Drugs, 61(14), 2035-2063. Medicinal properties of echinacea: A critical review. There were several reports that garlic extracts may decrease the effectiveness of the anti-retroviral medication Saquinavir, but subsequent studies have not supported these findings. Herbs are not as closely regulated as drugs and other medications, though they are often used for similar purposes. Reay, J.L., Kennedy, D., Scholey, A. May decrease platelet activity ask pharmacist/doctor before taking with anticoagulant/antiplatelet drugs, garlic, ginko. 6/00. Geng, J., Dong, J., Ni, H., et al. More studies need to be done in this area. Please Contact Us. Echinacea products are frequently mislabeled or may contain no Echinacea, or contaminated with selenium, arsenic, and lead. (2009). Additional studies are taking place to explore the use of echinacea as a cancer treatment or preventive medicine. There is considerable concern regarding possible interactions of this herb with prescription. Milk thistle in liver diseases:past, present, future. Siegel, R.K. (1979). (2010). Acta Pharmacologica Sinica, 26(2), 143-149. Echinacea, originally a Native American remedy, has gained popularity for treating the symptoms of colds, flu, and respiratory infections. 
Buck, A.C. (2004). Improve age-related memory impairment and dementia: Mild gastrointestinal (GI) upset, headache, dizziness, palpitations, constipation, and allergic skin reactions. Available at http://ods.od.nih.gov/Health_Information/ODS_Frequently_Asked_Questions.aspx last accessed on April 2, 2013. In general, ginseng is well-tolerated, with adverse reactions largely being mild and reversible (Thompson et al., 2002). Maturitas, 57(4), 405. Anticancer Res., 25(3c), 2357-2366. Is there a scientific basis for the therapeutic effects of Serenoa repens inbenign prostatic hyperplasia? These and other results support the use of echinacea for prevention and treatment of the common cold. Learn about the safety and effectiveness of bodybuilding and athletic supplements. European Neuropsychopharmacology, 20(11), 747-765. Check with pharmacist before using saw palmetto anticoagulant/antiplatlet drugs, contraceptive drugs, or estrogens. The following are tips intended to help one become more aware of the risks associated with taking herbal and botanical supplements: For more information and advice for choosing herbal and botanical products, see The National Institute of Healths (NIH) Office of Dietary Supplements website- Botanical Supplement Fact Sheet: http://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/list-Botanicals/, For in depth information regarding supplement regulation see the NIH Office of Dietary Supplements website: http://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/BotanicalBackground-HealthProfessional/, For more information on how to spot a false health claim, see the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) website: www.ftc.gov/bcp/edu/pubs/consumer/health/hea07.shtm, For information on recent supplement alerts and safety information, see the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) website: http://www.fda.gov/ForConsumers/ConsumerUpdates/UCM2006894.htm. Inform a doctor, pharmacist and other health care professionals of any herbs being considered or routinely used. No: Research finds that it is ineffective or unsafe. May inhibit platelet activity ask pharmacist/doctor before taking with anticoagulant/antiplatelet drugs. Chung, D.J., Kim, H.Y., et al. (2007). Children should not be given dietary supplements that contain high levels of phytoestrogens because they may affect brain development. The consumer is ultimately responsible for checking their validity and avoiding products with fraudulent claims. There is no data to suggest that herbs are more beneficial than conventional drugs for treating illnesses. Dietary supplements may be found in many forms including pills, capsules, powders, drinks, or energy bars. Choose brands that have been tested for consistency in dosage by looking for the United States Pharmaceopia (USP), National Formulary (NF), or Consumer Lab (CL) symbols. Current Medical Chemistry, 14(12), 1371-80. Patients who are preparing for or have undergone organ transplantation should also avoid ginseng. Hot flashes revisited: pharmacological and herbal options for hot flashes management. A lock ( LockA locked padlock ) or https:// means you've safely connected to the .gov website. Critical review of health effects of soybean phytooestrogens in post-menopausal women. Fong, Y.K., Milani, S., Djavan, B. Decreases platelet activity and may increase risk of bleeding do not take with anticoagulant/antiplatelet drugs, garlic, ginger, or. Efficacy and tolerability of Hypericum extract for the treatment of mild to moderate depression. Jang, D.J., Lee, M.S., Shin, B.C., Lee, Y.C., Ernst, E. (2008). Snitz, B.E., O'Meara, E.S., Carlson, M.C., et al. The list in this fact sheet may not include all potentially toxic herbs, so check the resources listed in this fact sheet regularly, for additional toxic herbs. (It may rarely cause GI upset.). The authors concluded that overall, cranberry does not increase the risk of kidney stone formation. Two recent Cochrane reviews each focus on a different effect. Pilkington, K., Boshnakova, A., Richardson, J. Garlic supplements and saquinavir. