Association Journal

describes a 70-year-old woman who, while being treated with the drug

warfarin, was admitted to hospital with internal bleeding after having

used chamomile tea and body lotion for cold symptoms.

Tip Take a look at this list

of drugs that can interact with chamomile.

2) You're tired all the time so you turn to

herbs and other natural products to boost your energy.

Constant

weariness, tiredness, or lack of energy warrants a trip to your primary

care provider, not the health food store. Although diet and supplements

may help, the first step is make sure that the cause of the fatigue

isn't an underlying illness, such as:

Anemia

Asthma

Sleep disorders such as obstructive sleep

apnea

Hypothyroidism

Chronic

fatigue syndrome

Depression

Fatigue can also be a symptom of other conditions such as infectious

diseases (e.g. mononucleosis),

heart

failure, diabetes,

liver or kidney

disease, 's disease,

Autoimmune diseases (e.g. lupus),

cancer, malnutrition,

or due to medication side effects.

Tip

See your primary health provider first. He or she will ask you

questions and make sure you have the proper laboratory and/or imaging

tests to rule out these conditions. Then you can think about natural approaches.

3) You take herbs, supplements, and/or drugs

that together may increase your risk of bleeding.

Anticoagulant

drugs such as aspirin

or warfarin

(commonly referred to as "blood-thinners") prevent the formation of

blood clots inside arteries, reducing the risk of stroke and heart

disease. When they are combined with herbs and supplements that also

have an anticoagulant effect, they can increase the risk of bleeding:

aloe

vera

chamomile

coenzyme

q10

danshen

feverfew

garlic

ginger

gingko

ginseng

saw

palmetto

goji

devil's

claw

dong quai

fish oil

willow

bark

Tip

If you are taking more than one of these herbs or are taking them

warfarin, aspirin, or other anticoagulants, or if you are

self-prescribing any of these herbs, consult a licensed holistic

practitioner (such as a naturopathic doctor) for guidance. Be sure to

inform your family physician of all herbs and supplements you are

taking. Blood tests called the prothrombin

time and international normalized ratios (PT/INR) can be used to assess blood clotting.

4) You quit your coffee or soda habit in favor

of lots of yerba mate and energy beverages.

Yerba

mate is the coffeehouse "it" drink. Widely consumed in Central and

South America, it's often touted as a healthier alternative to coffee,

a herbal tea that energizes without causing jitters. However, yerba

mate has been associated with esophageal,

oral,

lung,

and bladder cancers

in several research studies. Although studies have found it's really

only a risk for people drinking huge amounts of the tea (greater than 1

liter a day) or very hot tea, it should be avoided until more evidence

is in.

Energy drinks, such as Red Bull, Monster Energy Drink,

Full Throttle, contain caffeine and a slew of vitamins and herbs. One

of the biggest concerns is that we just don't know enough about the

combined effects of these ingredients. Many ingredients are believed to

work synergistically with caffeine to boost its stimulant power. Most

of them contain loads of sugar and are really no better than soda.

What you need to know about energy drinks.

Tip If you're looking for healthier drink

options consider water with a splash of pomegranate juice or cranberry

juice.

5) You take immune-boosting herbs like echinacea and goldenseal

with immunosuppressant drugs, such as corticosteroids.

Drugs

that suppress the immune system are used to prevent organ rejection

after transplant and to control the symptoms of autoimmune diseases

such as rheumatoid arthritis,

lupus,

and type 1 diabetes

(more autoimmune

diseases). Herbs that stimulate the immune system may counteract

these medications, resulting in transplant

rejection, an exacerbation of pre-existing autoimmune disease, or

precipitation of autoimmune disease in people genetically predisposed

to such disorders.

Tip If you are taking immunosuppressant

drugs such as the ones listed below, do not take the herbs alfalfa, astragalus, echinacea, ginseng, licorice root, or the mineral zinc.

Cyclosporine

Azathioprine

Corticosteroids such as prednisone

Methotrexate

6) You take herbal laxatives or "dieter's

teas" to induce regular bowel movements.

The herbs in these products, called anthranoid laxatives, include:

cascara

sagrada

rhubarb

aloe

senna

buckthorn

People can become dependent and use

them for weeks, months, or even years at a time. However stimulant

laxatives such as senna should not be used for longer than a week

without consulting a doctor or other health provider. Prolonged use may

cause the bowels to lose the ability to move on their own, and has been

linked to chronic diarrhea, muscle weakness, potentially dangerous

irregular heart rhythms, and kidney or liver impairment.

