By Laura Ragain, Eye on Your HealthsOUTHWEST FLORIDA - In just about every magazine and on just about every late night cable television network you will find ads for herbal supplements. But do they really help?
Some herbal supplements can make a medication more potent, less effective or even produce harmful side effects.
Mark Collum, Pharm.D. Lee Memorial Health System says, “An example include Ginkgo Bolova which can affect blood thinners such as Aspirin and Coumadin. And ginseng which can increase blood pressure.”
Herbal supplements may also harm organ systems such as the liver, kidneys or GI tract.
“They can alter the metabolism in the liver, they can increase or decrease the absorption from the GI tract, or they can have an effect on the kidneys or increase or decrease the excretion of the chemical compounds, " says Collum.
Generally, it's a good idea to avoid herbal supplements, especially if you're also taking medication to treat diabetes or that affects your liver or heart.
“Another example is Eccanacea which can increase or decrease the effectiveness of heart medication, " says Collum.
If you’re pregnant, trying to get pregnant or breast feeding, your doctor will probably advise you to avoid herbal supplements. You should also talk to your health care provider if you drink green tea, because it has active ingredients that can interact with quite a few common medications.
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