Sunday, February 23, 2020

Yarrow Reduce Bleeding, Building Immune System

Commonly known as achillea, yarrow, bloodwort, carpenter's weed, devil's nettle, nosebleed, old man's pepper, staunch weed, thousand-leaf, and woundwort (among other names).

Achillea millefolium, commonly known as yarrow or common yarrow is a flowering plant in the family Asteraceae. It is native to temperate regions of the Northern Hemisphere in Asia, Europe, and North America. Wikipedia

Identify: 


 Flower heads are arranged in large, compact clusters at the top of the stem, each cluster consisting of 1 or more flower heads. The flower head has 20-25 yellowish-white (rarely pink) ray flowers and similarly colored disk flowers,  divided into smaller leaflets, giving them a delicate, fernlike, lacy appearance.


Medical Uses:

Yarrow leaves have been used for tea, and young leaves and flowers have been used in salads. Infusions of yarrow have served as cosmetic cleansers and medicines.

Yarrow has been used to induce sweating and to stop wound bleeding. It also has been reported to reduce heavy menstrual bleeding and pain. It has been used to relieve GI ailments, for cerebral and coronary thromboses, to lower high blood pressure, to improve circulation, and to tone varicose veins. 

It has antimicrobial actions, is a natural source for food flavoring, and is used in alcoholic beverages and bitters. 

Helps fight bacteria and viruses — Drinking a tea made from yarrow, elderflower, linden, boneset, peppermint, and ginger can promote sweating and help eradicate flu-causing viruses from your body.
Promotes digestion and detoxification — Yarrow's bitter components and fatty acids encourage proper bile secretion from the gallbladder, which can then improve digestion and keep gallstones from forming.
Helps relieve cramps and menstrual pain — Yarrow can also help regulate menstrual periods, particularly controlling heavy flow.
May be effective against skin conditions, such as eczema — Not only can it help stop wounds from bleeding, but it can be used as first aid for ulcers.
Helps stop nosebleeds — Applying dried or powdered yarrow leaves inside nostrils may help stop the bleeding.
Relieves pain from arthritis and rheumatism — It has anti-inflammatory properties that may alleviate pain brought on by these conditions.
Helps relieve hemorrhoids — Drinking yarrow tea or tincture or placing a yarrow poultice or compress over the affected area may soothe this health problem.
In a 2017 study on achillea asiatica extract, researchers concluded that the herb was effective at improving skin wounds in rats through multiple effects at the cellular level.

A 2017 study out of Iran supports the use of achillea millefolium in neurodegenerative disease, including multiple sclerosisParkinson's disease, stroke, and epilepsy. This conclusion is based on findings in animal studies.

The 2017 review and other studies support yarrow's effectiveness for:
  • Immune-system support
  • Regulating blood sugar in diabetes
  • Protecting the liver and gallbladder: In combination with other herbs, yarrow is used for bloating, intestinal gas (flatulence), mild gastrointestinal (GI) cramping, and other GI complaints.
  • Stimulating menstruation: Yarrow is used for fever, common cold, hay fever, absence of menstruation, dysentery, diarrhea, loss of appetite, gastrointestinal (GI) tract discomfort, and to induce sweating.
  • Helping with sleep
  • Treating hemorrhoids / Yarrow is applied to the skin to stop bleeding from hemorrhoids; for wounds; and as a sitz bath for painful, lower pelvic, cramp-like conditions in women.
  • Alleviating hay fever: Yarrow is used for fever, common cold, hay fever, absence of menstruation, dysentery, diarrhea, loss of appetite, gastrointestinal (GI) tract discomfort, and to induce sweating.
  • Speeding elimination of urine
  • Anxiety: A 2015 review of the anti-anxiety properties of essential oils found that two varieties of yarrow—achillea umbellate and achillea wilhemsii—did appear to help lessen anxiety. 
  • Tooth Pain: Some people chew the fresh leaves to relieve toothache.