Tip

Talk with your primary care provider about weaning off laxatives

gradually and recovering normal bowel function. The key is to do it

slowly—usually in combination with a fiber supplement such as psyllium and adequate fluids.

7) You take herbs and supplements before or

after surgery.

Your

surgeon needs to know about all herbs and supplements you are taking to

prevent complications. Herbs and supplements can interact with

anaesthestics or cause excessive bleeding. Columbia University's

Department of Plastic Surgery recommends that all herbs and

supplements be discontinued 2 to 3 weeks prior to surgery. The herbs

they identified as some of the most risky yet commonly used include:

ginkgo

garlic

ginseng

ginger

glucosamine

and chondroitin

coenzyme

q10

saw

palmetto

omega-3 fatty acids, flax seed oil, fish oil

goldenseal

chamomile

kava kava

St.

john's wort

licorice

valerian

vitamin E

8) You don't tell your doctor about the herbs

or supplements you're taking or stop taking medications on your own.

A

1997 study by Eisenberg, MD, of Beth Israel Deaconess Medical

Center in Boston, discovered that almost half of Americans use some

form alternative medicine, only a third of them told their doctors.

Why is this? A survey published in the Journal of Family Practice

found patients didn't reveal their use of natural therapies because

they thought their doctors wouldn't be interested, were biased against

alternative therapies, or didn't know enough about them to comment.

However, there is increasing evidence that not

telling could have serious risks to your health. Many herbs interact

with common medications and medical procedures and may increase side

effects or reduce the effectiveness of your treatment.

Tips

Type

up a list of your current supplements, including the ingredients,

ingredient amounts, and how often you take them. Next time you go to

your family doctor, bring the list with you and ask that it be added to

your chart.

You may wish to consider consulting a licensed

natural practitioner who can inform you of any interactions.

When

asking your family doctor a question, frame your questions so they are

as specific as possible, such as "I am thinking of trying massage

therapy for my neck. Is there any reason why I shouldn't have it?" If

communication is difficult, consider whether it's in your best interest

to find a family doctor who is easier to talk with and is

non-judgmental about your choices.

9) You rely soley on the manufacturer's

website for information about safety and side effects.

You should know about potential side effects and safety concerns from

an independent resource that is current and is based on scientific

research. Some manufacturers will describe their products as natural

therefore safe, but some have the potential to cause serious adverse

effects if taken improperly.

For example, in a 2003 study published in the journal Obstetrics

and Gynecology,

Adrienne Fugh-Berman at Washington University states that "the

use of bust-enhancing products should be discouraged because of lack of

evidence for efficacy and long-term safety concerns." And yet these

pills are incredibly popular--they're one of the most searched-for

herbal pills on the web. Herbs used in many of these breast enhancement

pills (e.g. hops, fenugreek) have been found to have potent estrogenic

effects and may increase the risk of hormonal cancers such as

endometrial and breast cancer. What you

need to know about herbal breast enhancement.

10) You don't take your herbs and supplements

consistently.

It's important to take herbs and supplements regularly as recommended

in order to assess whether or not they are working. A common mistake is

to start taking a supplement, skip a day, then two, and then after a

while start taking another supplement because you haven't noticed an

improvement. If you're not consistent, you'll never know whether it's

effective.

Tip Get a day-of-the-week pill

organizer online or at your

local drug store.

 

"

It's by doing nothing in particular that you become nobody in

particular...."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~<< + >>~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

44,789 Americans die each year because they don’t have health

insurance...that's 123 American's a day...

But then why should

'Politicians' care, they have a job, job security and unlimited 

resources, and an excellent benefit package.

These horrifying

statistics only apply to their constituents who are making

unprecedented multi-billion dollar profits for the health-care industry

from our premiums and through denials of care...and if we start to mess with reforming

health-care, corrupt politicians who oppose health-care lose

very lucrative campaign funding keeping them in office.

They have forgotten

their oath of service, the truth, compassion, and the 73% of Americans

demanding healthcare reform and a public option...

---------------------------------------------

HillsdaleCoCommunityAwareness"

HillsdaleCoFreeSharing-FoodSharing

[Guest guest]

---

10 Common Herbal Mistakes...and how to avoid them...

Date:

Sat, 24 Oct 2009 20:34:37 -0700 (PDT)

From:

mary braun

10

Common Herbal Mistakes--

And How

to Avoid Them

By Wong,

About.com

Updated: June 24, 2008

About.com Health's Disease and

Condition content is reviewed by our Medical Review Board

See More About:

supplement

safety

chamomile

supplement-drug

interactions

supplement

side effects

When it comes to the herbs you're taking, are you unwittingly making

mistakes that could harm your health? Here's a rundown of the 10 most

common herb mistakes.

