Things To Avoid With Medicinal Plants
Herbs can be very good medicine. There is no doubt
about it. However, with over 300,000 higher plant species a good
herbalist may know only a couple of thousand of them. This means
even experienced herbalists can make mistakes. Here are some of the
most common problems.
Women who are pregnant should stay away from barberry
root bark, cascara sagrada, feverfew, juniper berries, mugwort,
pennyroyal, pokeroot, rue, senna, southernwood, tansy, thuja and
wormwood. Any of these herbs may cause an increased risk for
miscarriage. Safe herbs during pregnancy would be Manna, Butternut
Bark or Root, Flax Seed, Slippery Elm and Lemon Verbena.
Whatever herb(s) you may be taking, always watch for anything
unexpected. With any unwanted symptom stop taking whatever it is and
consult an expert you can trust.
Be sure you have the diagnosis correct. Diagnosis is not easy and
sometimes doctors make mistakes. Generally a doctor is better
equipped to handle the diagnoses. Discuss any planned herbal
discipline you plan to undertake with your physician.
Watch carefully for any allergic reactions. Even though you may have
never had any allergies in the past. You are embarking on an herbal
journey. Carefully watch for any adverse reactions. If you
experience difficulty in breathing within 30 minutes of trying a new
herb, food or drug, call 911 immediately! It is possible you are
having an anaphylactic reaction which is the most severe form of
allergic reaction. This condition may quickly become fatal unless
you treat it promptly. This type of reaction is rare, but you need
to be careful and be aware.
Watch for any interactions between herbs or medications. Medicines
may often interact negatively with one another. So do herbs. Always
be careful when taking more than one drug or herb, especially a
combination of both. If you suspect an interaction consult your
physician or pharmacist.
One interaction that you should be aware of is Antidepressants known
as monoamine oxidase (MAO) inhibitors. These drugs interact badly
with wine, cheese and many other foods. St. John’s Wort is also a
known MAO inhibitor so the same food restrictions apply. If you plan
on using St. John’s Wort, discuss it with your physician or
pharmacist.
Make certain you disclose to both your physician and your herbalist
all medications and/or herbal treatments you are using.
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