Side Effects:

Yarrow is generally considered safe to use medicinally. Possible side effects may include:
  • Drowsiness
  • Increased urination
  • Skin irritation when used topically (such as for wound healing)
  • Slowed Blood Clotting
Yarrow may make your skin more sensitive to sunlight. Pregnant women and breastfeeding mothers should also refrain from using yarrow, as this herb may induce a miscarriage and may have unknown effects on an unborn child.

www.betterherbnews.com



Acacia for Weight Loss, Gum Disease, and Inflammation

Herbal Remedy called Acacia for Obesity, Stomach Inflammation, Ginngivitas, 


The gum that is exuded from the acacia tree. Other names it has been called, Acacia arabica, Acacia senegal, Acacia verek, Arbre à Gomme Arabique, Bum Senegal, Bomme Arabique, Bomme de Senegal, Bummae Momosae, Goma Arábiga, Gomme Acacia, Gomme Arabique, Gomme d'Acacia, Gomme Sénégal, Gommier Blanc, Gum Acacia, Gum Arabic, Khadir, Kher, Kumatia, Mimosa senegal, Senegalia senegal.




Don't confuse acacia with sweet acacia (Acacia farnesiana), acai, cassie absolute, or sweet acacia (Acacia farnesiana).

Used by the Egyptians for hemorrhoids.  Acacia is a sticky substance that is used to help with a sore throat, reducing stomach discomforts.

Acacia caesia was tested on rats as part of topical wound treatment. It led to quicker wound healing than the standard treatment.

As a medicine, acacia is taken by to reduce cholesterol levels and to help with weight loss.  In manufacturing, acacia is used as a pharmaceutical ingredient in medications for throat or stomach inflammation and as a film-forming agent in peel-off skin masks. This really got my attention, because most pharmaceutical companies hate herbs that work, but I see this was is being used by manufacturers.

Benefits include high cholesterol, diabetes, irritable bowel syndrome and weight issues, obesity. Acacia helps remove toxins, cleanses the body.  There is a lot of talk about probiotics, Acacia is prebiotic helping with good bacteria in the gut.

Acacia is also effective in reducing skin inflammation and works well in the mouth for plaque and gum disease (gingivitis). Used in toothpaste, and mouthwashes to prevent gingivitis

Acacia is a digestible fiber it makes people feel full so they stop eating sooner. This is one way it helps with weight loss and reduced cholesterol levels.  In a study involving 120 women, 60 women took 30 grams per day of acacia gum for six weeks, while the other 60 took a placebo containing just 1 gram of pectin. Results showed that women who took the acacia gum reduced their body mass index. Their body fat percentage was also reduced by over 2 percent.

Doses:

For Dental plaque. Research indicates that chewing acacia gum for 10 minutes five times a day for 7 days reduced dental plaque more than sugar-free gum.

For Weight Loss that is some proof that taking 30grams of power a day helps weight loss.

Warning:
Some forms of acacia contain toxic chemicals that could cause hair loss, affect your digestive tract’s ability to take in nutrients, and stunt growth. Do not consume a form of acacia that you’re not familiar with.

Passionflower for Anxiety can be Dangerous

Passionflower for Herbal Remedies, Herbal Medicine


This family of plants is also known as Passiflora. Passionflower is available as infusions, teas, liquid extracts, and tinctures.

Studies suggest that specific species may have medicinal benefits. For example, Passiflora incarnata Purple Passionflower may help treat anxiety, insomnia, seizures, hysteria, and nervous disorders. Native 

American Indians have used passionflower to boils, wounds, earaches, and liver problems.  Passiflora foetida is more commonly known as stinking passionflower that has been shown to help with ulcers and digestion issues.

Passionflower was used in North American beginning in the 1800’s to treat nervous restlessness and gastrointestinal spasms. In short, the effects of passionflower were believed to be primarily on the nervous system, particularly for anxiety due to mental worry and overwork.

