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Potential Conflicts Between Herbal and
Prescription Medications
A lot pf people are first introduced to
herbal remedies by friends or family
members, or they read about them online or in a magazine and assume that herbs
must be miracle medicines. Because of this, they often proceed to start taking
as many as they can, for any ailment they can think of.
The problem, however, is that while many herbal products can help with multiple
problems simultaneously, they are not a cure all. You can't take one natural
remedy for just anything and there are certain herbs you shouldn't take unless
they are needed. There are also many situations in which the actions of the
herbs can be in conflict, or cause complications with medications your doctor
has prescribed .
This is why it's important to inform your doctor if you are taking herbal
medicines for any reason. If your doctor doesn't understand the effects of the
herbs you're taking, you may need to explain it to him or her so they can have
a better understanding of the potential interactions of your herbal remedies
and the medicines they want to prescribe for you.
An excellent example of two items that should not be combined are Caffeine and
Ginseng. Now, this might seem like a simple case of limiting your coffee or
soda intake if you're taking a Ginseng herbal supplement, and you're right.
But, it also comes into play if your doctor gives you a prescription for
certain allergy or diet medications too. These can interact negatively with
Ginseng, because of the components and capabilities of each medicine.
Another example is taking Golden Seal herbs while also taking insulin. Golden
Seal is a natural source of insulin, so if you take it while also taking
insulin injections, you could accidentally overdose without even realizing it.
Yet another example of herbal and prescription medications that could cause
problems when used together is taking Kelp while also taking a
prescription diuretic or water pill. A diuretic is a medication that causes
your body to release more urine and Kelp is a natural diuretic on its own. Taking Kelp while also taking a prescription diuretic could cause you to
become dehydrated, or have other related dangerous side effects and
complications.
Some herbal and prescription medication combinations taken at the same time
can be dangerous, while others end up just working against each other. When
you have a chest cough, for instance, your doctor will often prescribe cough
medications that are designed to suppress your cough. Certain herbs used for
chest colds, however, work as expectorants - which means they purposely try to
help your body cough up the phlegm and mucus that's in your lungs so that you
can heal faster.
So, before you start using herbs for medicating yourself, be sure to learn as
much as you can about what the herbs actually do and how that might conflict
with anything else you may need to take under doctors orders.
Herbal Remedies for the Medicine Cabinet -
Whether you call it an herb cabinet or medicine cabinet, there are various
herbs and remedies you should try to always have on hand for basic medical
needs...
Using Medicinal Herbs - Many people are looking at alternative and herbal remedies today
as a way to fight the high costs of prescription medications...
Home vs. Alternative vs. Herbal remedies -
If you have ever wondered what the difference is between home remedies,
alternative remedies and herbal remedies is, now is your chance to find out...
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