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. Interaction potential between cranberry juice and warfarin. Effectiveness of standardized Ginkgo biloba extract on cognitive symptoms of dementia with a six-month treatment: a bivariate random effect meta-analysis. (2007). (2006) and Weinmann et al. (The authors of both studies acknowledge that evidence for clinical benefits of milk thistle extracts exist, but comment on the low quality of the clinical evaluations and suggest more rigorous studies are needed to resolve these controversies.). (2003). Borek, C. (2002). Haimov-Kochman R, Hochner-Celnikier D. (2005). European Journal of Clinical Pharmacology, 63(2), 225. Herbal products, similar to vitamin and mineral supplements, are classified by the FDA as dietary supplements, not drugs. Leung, K.W., Yung, K.K., Mak, N.K., et al. Clement, K., Covertson, C.R., Johnson, M.J., Dearing, K. (2006). Gettman, M., Ogan, K., Brinkley, L., et al. Tacklind, J., MacDonald, R., Rutks, I., Wilt, T.J. (2009).Serenoa repends for benign prostatic hyperplasia. Herbs at a Glance. Not recommended for people with major depression, bipolar disorder, chronic depression, Alzheimers disease, or ADHD. Herbs also are not recommended for those who may be immuno-compromised (such as the elderly or those with HIV), those with kidney damage or liver disease, anyone who may be undergoing surgery or other invasive procedures, pregnant or lactating women, or children under the age of six. Part of the difficulty of evaluating these differing outcomes is related to the methods used in each study, such as the selection of the patient populations, length of treatment, dose of medication, and variability in the composition of the treatment medication. As a result, they are not tested for safety or efficacy, and can be marketed at any time without scientific research and without approval from the FDA. Black cohosh is commonly used to treat menopausal symptoms, especially hot flashes. The efficacy of St. John's wort in patients with minor depressive symptoms or dysthymia-a double-blind placebo-controlled study. This site complies with the HONCode standard for trustworthy health information: Earl E. Bakken Center for Spirituality & Healing, Acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Medicine. A randomizedcontrolled trial to assess the safety and efficacy of silymarin on symptoms, signs andbiomarkers of acute hepatitis. Ephedra/ma huang (ephedra sinca)hypertension, myocardial infarction (MI), seizure, stroke, psychosis. Need expert help on a specific question or topic? Ramassamy, C., Longpr, F., Christen, Y. Complementary and alternative medicine for upper-respiratory-tract infection in children. Alternatives to HRT: An evidence-based review. Dietary supplements include vitamins, minerals, herbs, amino acids, enzymes, and other substances that may be supplemented, or added to the diet, in order to complete dietary needs or to make up for a nutrition deficiency. While the results of this mouse study are promising, it is important to keep in mind that animal studies cannot always be assumed to demonstrate clinical efficacy in humans. 2007; Carlson et al 2007). Black cohosh may cause mild GI upset. As with other herbs that are known to stop blood from clotting, there is a potential for adverse interactions between cranberry juice or cranberry extracts and anticoagulant (or anti-blood clotting) medications, such as Warfarin. Nahata, M. (2006). 2007). Phytomedicine, 10(1), 66-86. Herbal and botanical supplements are plants used for oral medicinal purposes, and include the flower, leaf, root, and seed of the plant. Ginkgo biloba for cognitive impairment and dementia. Nutrition Research Reviews, 22, 39-48. Learn about milk thistle, including its use, history, side effects, and results of clinical trials. Saw palmetto for benign prostatic hyperplasia. Reports of adverse reactions have been extremely rare. Discover information about the safety and effectiveness of apple cider vinegar supplements. To date, the FDA provides a warning for the following herbs which are considered toxic, and given their side effects, should be avoided: Consumers should be informed in order to protect themselves from questionable health products and services. Office of Dietary Supplements. (2005). Journal of the Society for Integrative Oncology, 4(4), 170-186. BMC Geriatrics, 10, 14.