Passionflower has been examined for use in treating anxiety, insomnia, diabetes, menopausal symptoms, and cough. However, there are limited quality clinical trials to recommend passion flower for any indication. (reference)


Doses:
There are not enough studies to know what dosages for children, so be careful.  In addition, it is important to stress that these dosages are not prescriptions, but merely suggested guidelines. 
  • Infusions: 2.5 grams, 3 to 4 times daily
  • Teas: Tea made from 4 to 8 grams of dried herb, daily2
  • Liquid extract: 10 to 30 drops, 3 times daily
  • Tincture: 10 to 60 drops, 3 times daily

Passionflower Warning


In general, passionflower is considered safe and nontoxic. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), however, does not regulate the production of herbs and supplements. Most herbs and supplements are not thoroughly tested, and there is no guarantee regarding the ingredients or safety of the products.

Medications are known to have possible interactions with passionflower. These include antihistamines, benzodiazepines, barbiturates, and narcotics. In addition, any antidepressant has the potential to interfere with its potency as well.  Other herbal remedies that may cause issues with passionflower are kava and valerian root. Finally, substances like alcohol, caffeine, and aspirin may not mix well with passionflower usage.

Take care if you are taking blood thinners or anti-inflammatory medications, as these have been shown to have possible passionflower interactions
It may induce contractions if you’re pregnant. It can cause sleepiness, dizziness, confusion. Because of this, it should not be taken with sedative medications. Also, it’s not safe for pregnant women or breast-feeding women.

For more Herbal Remedies go to Better Herb News

Advantages of Moringa for Better Health


Moringa gives you a huge boost in Vitamins and Minerals.


This herbal remedy Moringa grows naturally in India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Afghanistan. It mostly likes tropical climates Every part of the plant the leaves, bark, flowers, fruit, seeds, root and even the bark are used to make medicine.
Since it grows easily is a superfood source for some parts of the world because it is grown cheaply and has so many vitamins and minerals.

How they are prepared:

The immature green pods (drumsticks) are prepared similarly to green beans, while the seeds are removed from more mature pods and cooked like peas or roasted like nuts. The leaves are cooked and used like spinach, and they are also dried and powdered for use as a condiment.

Benefits:


Moringa helps with skin because it contains hydrating and detoxifying elements, that boost the skin and hair.

Moringa is used for asthmadiabetesobesitysymptoms of menopause, and many other conditions, There is no real scientific proof or real studies to support these uses. In addition to medical health Moringa is used in foods, perfumes and hair care products.

Edema is an inflammatory condition where the body builds up fluids in the tissues. Moringa helps with the inflammation thus helping with edema.

Moringa also has been shown to protect against and reduce or stop cancer, because it contains niazimicin which reduces cancer. Leaf extracts slowed the growth of pancreatic cancer cells and helped chemotherapy work better.

The antibiotic and antibacterial properties of moringa will inhibit the growth of some pathogens making it very good for digestive issues, including bloating, constipation, gastritis, and ulcerative colitis. 


The combination of anti-inflammatory and vitamins and minerals makes it very helpful for healing broken bones, strengthening bones and helping with arthritis.  These properties also can reduce fluids and swelling in the brain, helping with memory, stress, and improved thinking ability.

Much success has been seen with using Moringa for depression, anxiety, stress, and fatigue

Bronchial inflammation that can cause asthma and other breathing issues can be reduced with Moringa.  High toxicity levels in the kidneys can be reduced because of the elevated levels of antioxidants, this can also help reduce kidney stones.  Moringa reduces blood sugar, making it helpful for diabetes and amazingly helps build hemoglobin levels.   The high level of isothiocyanate and niaziminin compounds keeps arteries from thickening which is what causes higher blood pressure.  Moringa may stop the dilation of retinal vessels, prevent the thickening of capillary membranes, and inhibit retinal dysfunction for eye health. It is thought that its ability to help the body absorb minerals better will help the body produce more red blood cells preventing anemia and sickle cell disease.  As an antioxidant, it helps with cell growth and cell regeneration, wound repairs and healing It also has calciumprotein, iron, and amino acids, which help your body heal and build muscle.