1) You drink chamomile tea without knowing

what medications it interacts with.

Although most people think of chamomile tea as being harmless, it can

have some serious side effects if it's combined with certain

medications.

For example, a case report published in the April 2006 issue of the Canadian

Medical Association Journal

describes a 70-year-old woman who, while being treated with the drug

warfarin, was admitted to hospital with internal bleeding after having

used chamomile tea and body lotion for cold symptoms.

Tip Take a look at this list

of drugs that can interact with chamomile.

2) You're tired all the time so you turn to

herbs and other natural products to boost your energy.

Constant

weariness, tiredness, or lack of energy warrants a trip to your primary

care provider, not the health food store. Although diet and supplements

may help, the first step is make sure that the cause of the fatigue

isn't an underlying illness, such as:

Anemia

Asthma

Sleep disorders such as obstructive sleep

apnea

Hypothyroidism

Chronic

fatigue syndrome

Depression

Fatigue can also be a symptom of other conditions such as infectious

diseases (e.g. mononucleosis),

heart

failure, diabetes,

liver or kidney

disease, 's disease,

Autoimmune diseases (e.g. lupus),

cancer, malnutrition,

or due to medication side effects.

Tip

See your primary health provider first. He or she will ask you

questions and make sure you have the proper laboratory and/or imaging

tests to rule out these conditions. Then you can think about natural approaches.

3) You take herbs, supplements, and/or drugs

that together may increase your risk of bleeding.

Anticoagulant

drugs such as aspirin

or warfarin

(commonly referred to as "blood-thinners") prevent the formation of

blood clots inside arteries, reducing the risk of stroke and heart

disease. When they are combined with herbs and supplements that also

have an anticoagulant effect, they can increase the risk of bleeding:

aloe

vera

chamomile

coenzyme

q10

danshen

feverfew

garlic

ginger

gingko

ginseng

saw

palmetto

goji

devil's

claw

dong quai

fish oil

willow

bark

Tip

If you are taking more than one of these herbs or are taking them

warfarin, aspirin, or other anticoagulants, or if you are

self-prescribing any of these herbs, consult a licensed holistic

practitioner (such as a naturopathic doctor) for guidance. Be sure to

inform your family physician of all herbs and supplements you are

taking. Blood tests called the prothrombin

time and international normalized ratios (PT/INR) can be used to assess blood clotting.

4) You quit your coffee or soda habit in favor

of lots of yerba mate and energy beverages.

Yerba

mate is the coffeehouse "it" drink. Widely consumed in Central and

South America, it's often touted as a healthier alternative to coffee,

a herbal tea that energizes without causing jitters. However, yerba

mate has been associated with esophageal,

oral,

lung,

and bladder cancers

in several research studies. Although studies have found it's really

only a risk for people drinking huge amounts of the tea (greater than 1

liter a day) or very hot tea, it should be avoided until more evidence

is in.

Energy drinks, such as Red Bull, Monster Energy Drink,

Full Throttle, contain caffeine and a slew of vitamins and herbs. One

of the biggest concerns is that we just don't know enough about the

combined effects of these ingredients. Many ingredients are believed to

work synergistically with caffeine to boost its stimulant power. Most

of them contain loads of sugar and are really no better than soda.

What you need to know about energy drinks.

Tip If you're looking for healthier drink

options consider water with a splash of pomegranate juice or cranberry

juice.

5) You take immune-boosting herbs like echinacea and goldenseal

with immunosuppressant drugs, such as corticosteroids.

Drugs

that suppress the immune system are used to prevent organ rejection

after transplant and to control the symptoms of autoimmune diseases

such as rheumatoid arthritis,

lupus,

and type 1 diabetes

(more autoimmune

diseases). Herbs that stimulate the immune system may counteract

these medications, resulting in transplant

rejection, an exacerbation of pre-existing autoimmune disease, or

precipitation of autoimmune disease in people genetically predisposed

to such disorders.

Tip If you are taking immunosuppressant

drugs such as the ones listed below, do not take the herbs alfalfa, astragalus, echinacea, ginseng, licorice root, or the mineral zinc.

Cyclosporine

Azathioprine

Corticosteroids such as prednisone

Methotrexate

6) You take herbal laxatives or "dieter's

teas" to induce regular bowel movements.

