How to Avoid Dangerous Drug-Herb Interactions, Part 2 by Brian B. Carter, MS, LAc

Herbs are more likely to correct an imbalance permanently (we call that "healing"). Drugs' therapeutic effects are almost always temporary. It takes more time to do this with herbs… but it's worth it.

Other Situations that are Helped by Herbal Formulas:

Quitting HRT…

Instead of just stopping cold (or hot, as the case may be), an herbal formula such as zhi bai di huang wan may be given weeks or months ahead of time. Then the patient's system is more balanced when the HRT is stopped, and rebound symptoms are less likely and less severe.

Breaking the Antibiotic Cycle…

Some patients perpetually take round after round of antibiotics. Approaches based on the Shang Han Lun (Cold Damage Classic) such as use of the herb formula Xiao Chai Hu Tang (Minor Bupleurum) have been known to get the patient well and away from the constant need for antibiotics.

Complementing Diuretic Therapy…

While Chinese Herbs should never be used to add to the diuretic effect of concurrent drug therapy, they can boost the system. Diuretic drugs reduce the excess fluids, but they do not solve the underlying deficiency. Herbal formulas can be prescribed to strengthen the Spleen and Kidney systems.

Quitting SSRI Anti-Depressants…

Of course this can be dangerous, and should be done with a psychiatrist and an herbalist. Herbs such as St. John's Wort (SJW) could be used as a cushion while quitting. SJW does not replace SSRI's… studies show that it must have some other mode of action. Herbal formulas are better anyway. See a Chinese Herbalist.

Quitting Corticosteroids...

As we saw in positive interaction #4 above, herbal formulas can be used in conjunction with corticosteroid treatment (for conditions like lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, primary nephrotic syndrome, etc.). A chinese herbal formula, Bupleurum and Hoelen Combination (Chai Ling Tang) can be used for withdrawal from corticosteroid therapy. Subsequently, it can be used in place of the steroids for continued treatment.

General Rules for Taking Herbs, Vitamins and Drugs:

Take them at different times. Most drugs are taken with meals to limit Stomach irritation. Take herbs between meals (at least 1 hour before and after a meal…2-3 hours would be best) for optimal digestion.

Don't take ascorbic (vitamin C) or salicylic acid (aspirin) at the same time as herbs. The acids will neutralize many of the saponins. Vit C will alter and neutralize herbs… so don't drink any orange or citrus juices with herbs either.

Don't take herbs that are supposed to do the same thing as a drug you're on. For example, don't take blood movers like dan shen or dang gui with warfarin. Don't take diuretics like fu ling with diuretic drugs.

You can take an herbal formula to complement the drugs you have to take. This can reduce or eliminate side effects. It really requires a professional… see a Chinese Medicine practitioner. This works well in chemotherapy to protect the body. However, in Hepatitis C, the interferon/ribavirin treatment requires some of the uncomfortable symptoms of fever and feeling ill to work. Stopping those side effects with herbs has been known to inhibit the drugs' effects. In the case of Hep C, you can opt for Chinese Herbal therapies instead of the western drug cocktail.

References:

Kelvin Chan, Lily Cheung. Interactions Between Chinese Herbal Medicinal Products and Orthodox Drugs. Dunitz Martin Ltd. 2000. (Most of the positive drug-herb studies mentioned above were summarized in this source. At least one of them came from the Beijing Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine.)

Miller LG. Herbal medicinals: selected clinical considerations focusing on known or potential drug-herb interactions. Arch Intern Med. 1998 Nov 9;158(20):2200-11. Review.

Dharmananda, S. The Interactions of Herbs and Drugs. June, 2001. Institute for Traditional Medicine. http://www.itmonline.org.

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BIO:

Acupuncturist, herbalist, and medical professor Brian B. Carter founded the alternative health megasite The Pulse of Oriental Medicine (http://www.PulseMed.org/). He is the author of the book "Powerful Body, Peaceful Mind: How to Heal Yourself with Foods, Herbs, and Acupressure" (November, 2004). Brian speaks on radio across the country, and has been quoted and interviewed by Real Simple, Glamour, and ESPN magazines.

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