Warning:

Since moringa may lower blood sugar and blood pressure, do not mix moringa with medications to treat diabetes or blood pressure.  Moringa is not recommended for any women that are considering becoming pregnant or that are currently pregnant because it has anti-fertility properties. The chemicals in Moringa could lead to miscarriages. 

Special note:

Now you know why it is referred to as a “miracle tree,


Saturday, February 22, 2020

Dangers of Herbal Remedies

Warnings / Potential Dangers / Herbs could be fatal / 


BEWARE / Herbal Remedies can be dangerous.
It has been proven that Herbs effectively improve the value of life for millions of people. The side effects of herbal remedies are far less than pharmaceuticals drugs, while that is said it has to be noted there are warnings and precautions that need to be shared. Nevertheless, it should be realized that herbs can be very potent and, if used incorrectly, can cause serious adverse effects.
It is also important to note that some herbs have an adverse effect in prescriptions and over-the-counter medications, either decreasing or increasing the effects of these medicines. For example, St John’s wort can interfere with birth control pills and Gingko Biloba can increase your risk of bleeding with anticoagulant (blood-thinning) medicines.




Herbal medicines can cause kidney failure and liver damage in some consumers because they contain toxic chemicals or heavy metals, or react harmfully with other drugs, a study has found.
The findings come from a paper published in the Medical Journal of Australia on Monday. Researchers led by the University of Adelaide reviewed the findings from 52 studies of herbal medicines and toxicology.
 “Toxic side effects of herbal medicines used in traditional societies have typically not been reported, and this is often cited in favor of their safety,” Byard said.
“However, the lack of systematic observation has meant that even serious adverse reactions, such as kidney failure and liver damage caused by some plant species have gone unrecognized until recently.”

The predominant users of herbal medicines in Australia is women under 35 with tertiary education. Many users of herbal medicines do not tell their doctor they are taking the substances because of the belief they are natural and therefore, not harmful, a co-author of the paper, pharmacology lecturer Ian Musgrave said.
“But herbs can be a source of very potent toxins, and in fact many things we use as medicines derived from plants are toxic, poisoning predators,” he said.
“We can use these toxins in low concentrations in order to have useful medical effects. 

Some people believe that because herbal medicines derived from natural products that they are not drugs, but they are, and they have the potential to cause harm or to interact harmfully with prescription medications.”



Herbs with Potential Dangers
Golden Seal

Used for constipation and colds, eye infections, and even cancer. There is a warning about using it incorrectly.  Goldenseal can affect your heartbeat and rhythm.  It can also have been dangerous if you have blood clotting issues. For your heart, it can lower your blood pressure. You should check with your doctor first if you have a blood clotting problems or are on blood pressure medicines.
Aloe

Alow used for burns, wounds, and skin issues. It is also taken internally for healing tumors, digestion.   Caution if can also cause an abnormal heartbeat or kidney problems. Alow can  lower your blood sugar levels if you have diabetes.
Ephedra

Known as ma huang, this herb has been used for thousands of years in China and India and now all over the world to treat coughs, headaches, and cold symptoms. It has also been found to help with weight loss and to get energy.  Recent is has been discovered to have increased heart problems and stroke. Other heart problems include an increase in heart rate and blood pressure. The FDA has banned ephedra as a dietary supplement, but it still can be found in some herbal teas.
Ginseng

All over the world Ginseng is advertised to slow aging, diabetes and help with sex drive, Others take it for diabetes, to boost immunity, or to help with sex. But it may lead to a drop in blood sugar, so it can cause issues for people with diabetes. Side effects can be caused because it causes blood thinning  Hypertensive and chronotropic activities, may increase digoxin levels, diarrhea, itching, insomnia, headaches, nervousness, rapid heartbeat, hypertension or hypotension, breast tenderness, vaginal bleeding.  It can lower blood sugar excessively in combination with diabetes medication.  It contains a chemical linked to possible birth defects.  May worsen hormone-sensitive conditions such as breast cancer, uterine cancer, ovarian cancer, endometriosis, and uterine fibroids, Insomnia.
Black Cohosh