The herbs in these products, called anthranoid laxatives, include:

cascara

sagrada

rhubarb

aloe

senna

buckthorn

People can become dependent and use

them for weeks, months, or even years at a time. However stimulant

laxatives such as senna should not be used for longer than a week

without consulting a doctor or other health provider. Prolonged use may

cause the bowels to lose the ability to move on their own, and has been

linked to chronic diarrhea, muscle weakness, potentially dangerous

irregular heart rhythms, and kidney or liver impairment.

Tip

Talk with your primary care provider about weaning off laxatives

gradually and recovering normal bowel function. The key is to do it

slowly—usually in combination with a fiber supplement such as psyllium and adequate fluids.

7) You take herbs and supplements before or

after surgery.

Your

surgeon needs to know about all herbs and supplements you are taking to

prevent complications. Herbs and supplements can interact with

anaesthestics or cause excessive bleeding. Columbia University's

Department of Plastic Surgery recommends that all herbs and

supplements be discontinued 2 to 3 weeks prior to surgery. The herbs

they identified as some of the most risky yet commonly used include:

ginkgo

garlic

ginseng

ginger

glucosamine

and chondroitin

coenzyme

q10

saw

palmetto

omega-3 fatty acids, flax seed oil, fish oil

goldenseal

chamomile

kava kava

St.

john's wort

licorice

valerian

vitamin E

8) You don't tell your doctor about the herbs

or supplements you're taking or stop taking medications on your own.

A

1997 study by Eisenberg, MD, of Beth Israel Deaconess Medical

Center in Boston, discovered that almost half of Americans use some

form alternative medicine, only a third of them told their doctors.

Why is this? A survey published in the Journal of Family Practice

found patients didn't reveal their use of natural therapies because

they thought their doctors wouldn't be interested, were biased against

alternative therapies, or didn't know enough about them to comment.

However, there is increasing evidence that not

telling could have serious risks to your health. Many herbs interact

with common medications and medical procedures and may increase side

effects or reduce the effectiveness of your treatment.

Tips

Type

up a list of your current supplements, including the ingredients,

ingredient amounts, and how often you take them. Next time you go to

your family doctor, bring the list with you and ask that it be added to

your chart.

You may wish to consider consulting a licensed

natural practitioner who can inform you of any interactions.

When

asking your family doctor a question, frame your questions so they are

as specific as possible, such as "I am thinking of trying massage

therapy for my neck. Is there any reason why I shouldn't have it?" If

communication is difficult, consider whether it's in your best interest

to find a family doctor who is easier to talk with and is

non-judgmental about your choices.

9) You rely soley on the manufacturer's

website for information about safety and side effects.

You should know about potential side effects and safety concerns from

an independent resource that is current and is based on scientific

research. Some manufacturers will describe their products as natural

therefore safe, but some have the potential to cause serious adverse

effects if taken improperly.

For example, in a 2003 study published in the journal Obstetrics

and Gynecology,

Adrienne Fugh-Berman at Washington University states that "the

use of bust-enhancing products should be discouraged because of lack of

evidence for efficacy and long-term safety concerns." And yet these

pills are incredibly popular--they're one of the most searched-for

herbal pills on the web. Herbs used in many of these breast enhancement

pills (e.g. hops, fenugreek) have been found to have potent estrogenic

effects and may increase the risk of hormonal cancers such as

endometrial and breast cancer. What you

need to know about herbal breast enhancement.

10) You don't take your herbs and supplements

consistently.

It's important to take herbs and supplements regularly as recommended

in order to assess whether or not they are working. A common mistake is

to start taking a supplement, skip a day, then two, and then after a

while start taking another supplement because you haven't noticed an

improvement. If you're not consistent, you'll never know whether it's

effective.

Tip Get a day-of-the-week pill

organizer online or at your

local drug store.

 

"

It's by doing nothing in particular that you become nobody in

particular...."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~<< + >>~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

44,789 Americans die each year because they don’t have health

insurance...that's 123 American's a day...

But then why should

'Politicians' care, they have a job, job security and unlimited 

resources, and an excellent benefit package.

These horrifying

statistics only apply to their constituents who are making

unprecedented multi-billion dollar profits for the health-care industry

from our premiums and through denials of care...and if we start to mess with reforming

health-care, corrupt politicians who oppose health-care lose

very lucrative campaign funding keeping them in office.

They have forgotten

their oath of service, the truth, compassion, and the 73% of Americans

demanding healthcare reform and a public option...

---------------------------------------------

HillsdaleCoCommunityAwareness"

HillsdaleCoFreeSharing-FoodSharing