 |
|
|
|
|
| |
Possible Side Effects, Contraindications, and Drug Interactions
The three charts below are adapted from information taken from the PDR For Herbal Medicines, The Complete German Commission E Monographs, and Herbal Medicine: Expanded Commission E Monographs. In parenthesis is the source of the information given: CE for either of the two Commission E books, and PDR for the PDR For Herbal Medicines. Where no code is given, information is given according the best of the author's knowledge.
In no case is any citation to be taken as an absolute catalog of all possible side effects, contraindications, or possible drug interactions. That said, the purpose of the tables are to provide for the consumer the most complete picture possible of the risks associated with the herbal products sold by Whole Health Products.
Each person is different, and the way someone reacts to a particular product may be significantly different from another. You should always seek the advice of a health care practitioner before taking any dietary, nutritional, herbal or homeopathic supplement, and inform your pharmacy of its use.
Possible Side Effects
| Herbal Single |
Possible Side Effect |
| Angelica (Dong Quai) |
Sensitivity to light (CE) |
| Bilberry |
None known (CE) |
| Black Cohosh |
Occasional gastric discomfort (CE) |
| Cascara Sagrada |
single use: cramps
long term/abuse: disturbance of electrolyte balance, esp. potassium deficiency, which, with abuse, can lead to disorders of heart and muscle function (CE) |
| Cayenne |
Rare cases: hypersensitivity (urticaria) (CE) |
| Chamomile |
None known (CE) |
| Chaste Tree |
Occasional itching, urticarial exanthemas (CE) |
| Cranberry |
None known (PDR) |
| Echinacea |
None known (CE) |
| Psyllium |
Rarely, allergic reaction (CE) |
| Garlic |
Rarely, gastrointestinal symptoms, pervasive odor (CE) |
| Ginger (in Supplemax) |
None known (CE) |
| Ginkgo Biloba |
Rarely, stomach or intestinal upset, headache, allergic skin reaction (CE) |
| Ginseng |
None known (CE) |
| Goldenseal |
With abuse: digestive disorders, constipation, exitatory states, hallucination, deliria (PDR) |
| Gotu Kola (in Supplemax) |
None known (PDR) |
| Grape Seed |
None known (PDR) |
| Green Tea |
None known if used responsibly, because it contains caffeine: restlessness, irritability, sleeplessness, palpitation, vertigo, diarrhea, loss of appetite, headache (PDR) |
| Guarana |
None known if used responsibly, because it contains caffeine: restlessness, irritability, sleeplessness, palpitation, vertigo, diarrhea, loss of appetite, headache (PDR) |
| Horsechestnut |
In isolated cases: pruritis, nausea, gastric complaints (CE) |
| Kava |
None known. With extended, continuous intake, yellowing of skin, hair and nails. Dry itchy skin can also occur. This reverses on discontinuation. Also enlargement of pupils and disturbances of oculomotor equilibrium have been described (CE) |
| Larrea tridentata |
The patented extract used in Larrea Safe™ has none of the hepatotoxic compounds present in the unprocessed plant. |
| Milk Thistle |
Crude preparation: none known
Formulations: occasional mild laxative (CE) |
| Passion Flower |
None known (CE) |
| Peppermint (in Supplemax) |
None known |
| Saint John's Wort |
Photosensitization in rare cases. Animal and human research indicates that it would take 30-50 times the recommended daily level of 900mg to produce these effects. (CE) |
| Saw Palmetto |
Rarely, stomach problems (CE) |
| Spirulina |
None known |
| Tea Tree |
