" There is a fine line pertaining to the teaching of herbs.
The teacher, instructor, herbalist, must take care in not crossing that legal line in diagnosing, prescribing, treating or curing any illness or disease with any herbal preparation. " American Herbalist Guild
With that being said, it is my wish that this site will enlighten you to the world of herbs, and that you continue to research and learn all you can about all the different herbs our beautiful planet has to offer.
Also, that before purchasing and using or preparing any herbal preparation for use, that you do your research on the particular herb/s first.
* Many herbs have drug interactions; if you are currently taking any medications, check with your doctor for any drug interactions before using.
* Many herbs/herbal preparations are not advisable for pregnant and or nursing mothers.
* Many herbs do have side effects, some which can be very unpleasant.
* Many herbs have unpleasant interactions within the body; especially the liver and kidneys.
With access of the internet, one now has the power to take their own health in their hands by learning all they can about any herb before using.
For example, the following is a brief profile list of a few commonly used herbs, along with the drug interactions and side effects. I copied and pasted from here
Unfortunately, this type of information is not always available when deciding whether to use an herb for medicinal purposes.
Personally, as one who has been studying and working in the field of herbalism for over 30 years -
I feel there should be a list of drug interactions and side effects given to each client that is receiving herbal information from any herbalist, especially now that we have access to the world wide web.
"Herbalism is largely unregulated in the United States, so there is no licensing or certification for herbalists.
However, herbalists should follow a code of conduct and can't diagnose, prescribe, or treat patients.
They can recommend, educate about, and dispense specific herbs."
Red clover - Trifolium pretense
The leaves and flowers contain isoflavones, which mimics estrogen.
This can help to balance the estrogen levels in women, and in turn help with hormonal shifts and mood swings.
As well as reducing breast tenderness, hot flashes, night sweats, sleeping difficulties and bone healing - which may reduce the risk of osteoporosis.
Drug Interactions:
Red clover may interact with oral contraceptives, hormone replacement therapy medications, tamoxifen, blood thinners.
Studies have linked red clover - Trifolium pratense to photosensitivity and liver failure.
Side Effects:
May cause muscle aches, nausea, vaginal bleeding.
Hormone sensitive conditions such as, breast cancer, uterine cancer, ovarian cancer, endometriosis and uterine fibroids should use caution when using red clover medicinally. This is due to the isoflavones in red clover.
"Studies have suggested a link between soy or isoflavones supplements and an increased risk of breast cancer in women who have a family or personal history of breast cancer or thyroid issues."
~Dr. Katherine Zeratsky
Black Cohosh - Actaea racemosa
Used for treating menopause symptoms such as hot flashes, night sweats, vaginal dryness heart palpitations nervousness and irritability.
Drug Interactions:
Black Cohosh has several drug interactions; statins blood thinners calcium channel blockers antidepressants liver metabolized medications, lipitor, tylenol, to name a few.
Side Effects:
There are also several side effects associated with this herb; headaches, hot flashes, rashes, dizziness, indigestion, vomiting, vaginal spotting sleep disturbances cramps, heart palpitations, liver disease, breast pain, mood changes, yellowing of the skin and eyes, to name a few.
There have been some cases of liver damage reported in people taking black cohosh medicinally.
Hormone sensitive conditions such as breast cancer and uterine cancer.
The estrogenic effects of black cohosh are controversial. However, there is data that does indicate that black cohosh extracts may have anti-estrogenic activity.
Antiestrogenic - blocking the effects of estrogen in the body:
The primary compounds in St. John's Wort, hypericin and hyperforin, are said to have mood-regulating effects thus alleviating psychological symptoms associated with menopause, like anxiety and irritability.
Drug interactions:
Antidepressants, anti-convulsants, digoxin, monoamine oxidase inhibitors, nonnucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors, oral contraceptives, triptans, warfarin, to name a few.
Side Effects:
John's wort contains phytoestrogens, which are plant compounds that mimic estrogen.
If you go back to the list of foods in part 1, you will see that the foods contain phytoestrogens.
It's important to note that studies have shown that the level of phytoestrogens in food, are lower than the level of phytoestrogens in herbs taken medicinally.
These studies find this correlation is due to the fact that medicinal herbs are in concentrated form, and are ingested in a higher amount, versus that which is in the foods we eat.
While research is ongoing, current evidence suggests that phytoestrogens, particularly in high doses, may have a complex relationship with breast cancer.
Some studies indicate a potential link to increased risk, while others suggest a protective effect depending on factors like dosage and individual metabolism.
The connection to cervical cancer is less well-established, but some studies have shown potential associations with increased cervical cancer risk with high phytoestrogen intake.
St. John's wort might increase the breakdown of estrogen.
Studies show that St John's Wort May pose a significant increase of dementia in those with Alzheimer's disease..
Schizophrenia: St. John’s wort might bring on psychosis in some people with schizophrenia.
Some studies show that St. John's wort increases the breakdown of estrogen.
" The breakdown of estrogen during menopause is considered bad because it can lead to various health concerns like hot flashes, night sweats, mood swings, vaginal dryness, and increased risk of osteoporosis and heart disease due to the protective effects estrogen has on the body; therefore, a significant drop in estrogen levels during menopause is generally not desirable."
Valerian - Valeriana officinalis
Valerian may help with menopause symptoms including hot flashes, irritability, and sleep disturbances.
Drug Interactions:
Anticonvulsants, such as phenytoin (Dilantin) and valproic acid (Depakote)
Barbiturates
Benzodiazepines, such as alprazolam (Xanax) and diazepam (Valium)
Drugs to treat insomnia, such as zolpidem (Ambien), zaleplon (Sonata), eszopiclone (Lunesta), and ramelteon (Rozerem)
Tricyclic antidepressants, such as amitriptyline (Elavil), to name a few.
Side Effects:
Valerian contains phytoestrogens, which are plant compounds that mimic estrogen.
While research is ongoing, current evidence suggests that phytoestrogens, particularly in high doses, may have a complex relationship with breast cancer.
Some studies indicate a potential link to increased risk, while others suggest a protective effect depending on factors like dosage and individual metabolism.
The connection to cervical cancer is less well-established, but some studies have shown potential associations with increased cervical cancer risk with high phytoestrogen intake.
A case-control study, found valerian to be positively associated with risk of early-onset colorectal cancer.
Clinical trials have yet to be conducted. Liver and pancreatic toxicities have also been reported.
The information provided on this site has not been evaluated by the FDA.