Alternative Medicine Research Today is a free monthly online journal that collates and summarizes the latest research about Alternative Medicine, including details on complementary medicine, alternative therapies, homeopathy.

Toxicity and drug interactions associated with herbal products: ephedra and St. John's Wort.

Holstege CP, Mitchell K, Barlotta K, Furbee RB

Division of Medical Toxicology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA 22908-0774, USA. ch2xf@virginia.edu

Health care providers are being increasingly confronted with the use of herbal medications by their patients. It is imperative that patients be questioned regarding herbal preparation use and that health care providers become familiar with these agents. Research into the active components and mechanisms of action of various herbals is ongoing [350]. Long-range studies need to be performed to follow patients for efficacy or toxicity in chronic use [351,352]. Adverse reactions to herbal remedies should be reported to the FDA MedWatch at http://www.fda.gov/medwatch. As withany therapeutic agent, risk of use must always be weighed against potential benefits.

Published 17 October 2005 in Med Clin North Am, 89(6): 1225-57.
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