Often used for menopause symptoms like hot flashes and night sweats and to help with PMS. The warning is for anyone with liver problems, there’s a chance it can cause inflammation or failure. It should also be avoided by women with breast cancer until more is known about how it may affect them.
Garlic

Some people believe it helps with high blood pressure and can treat cold symptoms. Studies show it can lower your cholesterol a bit, too. It’s safe for most people, but garlic can thin your blood. That can increase your risk of bleeding if you take blood-thinning medications for heart problems.
Licorice Root

Some people use this to treat coughs, stomach ulcers, bronchitis, infections, and sore throat. It can raise your blood pressure and cause issues with heart rate problems, so check with your doctor first if you have heart problems. 
Stinging Nettle

Taken for allergies and arthritis, kidney and bladder stones, and urinary tract infections even help with dandruff. But nettle can make your body hold water, so you shouldn't take it if you retain fluid because of heart or kidney problems or if you take diuretics.
Feverfew

Commonly taken to try to prevent migraines and to help with arthritis and allergies.  A Warning for anyone taking  blood thinners, it may cause a problem with blood clotting, so it may cause issues for people with heart disease or blood disorders.
Ginger

Good for digestion taken for nausea brought on by surgery, chemotherapy, or motion sickness. It is also taken to treat arthritis and inflammation. Ginger like many herbs can cause problems with blood clotting, heart rhythms, blood pressure, and blood sugar levels. Special warning if you are on blood thinners or have diabetes.
Arnica

This plan is used for muscle pain, bruising, tendons, swelling and other pains. Some people take to help with constipation. Arnica can also raise your blood pressure and cause a fast heartbeat and shortness of breath. It can even damage your liver, or bring on a coma or death.
Ginko

Taken for memory, clearer thinking to improve their memory. But it can thin your blood and cause bleeding. That's especially risky if you take blood-thinning drugs.
Kava

This is supposed to help with anxiety and insomnia. But it may cause liver damage, like hepatitis. So you shouldn't take it if you have liver or kidney problems. Kava also can be dangerous if you drink alcohol or take other drugs that make you sleepy. May also cause reversible dry skin
St. Johns Wort

Taken for depression, anxiety, and sleep problems. It can cause side effects like headache, nausea, dizziness, and dry mouth. And it may make you more likely to get sunburned. And it can make some chemotherapy less effective. 
Buckthorn

Taken to strengthen immunity, help protect against cancer. Can also cause abdominal pain, diarrhea, potentially carcinogenic, with others can potentiate cardiac glycosides and antiarrhythmic agents.
Bitter Orange

Believed by some to treat angina, allergies, insomnia, nasal congestion, nerve pain, poor appetite, and liver and gallbladder problems. Side effects can be Fainting, arrhythmia, heart attack, stroke, death.
Areca nut

Areca is used to treat schizophrenia deterioration of psychosis, alleviate the sense of well being, Has been known to cause carcinogen contributing to cancer of the mouth, pharynx, esophagus, and stomach when chewed.
Aconite

Studies have shown this to be helpful to reduce fever associated with colds, pneumonia, laryngitis, croup, and asthma; for pain, inflammation, and high blood pressure. But the warning is that it can also cause heart palpitations and arrhythmias, hypotension, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, respiratory system paralysis, death.
Saw Palmetto

Used for asthma, colds, coughs, migraine, prostate cancer, and sore throat. As good as it is that have been rare and mild gastrointestinal upset, headaches, diarrhea, gynecomastia, paroxysmal atrial fibrillation, ventricular rupture.
Senna

Senna is also used for irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), hemorrhoids, and weight loss. However in some cases causes abdominal pain, diarrhea, potentially carcinogenic, liver damage.
Reference: Ernst, E. (1998). "Harmless herbs? A review of the recent literature". The American Journal of Medicine. 104 (2): 170–178. doi:10.1016/S0002-9343(97)00397-5. PMID 9528737.
Herbs that can Kill
Water Hemlock