None with proper use; contact dermatitis is possible (PDR) |
| Valerian |
None known (CE) |
Contraindications (CE)
| Condition |
Do Not Take |
| Abdominal Pain of Unknown Origin |
Cascara Sagrada |
| AIDS |
Echinacea (theoretical concern, not verified) |
| Allergy/Hypersensitivity |
Black Cohosh
Cayenne
Ginkgo Biloba |
| Anxiety |
Ephedra |
| Appendicitis |
Cascara Sagrada |
| Asthma |
Melatonin |
| Autoimmune Disease |
Echinacea (theoretical concern, not verified) |
| Bile Duct Obstruction |
Kava
Peppermint Oil (present in trace amounts in peppermint leaf in Supplemax) |
| Cerebral Circulation, Impaired |
Ephedra |
| Children and Infants |
Cascara Sagrada
Peppermint Oil (present in trace amounts in peppermint leaf in Supplemax)
|
| Colitis, Ulcerative |
Cascara Sagrada |
| Collagenosis |
Echinacea |
| Depression |
Kava |
| Diabetes Mellitus |
Psyllium husk |
| Esophageal Stenosis |
Psyllium husk |
| Exanthemas, Urticarial |
Chaste Tree |
| Gallbladder Inflammation |
Peppermint Oil (present in trace amounts in peppermint leaf in Supplemax) |
| Gallstones |
Ginger
Peppermint Oil (present in trace amounts in peppermint leaf in Supplemax) |
| Gastrointestinal Stenosis |
Psyllium husk |
| Glaucoma |
Ephedra |
| HIV |
Ginseng
Ephedra
Echinacea (theoretical concern, not verified)
|
| Hypokalemia |
Flaxseed |
| Ileus |
Flaxseed
Psyllium husk |
| Intestinal Inflammation or Obstruction |
Cascara Sagrada
|
| Leukosis |
Echinacea (theoretical concern, not verified) |
| Liver Disease |
Peppermint Oil (present in trace amounts in peppermint leaf in Supplemax) |
| Multiple Sclerosis |
Echinacea (theoretical concern, not verified) |
| Pheochromocytoma |
Ephedra |
| Progressive Systemic Diseases |
Echinacea (theoretical concern, not verified) |
| Prostate Adenoma |
Ephedra |
| Restlessness |
Ephedra |
| Thyrotoxicosis |
Ephedra |
| Tuberculosis |
Echinacea (theoretical concern, not verified) |
| Ulcers |
Kola nut |
Possible Drug Interactions
| Drug |
Don't Combine |
| Alcohol (CE) |
Kava |
| Antiarrythmics (CE) |
Cascara Sagrada |
| Antithrombolytics (PDR) |
Ginkgo Biloba |
| Barbiturates (CE) |
Kava |
| Caffeine |
Green Tea
Guarana
Kola Nut (CE)
St. John's Wort |
| Cardiac glycosides (CE), (PDR) |
Cascara Sagrada
Ephedra |
| Corticosteroids (CE) |
Cascara Sagrada |
| Dopamine receptor antagonists (CE), (PDR) |
Chaste Tree (from animal studies) |
| Guanethidine (CE), (PDR) |
Ephedra |
| Halothane (CE), (PDR) |
Ephedra |
| Insulin (PDR) |
Psyllium may reduce absorption |
| Licorice Root (CE) |
Cascara Sagrada |
| MAO Inhibitors (CE), (PDR) |
Ephedra |
| Oxytocin (CE), (PDR) |
Ephedra |
| Psychoanaleptics (CE) |
Kola Nut |
| Secale alkaloid derivatives (CE) |
Ephedra |
| Thiazide diuretics (CE) |
Cascara Sagrada |
References
- Blumenthal, Mark; Goldberg, Alicia; Brinckmann, Josef, Eds,; Tyler, VarroE, PhD, ScD. Herbal Medicine: Expanded Commission E Monographs. American Botanical Council, 2000.
- Blumenthal, Mark; Busse, Werner R; Goldberg, Alicia; Gruenwald, Joerg, PhD; Hall, Tara; Riggins, Chance W.; Rister, Robert S., Eds, Klein, Sigrid, PhD; Rister, Robert S, Trans, Tyler, VarroE, PhD, ScD. The Complete German Commission E Monographs: Therapeutic Guide to Herbal Medicines. American Botanical Council, 1998.
- Gruenwald, Joerg, PhD; Brendler, Thomas, BA; Jaenicke, Christof, MD. PDR for Herbal Medicines. Medical Economics Company, 1998.
We hope you enjoy your visit at our site, and find the information provided both useful and interesting. Email us at:
or call us (toll-free) 1-866-381-7693 with any suggestions!
|
|
|
|
