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Specific Vitamins, Herbs, Medications
of these cases were actually caused by caffeine mixed in with the Ginseng product remains unclear. Allergic reaction
is possible as it is with anything else. An article published by JAMA in 1979 claimed that Ginseng can cause addiction,
hypertension, nervousness, sleeplessness, diarrhea, and hypersexuality but this report has been since regarded as
inaccurate.
The general warning you will see is safety in young children, pregnant or nursing women, or people with severe liver or
kidney disease has not been established. Interestingly, Chinese tradition supports the idea that Ginseng should not be
used by pregnant or nursing mothers.
Here are some suggested herb-drug interactions you should know about.
If you are taking Drugs processed by an enzyme called "CYP 3A4" Ginseng might interfere. Ask your physician or
pharmacist whether you are taking any medications of this type. There has been a suggested problem with Ginseng
use with MAO inhibitor drugs or digitalis. Insulin or oral diabetes drugs should be used with caution when combined
with Ginseng because of its ability to reduce blood sugar levels leading to hypoglycemia.Coumadin (warfarin) is a
blooding thinning agent and Ginseng might decrease its effect. It has also been suggested that Flu vaccines might
work better when combined with Ginseng use.
HAWTHORN SAFETY
QUESTION: My mom starting taking Hawthorne to alleviate "spells" of high blood pressure probably caused by
anxiety (of course there's more to it, but for the sake of simplicity...) Her last blood work showed slightly elevated
serum potassium levels. I read that some conventional blood pressure medicine slows potassium loss, does
Hawthorne have this effect, too?
ANSWER: If a diuretic is given for High Blood Pressure it can reduce potassium levels, as far as I known Hawthorn
has not been shown to elevate or reduce potassium levels but everyone is different one way to find out is take her off
the Hawthorn.
Hawthorn is a berry and should be considered food for the heart.
RO My question is : Why is rosemary harmful during pregancy? Is it ok to eat rosemary when pregnant?
ANSWER: Rosemary, Latin Name: Rosmarinus officinalis is a very strong herb when used medicinally it has
warming and drying energies, but most of the culinary herbs can be used during pregnancy in culinary amounts
including Rosemary.
HORSE CHESTNUT SAFETY
QUESTION: Are there serious side effects to taking Horse Chestnut Herb
ANSWER: This information comes from the Natural Pharmacist Website. www.tnp.com
Whole Horse Chestnut is classified as an unsafe herb by the FDA. Eating the nuts or drinking a tea made from the
leaves can cause horse chestnut poisoning, the symptoms of which include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, salivation,
headache, breakdown of red blood cells, convulsions, and circulatory and respiratory failure possibly leading to death.
However, many manufacturers typically remove the most toxic constituent (esculin) and standardize the quantity of
another constituent of escin. To prevent stomach irritation caused by another ingredient of horse chestnut, the extract
is supplied in a controlled-release product, which reduces the incidence of irritation to below 1%, even at higher
doses. Properly prepared Horse Chestnut products appear to be quite safe.
After decades of wide usage in Germany, there have been no reports of serious harmful effects, and even mild
reported reactions have been few in number.
In animal studies, Horse Chestnut and its principal ingredient escin have been found to be very safe, producing no
measurable effects when taken at dosages seven times higher than normal. Dogs and rats have been treated for 34
weeks with this herb without harmful effects. Studies in pregnant rats and rabbits found no injury to embryos at doses
up to 10 times the human dose, and only questionable effects at 30 times the dose. However, individuals with severe
kidney problems should avoid horse chestnut. In addition, injectable forms of horse chestnut can be toxic to the liver.
Horse chestnut should not be combined with anticoagulant or "blood-thinning" drugs, as it may amplify their effect.
The safety of horse chestnut in young children and pregnant or nursing women has not been established. However, 13
pregnant women were given horse chestnut in a controlled study without noticeable harm.
Interactions You Should Know About: If you are taking aspirin, Trental (pentoxifylline), or anticoagulant drugs such as
Coumadin (warfarin) or heparin, do not use Horse Chestnut except under medical supervision.
Risks and Side Effects: The saponins in horse chestnut extract are irritating to the gastrointestinal tract. This is the
rationale for the use of controlled release products, which reduce incidence of irritation to below 1%, even at higher
doses [Diehm, 1996]. Calf cramps and pruritis are occasionally reported. Pulse and blood pressure are not affected,
even in long-term treatment.
Keep in mind that whole horse chestnut is classified as an unsafe herb by the FDA. Poisoning by ingestion of the nuts
or a tea made from the leaves and twigs is characterized by nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, salivation, headache,
hemolysis, convulsions, and circulatory and respiratory failure possibly leading to death [Chandler, 1993]. However,
typical European standardized extract formulations remove the most toxic substances (i.e., esculin) and standardize
the quantity of escin.
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