Dr. MJ Bazos MD, Patient Handout

Herbal Health Products--What You Should Know

Aren't herbal health products safe because they're natural?

Not necessarily. Don't think that herbal health products are safe just because they come from plants. Even some plants are poisonous. Although herbal products are advertised as "natural," they aren't natural to the human body.

Unlike prescription medicines, herbal products don't have be tested before they're sold to prove that they work well and are safe. In addition, herbal products may not be pure--they might have other things in them, like plant pollen, that could make you sick.

Do any medical problems make it more dangerous to take herbal health products?

Yes. It may not be safe to take herbal medicines if you have certain health problems. If you have any of these problems, talk to your doctor before taking herbal products:

High blood pressure Thyroid problems Psychiatric problems Parkinson's disease Enlarged prostate gland Blood clotting problems

Diabetes Heart disease Epilepsy Glaucoma History of stroke

It is also very important to tell your doctor about any herbal products you take if you are going to have surgery.

What are possible side effects of herbal health products?

Herbal health products aren't tested to be sure they're safe, so they may cause problems. The following are exmples of problems caused by herbal medicines:

• If you're taking Ginkgo biloba, you may have bleeding as a side effect.
• If you're taking St. John's wort, you may have an upset stomach, a tired feeling, dizziness, confusion or dry mouth. You may also sunburn more easily.
• If you're taking an ephedra product (also called ma huang), you could have many problems. You might get high blood pressure or an uneven heartbeat. You may feel nervous, have headaches or have trouble falling asleep. You could even have a heart attack or a stroke.
• If you're taking kava products, you may feel sleepy, get a rash or have strange movements of your mouth and tongue, or other parts of your body.

Be sure to tell your doctor if you have a health problem while you're taking an herbal product.

Can herbal health products change the way prescription medicines work?

Yes. Some medicines shouldn't be taken with herbal products.

• Don't take Ginkgo biloba if you're taking aspirin, warfarin (brand name: Coumadin), ticlopidine (brand name: Ticlid), clopidogrel (brand name: Plavix) or dipyridamole (brand name: Persantine).
• Don't take St. John's wort if you're taking an antidepressant.
• Don't take ephedra if you're taking a decongestant or a stimulant drug, or if you drink caffeinated beverages.
• Don't take kava products if you're taking a benzodiazepine, a barbiturate, an antipsychotic medicine or any medicine used to treat Parkinson's disease. Also, don't drink alcohol if you take kava products.

If you take a prescription medicine, check with your doctor before taking any herbal health product.