Golden Box Book Publishing Asthma Relief with Grandmas Remedies | Page 33
The Dangers of Using Herbs Incorrectly
Studying alternative medicine gave me an extensive knowledge of
herbs and supplements. Being an RN for many years, I have good
knowledge of pharmaceutical medications. Being familiar with both
traditional and alternative medicine, I can see the danger of
combining them. Just like drug-to-drug or food-to-drug, herb-to-drug
interactions can be dangerous or even in some cases, lethal. Some
herbal medicines—although very useful—can enhance, alter, or
cancel the effect of prescription medications. Not knowing them
could put people in danger. Part of the problem is that many people
do not even consider telling their doctor about the supplements they
are taking. Some might view herbs as harmless and tasty teas; others
read about their effects or get advice from the clerks at nature stores.
Overall, most people neglect to research the effect,, side effects, and
potential interactions with their diet or prescription medications.
About twenty years ago, the use of herbal medicine began to rise,
and over the past ten years it has become very popular. Nowadays,
people are taking herbal remedies for a wide variety of illnesses and
symptoms—from migraine to cough and upset stomach, from
depression to sleep disorders and joint pain. There is a lot of
information on the Internet or in books about herbs, but very few
describe the side effects or their interactions with prescription
medications. Let me tell one of the many stories I come across on a
daily basis.
I was shopping in a health food store when I overheard the teenage
clerk giving advice to a thin, frail, elderly woman. “You should take
licorice. It’s very good for colds and coughs,” he said, and then he
walked away. The woman tried, but soon gave up on reading the fine
print on the bottle, and she put it in her basket with a sigh. Looking
at her, I noticed the telltale bruises from using the blood thinner
Coumadin, and I just had a hunch that she might be in chronic atrial
fibrillation because I noticed the irregular pulsing of her arteries
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