Hemlock is also known as devil's porridge, beaver poison or poison parsley., Water hemlock grows in marshy, swampy areas of meadows; and along banks of streams, pools, and rivers. Accidental poisonings usually occur when water hemlock is mistaken for edible plants such as artichokes potentially fatal symptoms in anyone unlucky enough to eat it. Painful convulsions, abdominal cramps, nausea, and death are common, and those who survive are often afflicted with amnesia or lasting tremors.
Deadly Nightshade

Atropa belladonna, commonly known as belladonna or deadly nightshade,  it is the sweetness of the berries that often lures children and unwitting adults to consume this lethal plant.   Nightshade contains atropine and scopolamine in its stems, leaves, berries, and roots, and causes paralysis in the involuntary muscles of the body,  Symptoms of poisoning include rapid heart beat dilated pupils, delirium, vomiting, hallucinations, and death due to respiratory failure. Even physical contact with the leaves may cause skin irritation.  Deadly nightshade has a long, colorful history of use as a poison, but what many people don't realize is that the nightshade family includes common food plants, including potatoes, tomatoes, eggplants and chili peppers.
White Snakeroot

Responsible for the death of Abraham Lincoln’s mother, Nancy Hanks.  She was poisoned by simply drinking the milk of a cow who had grazed on the plant. White snakeroot is a North American herb with flat-topped clusters of small white flowers and contains toxic alcohol known as tramadol.   Symptoms of "milk poisoning" include loss of appetite, nausea, weakness, abdominal discomfort, reddened tongue, abnormal acidity of the blood, and death.
Castor Bean

It is a beautiful, Tropical plant, it grows very large. The seeds are the source of castor oil, they naturally contain the poison ricin and are deadly in small amounts. It only takes one or two seeds to kill a child and up to eight to kill an adult.  Ricin works by inhibiting the synthesis of proteins within cells and can cause severe vomiting, diarrhea, seizures, and even death
Rosary Pea

Used to make jewelry, Many jewelry makers have died after pricking a finger  While the seeds are not poisonous if intact, seeds that are scratched, broken, or chewed can be lethal. It only takes 3 micrograms of abrin to kill an adult, less than the amount of poison in one seed,  Like ricin, abrin prevents protein synthesis within cells and can cause organ failure within four days
Oleander

Though commonly grown as a hedge and ornamental, all parts of the oleander plant is deadly and contains lethal cardiac glycosides known as oleandrin and nerine. If eaten, oleander can cause vomiting, diarrhea, erratic pulse, seizures, coma, and death,  contact with the leaves and sap is known to be a skin irritant to some people. People have become ill after eating honey made by bees that visited the flower. Even smoke from burning oleander can be fatal.  in Sri Lanka, where oleander poisonings exceed 150 per 100,000 people each year. About 10 percent of those cases are fatal.
Tobacco

Nicotine poisoning describes the symptoms of the toxic effects of nicotine following ingestion, inhalation, or skin contact. Nicotine poisoning can potentially be deadly, though serious or fatal overdoses are rare. Historically, most cases of nicotine poisoning have been the result of the use of nicotine as an insecticide. All parts of the plant, especially its leaves, contain the toxic alkaloids nicotine and anabasine and can be fatal if eaten.  Tobacco use causes more than 5 million deaths per year, making it perhaps the most deadly plant in the world.
European yew

European Yew. nearly all parts of this slow-growing tree can be poisonous. Some people have chosen to commit suicide by ingesting the leaves or the seeds, both of which contain a poison called taxane   a person or animal can die within a few hours of ingesting yew seeds or leaves
Daffodils

All parts of the daffodil contain a toxic chemical, lycorine. The part of the plant that contains the highest concentration of lycorine is the bulb. However, eating any part of the plant can cause symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, and diarrhea.  Daffodils grow from bulbs that could be mistaken for a portion of edible food, like an onion.
Doll's Eye

