The sale of herbal supplements has become a profitable business. Unfortunately, demand means that unfounded claims sometimes go unanswered. There is little reliable evidence to support the use of herbal supplements to improve health outcomes. Moreover, there are times when taking them can lead to adverse effects.
There is certainly a growing body of evidence pointing to the pitfalls of taking herbal supplements in combination with medications.
br>“Despite the lack of scientific evidence to support the safety or effectiveness of herbal products, their widespread promotion in the popular media and unsubstantiated public health claims about their effectiveness are driving consumer demand,” family doctor Tatyana Zakharova tells MedicForum exclusively.
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Scientists have sought to scrutinize some of these claims by looking at the hard evidence.
“Popular herbs and supplements, including St. John's wort and even garlic and ginger, do not mix well with conventional heart medications, and can also be dangerous for patients taking statins, blood thinners, and blood pressure medications.”
St. John's wort increases blood pressure and heart rate, and garlic and ginger increase the risk of bleeding in patients taking blood thinners.
Fruit juice, which can cause dangerous side effects when mixed with medications
Even grapefruit juice can get you in trouble by increasing the effects of calcium channel blockers and statins.
Among the herbs and foods that can be dangerous when interacting are ginkgo biloba, ginseng and echinacea, soy milk, and green tea, which can reduce the effectiveness of warfarin and even aloe vera and licorice.
MedicalForum has previously written about the dangers of old powder.
Important ! Information provided for reference purposes. Ask a specialist about contraindications and side effects and under no circumstances self-medicate. At the first sign of illness, consult a doctor.