Products that pass their tests contain a CL stamp of approval. Ginkgo has been well-investigated clinically, particularly for its efficacy in improving memory and cognitive functions in elderly people suffering from impaired cerebral circuation. Not recommended for people with autoimmune diseases, bleeding conditions, cardiac conditions, or diabetes. The best prescription for disease prevention is a healthy lifestyle that includes a diet high in whole-grains, fruits and vegetables, and low in fat. Mechanisms of action. However, a recent review and in vivo study (Beckart et al., 2007) found no effect on blood clotting for garlic and four other common herbal supplements in a two-week dosing study, compared with aspirin which markedly inhibited clotting. Avoid herbal therapies if you suffer from certain conditions or under certain circumstances. A Phase II study of St. John's wort for smoking cessation. Can dietary supplements and other complimentary health approacheshelp with managing cancer symptoms? However, recent studies indicate that while it does lower serum triglycerides, it does not lower LDL cholesterol.
Proceedings of the Nutrition Society, 65, 76-79. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, (12), CD007769. Use of ginseng in medicine with emphasis on neurodegenerative disorders. Journal of the American Medical Association, 302(24), 2663-2670. Panax ginseng: A systematic review of adverse effects and drug interactions. Garlic can cause smelly breath and body odor. Journal of Women's Health, 14(7), 634-649. Clinical studies have shown that it is effective, but not for all populations (Cimolai & Cimolai, 2007). Results of a 2005 study (Miller, 2005) with mice found that daily consumption of echinacea was preventive; it extended the life span of aging mice, significantly lessened the effects of leukemia, and it extended the life span of the mice with leukemia. Wang, B.S., Wang, H., Song, Y.Y., et al.
Herbs may carry health-related claims about effects on the structure or function of the body or general well-being that may result from the product. Black cohosh with or without St. John's wort for symptom-specific climacteric treatment-results of a large-scale, controlled, observational study. Current Pharmaceutical Design, 10(3), 261-264. There are some reports of other side effects with doses higher than 160 mg/day, including nausea, vertigo, uterine contractions, and bradycardia. See disclaimer below. A randomised, placebo-controlled, double-blind clinical trial. Schulz, V. (2006). Rambaldi, A., Jacobs, B.P., Gluud, C. (2007). Garlic consumption and cancer prevention: Meta-analyses of colorectal and stomach cancers. Pham, D.Q., Pham, A.Q. (2002). Yonsei Medical Journal, 48(2), 289. British Journal of Clinical Pharmacology, 66(4), 444-450. CSU A-Z Search Journal of the American Diet. Some research indicates that echinacea has the potential to boost immune cell response, but only certain preparations of echinacea are able to do so, such as fresh pressed juice or isolated polysaccharides (Linde et al., 2006). The Ginkgo Evaluation of Memory study: Design and baseline data of a randomized trial of Ginkgo biloba extract in prevention of dementia. : CD003620. Bodybuilding and Performance Enhancement Supplements: What You Need To Know, National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health, Botanical Dietary Supplements: Background Information, Apple Cider Vinegar In Dietary Supplements, Consortium for Health and Military Performance. Herbals and botanicals are sold as dietary supplements and regulated differently than pharmaceutical drugs. (2006). Other possible effects are heartburn, flatulence, nausea, and diarrhea. There are no significant contraindications or recognized drug/botanical interactions. Chinese or Korean ginseng is most commonly used to increase energy and improve physical and mental performance, enhance immune response, and treat erectile dysfunction. Journal of Nutrition, 133(6), 1983S-1986S. Echinacea for preventing and treating the common cold. High doses of garlic may enhance the effects and adverse effects of anticoagulant and antiplatelet drugs, including aspirin, clopidogrel (Plavix), enoxaparin (Lovenox), and others. Mills, E., Wilson, K., Clarke, M., et al. Explore safety concerns about essential oils in supplements and foods. Krebs, E.E., Ensrud, K.E., MacDonald, R., Wilt, T.J. (2004). (2010). Inconclusive: Not enough clinical evidence available to determine effectiveness.