The berries contain cardiogenic toxins that can have an immediate sedative effect on cardiac muscle tissue.  Symptoms of poisoning include burning of mouth and throat, salivation, severe stomach cramps, headache, diarrhea, dizziness, and hallucinations. Ingestion of the berries can eventually lead to cardiac arrest and death.
Angels Trumpet

Angel's trumpets are woody-stemmed bushes with pendulous flowers that hang like bells.   All parts of these plants contain dangerous levels of poison and may be fatal if ingested by humans or animals.
Monkshood

A perennial herb often is grown as an ornamental plant due to its attractive blue to dark purple flowers. All parts of the plant, especially the roots, contain toxins. Aconitine is the most dangerous of these toxins. ... Raw aconite plants are very poisonous. Used by ancient warriors to poison the water of their enemies, In 2015, a gardener died of multiple organ failure after brushing past this deadly purple flowering plant on the estate where he was working.
Foxglove

The seeds, stems, flowers, and leaves of the foxglove plant are poisonous. They contain digitalis glycosides, which are organic compounds that act on the heart. When someone eats part of these attractive plants or sucks on the flowers, the glycosides affect cardiac function, causing an irregular heartbeat.

Some herbs can have dangerous interactions with conventional medications, so if you are on any medications, consult a professional doctor, herbalist or naturopath first, before you start any herbal treatment.

Take note of the following dangerous interactions:
·         The most common dangerous interactions between herbs and conventional medicine happen in people that are using anticoagulants (blood-thinning) drugs like Warfarin and Heparin.
·         Certain herbs like Gingko Biloba and Chinese angelica enhance the blood-thinning activity of anticoagulants thereby increasing someone's risk of internal and external bleeding.
·         St. John's wort: if you are taking antibiotics, anti-epileptics, immune-suppressants or anti-depressants you should not take St. John's wort as it can reduce the effectiveness of the other drugs.
Packaging and Manufacturing of Herbs
Contaminating Herbs
Contamination with heavy metals, adulteration with pharmaceuticals, and prohibited animal and plant ingredients are repeatedly found in herbal products.  More than 40% of all herbal products fail to contain as much of their active ingredients as claimed on their labels.  Intentional and unintentional adulteration with antibiotics, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, hormones, and heavy metals is common. Untested and unregulated steroids are sold to the public, including minors. 
Aristolochic acid nephropathy has been reported in patients who took herbal supplements without knowing that the manufacturer had substituted Aristolochia for another herb
Herbal products are promoted in magazines, newspapers, and books, on radio and television, and through the Internet. Herbs are advocated for treatment on the basis of unproven, word-of-mouth traditions and beliefs. Some promotional materials even claim that the featured product is “doctor recommended,” “the world’s most powerful,” “patented,” or “now presented without a prescription” (even if it had never been prescribed). In a study of Internet marketing of herbal products, Morris and Avorn () found that at least 81% of Web sites made 1 or more health claims; with more than 50% claiming to treat, prevent, diagnose, or cure specific diseases despite regulations barring such statements
More than half (58%) took supplements that had potential interactions with warfarin, amiodarone, sotalol, or digoxin. In a geriatric clinic, 46% of the patients were taking supplements with anticoagulation properties. Most (73%) were also taking a prescription anticoagulant and were unaware of potential interactions. Findings from another study indicated that 1 in 6 adults taking conventional prescription medications reported concomitant use of at least 1 CAM product during the preceding week, More than 40% of the respondents said that taking herbal medicine along with prescription medication was more useful than taking either alone.
The use of herbal remedies in the United States is widespread and increasing dramatically, yet current laws allow them to be marketed as dietary supplements not subject to the same regulations required for prescription drugs. Thus, the purity, efficacy, and safety of herbal products are often unknown, and individual products may not even contain the number of active ingredients listed on the label. In addition, manufacturers seldom report adverse events to the FDA.
There is a clear need for better public and physician understanding of herbal products through health education, early detection, and management of herbal toxicities, scientific scrutiny of their use, and research on their safety and effectiveness.
Other Resources. 


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