Glad to see that credible sources are coming out with this information.About the garlic, I LOVE garlic and use it lots of ways in cooking (also keeps me from getting bit by vampires... but that's another story!) When I had my heart surgery, they asked if I took garlic supplements and I answered no, but didn't think to tell them about how much I cooked with it. I had bleeding issues after surgery and one of the nurses who took care of me was chatting about this and asking me if I took any anticoagulants. I had been careful to stop the fish oil and also the ginger tea I love, both sources of easy bleeding, but not the garlic!Johns Hopkins reviews six popular herbal supplements – including ginkgo, garlic, and St. John's wort -- that may cause adverse interactions with prescription medication.
Herbal supplements contain biologically active compounds that should not be considered safe just because they are sold over the counter or come from "natural" sources such as plants. While many herbal supplements are safe when used as directed, problems with some herbal products have been identified.
A fundamental problem in assessing either the efficacy or the side effects of herbal supplements is the lack of strict manufacturing quality standards, allowing substantial variability of products between different manufacturers and even between different batches of one product from the same manufacturer. As a consequence, firm conclusions on these compounds are difficult to reach.
When trying a new herbal supplement, always ask your doctor or pharmacist whether there are known safety issues associated with the herbal supplement, especially interactions with other medications.
Here are some of the more popular herbal supplements thought to interact with certain prescription drugs.
Herbal Supplement 1 – Ginkgo
Ginkgo inhibits the action of platelets in the blood, thus interfering with blood coagulation. Don't use ginkgo if you are taking the blood thinner warfarin (Coumadin) or antiplatelet drugs such as clopidogrel (Plavix). Ginkgo may lower blood sugar, so don't use it if you are already taking drugs for diabetes.Herbal Supplement 2 – Garlic
Chemical compounds in garlic may inhibit blood clotting. Don't use garlic supplements if you are already taking anticoagulants or antiplatelet drugs. Garlic can also interfere with the action of the antiviral drug saquinavir (Invirase), which is used to treat HIV infection.Herbal Supplement 3 -- Licorice Root
Taking large amounts of licorice may cause high blood pressure and retention of water and salt. It can also deplete potassium in the body, leading to abnormal heart rhythms or symptoms of weakness or fatigue. Licorice would have the tendency to counteract the effect of some diuretics (water pills), drugs that are commonly prescribed for heart disease and high blood pressure.Herbal Supplement 4 -- Kava
Kava appears to be toxic to the liver, so it is advisable to avoid kava altogether.Herbal Supplement 5 -- Asian Ginseng
Asian ginseng may lower your blood sugar. Don't use it if you are already taking diabetes drugs to lower your blood sugar. Asian ginseng may also inhibit blood clotting. Don't use ginseng if you are already taking anticoagulants or antiplatelet drugs.Herbal Supplement 6 -- St. John's Wort
http://www.johnshopkinshealthalerts.com/alerts/prescription_drugs/JohnsHopkinsPrescriptionsDrugsHealthAlert_3437-1.html?ET=johnshopkins:e36893:190937a:&st=email&st=email&s=W2R_100327_005
The problem of St. John's wort interfering with the metabolism of many drugs is probably the best defined of all herbal interactions with other drugs. St. John's wort can interact with a variety of prescription drugs, either increasing or decreasing their effect. These drugs include the antiviral drug Invirase, the anti-rejection drug cyclosporine, the cardiac drug digoxin, the blood thinner Coumadin, antidepressants, and some cancer medications.
And I'm a bull in a china shop.......and a terrible, terrible cook....guaranteed trip to ER when I step into the kitchen and try to do something.